FREMANTLE reaffirmed its top-four credentials and ended the unlikely finals hopes of a gallant but inaccurate Adelaide with a 22-point win at a windy and wet Patersons Stadium.
The horrible weather in Perth meant only 28,765 fans braved the conditions to see the Dockers notch their 12th win of the season, 11.9 (75) to 7.11 (53).
Remarkably, the Dockers had just 33 inside 50s - the equal-lowest of any winning team since the statistic has been measured.
The Crows had 45 entries, won the total possession, contested possession, clearance and tackle counts for the match but lost in the only column that matters - the scoreboard.
"We won every major indicator but the most important one, which is winning the game of footy," Crows coach Brenton Sanderson said.
"They won the game, but you shouldn’t win a game when you have 33 inside 50s. 3.8 from set shots is something we need to get better at.
"We need to be more poised and composed when it matters."
Nathan Fyfe was the chief architect, kicking a career-best four goals in an outstanding display of class and skill that stood out above all others.
"We knew he's a goal kicker," Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said.
"When you talk about run and quality I thought he was very smart against the opposition tonight and he hurt them.
"If you don't respect him pushing forward he's going to hurt you."
The match started with a melee and a free kick to the Crows instead of the customary bounce. Nathan van Berlo was confronted by Michael Walters and Danyle Pearce in the centre square as the players walked to their positions and the push and shove sparked an all-in wrestle involving a dozen players from both teams.
The Crows jumped out to a 15-point lead as a result using the aid of a strong breeze and should have been further in front, having dominated the play, but they missed several crucial set shots.
The Dockers made the Crows pay for those missed opportunities, kicking the next five goals of the match on the back of the class of Fyfe and the supreme skill and smarts of Walters.
Fremantle led by four points at quarter-time and extended that to 23 at half-time as the Crows managed just two behinds in the second term despite more inside 50s.
Rory Sloane got the Crows back into the contest with an enormous third quarter. Sloane had 10 disposals, six marks, and three tackles for the term and had a hand in the Crows' three goals, which cut the margin to just five points.
But Fyfe stood tall again, kicking two goals for the quarter to take his tally to four and restore the lead to 23 at the final change.
Adelaide threatened a comeback in the final term but more missed opportunities from convertible set-shots saw the Crows fall short.
Adelaide's night was soured further with Josh Jenkins carried off on a stretcher with a nasty injury to his right ankle. After launching for a mark, Jenkins landed awkwardly with the full weight of his 104kg frame buckling his ankle underneath him.
Fremantle's Michael Johnson evades a tackle from Adelaide's Jason Porplyzia. Picture: AFL Media
FREMANTLE 3.2 6.5 9.8 11.9 (75)
ADELAIDE 2.4 2.6 5.9 7.11 (53)
GOALS
Fremantle: Fyfe 4, Walters 2, Mayne 2, de Boer, Clarke, Hill
Adelaide: Lynch 2, Vince, Thompson, Henderson, McKernan, Lyons
BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Johnson, Hill, Barlow, Neale, Walters, Clarke
Adelaide: Sloane, Crouch, Thompson, Lynch, Henderson, Vince
INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Adelaide: Jenkins (ankle), Vince (head) , McKernan (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Cameron Sutcliffe replaced Matt Taberner in the third quarter.
Adelaide: Richard Tambling replaced Shaun McKernan in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Dalgleish, Kamolins
Official crowd: 28,765 at Patersons Stadium
