Dockers hold on against Blues

Fremantle 15.17 (107) def. Carlton 13.11 (89)

A career-best five goals by Ryan Murphy was the shinning beacon as Fremantle held off a spirited last-quarter charge by Carlton to win by 18 points at the Telstra Dome this afternoon.

Murphy slotted four in a relentless third quarter - a stanza which proved to be the match-winning difference for the Dockers, booting six goals to two to ultimately finish 15.17 (107) to 13.11 (89) victors.

After the deficit sat at 45 points at three quarter time, the Blues injected fright into the visitors in the final term, kicking the final five goals of the match, including eight of the last 11 majors.

However, the valiant surge came too late as time ultimately became an enemy for the home side.

The loss came at a double-blow for Carlton, with only 17,518 in attendance, in what is the lowest crowd at the Dome this season.

Michael Johnson (21 possessions) and Heath Black (20) were the Dockers' catalysts in providing run and drive off half back.

While Murphy stole the goal-kicking spotlight with five majors from only eight kicks, Matthew Pavlich put in a solid performance at half forward with two goals.

Peter Bell and Shaun McManus also provided workman-like efforts in the midfield with over 20 touches of the pill apiece.

Luke McPharlin added his claim for mark of the year with a majestic climb in the second quarter.

Heath Scotland was the Blues best with a game-high 30 possessions, while he tackled hard and supplied a lot of run through the midfield.

Both Andrew Walker and Anthony Koutoufides battled hard, while Brendan Fevola's five goals, including three in the final term, almost brought his side back into the game.

While the win maintains Fremantle's grip inside the top eight with a 10-7 season analysis, they will rue their final quarter performance, which has costed them valuable percentage.

The Blues remain on the foot of the table with only two wins and a draw after 17 rounds.

Although Carlton dominated possession early, it was Fremantle who struck first blood when Ryan Crawley marked and goaled after five minutes.

Luke Webster slammed on the Dockers' second major on the run from 40, which was briskly responded with the Blues' first and only goal for the stanza by Kade Simpson.

Pavlich slotted a late goal for the visitors to extend their lead to 14 points at the first change, which could have been greater had they been slightly more disciplined with their kicking and forward fifty entries.

A clanger kick-in resulted in a Simon Wiggins goal to provide the home side with the perfect start to the second term, though, that was responded within a minute by Bell, who ran slotted a straight-forward shot at goal from 30 out.

The teams traded goals for the first 25 minutes, which included two goals by Fevola for Carlton, to reduce the margin to 10 points in what had been a fairly tough yet even quarter.

However, two late goals by Murphy and Matthew Carr stung the Blues as the visitors carried a 22-point lead margin into the main break.

The Dockers emerged from half-time on a mission, slamming on four of the five five goals inside nine minutes, including three majors by Murphy, to blow the margin beyond seven goals.

Koutoufides was rewarded for persistence, winning a hardball get in the centre and slamming home a long goal from beyond the arc.

That was the home side's final highlight for the quarter, though, as Pavlich nicely eased through a goal from an acute angle, which was followed minutes later by Murphy's fourth major of the stanza to pump Fremantle's lead out to 45 points at the final change.

Both teams failed to register a major after 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, but the result appeared to be a formality.

However, the visitors dropped off the pace in the final quarter and paved the way to Carlton booting six goals in 14 minutes, including three by Fevola, to drastically cut the deficit back to three goals by the final siren.

Next week, Fremantle return home in a pivotal clash against Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval, while the Blues will continue to fight off the wooden spoon when they battle with Melbourne at the Telstra Dome.

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