Dockers into AFL top four with GWS win
Fremantle have taken care of business in their pursuit of a top-four AFL finish, but not without a serious scare against GWS at Manuka Oval.
The 20-point victory means the Dockers will end Saturday third on the ladder, and hold on to a double-chance should either Collingwood lose to Carlton or Sydney fall to St Kilda on Sunday.
If both the Magpies and Swans win, Fremantle will host an elimination final at Optus Stadium against the eighth-ranked finisher.
After a far-from-straightforward win in Canberra in which they overcame a 31-point first-half deficit, coach Justin Longmuir said his team wouldn't stress about Sunday's outcomes.
"Clearly we want to, but I said to the group after after the game ... whether we finish top four or fifth won't define our season," he told reporters.
"We've won 15-and-a-half games, improved on last year, we didn't scrape into the finals.
"We deserve to be there on a large body of work, so we look forward to it and will be ready for the challenge."
Missing key forwards Rory Lobb, Griffin Logue and Matt Taberner through injury, the Dockers' efficiency inside 50 combined with a lift in effort saw them kick 11 of the game's last 14 goals.
Midfielder Will Brodie led the charge with a stellar 30-disposal, one-goal game while Caleb Serong had 11 clearances.
"I don't think we panicked ... clearly we were getting dominated early, they were proactive and leading us to the ball," Longmuir said.
"A few of our leaders and in particular our young leaders stood up and started getting a bit physical ... we started getting the game played in our front half and then got ourselves into the game."
Longmuir said Lobb, Logue and Taberner were on track to be fit for finals particular with the pre-finals bye next weekend, adding Taberner and returning midfielder Nat Fyfe were a chance to play WAFL to build fitness.
The makeshift forward set-up saw them struggle to score at times, despite dominating the inside 50-count 68-45, with Giants defender Sam Taylor one beneficiary with an impressive 20 touches and 12 marks.
The loss ends Mark McVeigh's tenure as GWS interim coach with a 4-9 record, although the side's increased performance level in the back-half of the season has reportedly made him a genuine candidate for the permanent position.
Asked if his side's effort showed they were fighting for him to secure the full-time role, McVeigh credited his troops for playing for the Giants jumper.
"Part of my theme for the whole 13 weeks has been playing for something greater than yourself ... they've bought into that," he told reporters.
"I've tried to really push that agenda with our team and we had really good moments early doors with it, we had a lull which I knew was gonna come.
"The last four weeks ... with the injuries we've had and only being able to pick from 26 or 27 players at times, we could have rolled over and we haven't and I'm really proud.
"I'm just one of many voices that have been able to direct and help them stay in games and try and not let the season just roll over."
