Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Fremantle vs Geelong delivered a thrilling Thursday night finish in Perth, with Luke Jackson leading the Dockers back from 28 points down to beat the Cats 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90).
The win in front of 55,201 fans extended Fremantle’s club-record streak to 13 matches and kept Justin Longmuir’s side one game clear on top of the AFL ladder. Geelong, missing Bailey Smith and Tom Stewart, could now slip out of the top four by the end of the round.
For more AFL news, read Bobby Hill Collingwood Return Still Distant As Craig McRae Offers Support, while official match details are available through the AFL match centre.
Jackson Leads Fremantle Fightback
Jackson was immense, finishing with 28 disposals, 26 hitouts, six clearances and three goals in a dominant ruck display.
"He just keeps building, doesn't he? He keeps growing as a player," Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said.
"He's got fitter and stronger and his contest work is super and it was great to see him go forward and hang on to a couple of marks and finish his work off and get some reward that way.
"I've said it all year - he just becomes another midfielder when the ball hits the deck. He keeps adding layers to his game and he was super."
Fremantle’s kicking almost cost them early, with the Dockers sliding to 3.11 while Geelong opened a 56-28 lead midway through the second term.
Dockers Turn Waste Into Ruthless Run
Sam Switkowski, Shai Bolton, Hayden Young, Jye Amiss, Murphy Reid and Voss all missed chances before Fremantle finally clicked.
The Dockers then kicked 10 goals without a miss, turning a wasteful start into a 19-point lead at three-quarter time. Andrew Brayshaw drove the surge with 16 disposals in the third quarter alone and 35 for the match.
Alex Pearce marked his 150th game with seven intercept marks, while Jye Amiss finished with 3.4. For Geelong, Max Holmes had 27 disposals and 597 metres gained, and Jack Martin kicked three first-quarter goals.
Jack Henry cut the margin to nine points with five minutes left, but Fremantle held on under late pressure.
"I thought it was a pretty high standard game," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.