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AFTER carrying them for a fair chunk of his 300 games, Matthew Pavlich's teammates last night gave their inspirational skipper the best possible thank you - the chance to win the only medal he really wants.
Fremantle's top-four and premiership hopes remain alive after the Dockers survived yet another riveting contest against great rival Geelong at Patersons Stadium.
The 32-point victory, 13.18 (96) to 9.10 (64), sends the Dockers to their bye at 5-4 and with the toughest part of their draw in the rear view mirror.
Laced with the usual heady mix of brilliance and controversy these combatants so often serve up, a win against Geelong is always well-earned and this was no exception as the Cats suffered just the second loss of their season.
Hayden Ballantyne celebrates a goal with Stephen Hill (left) and Nat Fyfe. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia
Fremantle's midfield was supreme and Pavlich and Hayden Ballantyne starred in attack with three goals each.
Geelong skipper Joel Selwood had 35 touches and nine clearances, but lacked support as Fremantle's all-star midfield triumvirate of David Mundy, Nat Fyfe and Michael Barlow held sway in the clinches.
The Dockers smashed the Cats in the clearance (45-29) and contested ball (162-120) counts, with ruckman Aaron Sandilands dominant and Stephen Hill slicing and dicing the visitors on the spread.
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The match-up between Geelong gun Steve Johnson and Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley was worth the price of admission in itself, and a series of incidents involving the pair remain huge talking points.
Held to just six disposals in the first half, an increasingly frustrated Johnson reacted.
His headbutt on Crowley in the second term will attract the attention of the Match Review Panel, while a comical incident in the interchange area in the third term was another major controversy.
Matthew Pavlich is carried off the field by Aaron Sandilands and Zac Clarke. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia
The emergency umpire appeared to pay a free kick against Crowley for contact with Selwood around Geelong's interchange area, despite the Docker being dragged through the Cats' interchange gate by the guernsey by a cheeky Johnson.
Pavlich kicked all three of his goals in the first half to set the tone, leading the way in a frenzied opening as the Dockers ran the Cats off their feet in a five-goals-to-none stanza.
Dominant at the stoppages, Fremantle gained the early ascendancy to get the jump on the shell-shocked visitors.
The milestone man kicked the game's opening goal within a minute in a dream start, nailing a drop punt from an acute angle deep in the pocket.
Pavlich was involved in the next two goals as well as the Dockers had three majors within six minutes.
Joel Selwood attempts to gather under pressure from Nathan Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia
He had his second entering time-on of the opening term, bringing up his 600th career major and becoming just the seventh player in VFL/AFL history to achieve the 300-game/600-goal double.
The Cats hit back early in the second quarter with goals to spearhead Tom Hawkins, who finished with three, and Travis Varcoe as Fremantle missed a string of chances in front of goal at the other end.
Carrying a fracture in his cheekbone and playing without a helmet, Ballantyne whipped the crowd into a frenzy with his running goal mid-way through the quarter.
Pavlich added his third from a set shot to continue his big night but the home team's 30-point lead at half-time could have been far greater, with Freo spraying 2.8 in the second term.
The teams added three goals apiece in the third stanza, with the electric Ballantyne getting his second and then third goals as the Dockers kept Geelong at bay.
Jed Bews was solid in his AFL debut for Geelong. Source: Getty Images
Defender Harry Taylor was sent forward as the Cats looked for answers but a relentless Fremantle remained in control.
The visitors rallied against the odds in the last quarter, remaining an outside chance of stealing the match when Steven Motlop kicked his first at the 19-minute mark to close the gap to 19 points.
If there were nerves in the crowd of 38,565 they were quickly settled by youngster Tom Sheridan, whose set shot goal two minutes later restored a comfortable buffer on a night Fremantle paid a fitting tribute to its greatest servant.
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