THERE is nothing stealthy anymore about Fremantle's charge towards a maiden premiership, with the ladder-leading Dockers coming from behind to beat Geelong by nine points on Thursday night in a thrilling heavyweight battle at Optus Stadium. 

The Dockers fell 28 points down in the second quarter against the only team that has beaten them this season, but they produced a powerful seven-goal third quarter to turn the tide, holding on late to win their 13th straight game 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90). 

DOCKERS v CATS Full match coverage and stats

Wearing a black and purple 'stealth' jumper, they put their weapons on display, with superstar ruckman Luke Jackson producing an enormous performance to finish with 28 disposals, three goals, nine tackles and 25 hitouts. 

Midfield star Andrew Brayshaw was also enormous when the game was on the line, winning 16 disposals in the critical third quarter and finishing with a game-high 35 in a performance that oozed leadership and courage, with the Dockers winning the midfield battle on the back of their vice-captain's efforts. 

The Dockers overcame a collective case of the yips in the first half, kicking 3.11 at one point in the second quarter as the Cats surged, but they showed resilience and maturity to turn their fortunes around in the front half and start taking their chances. 

Spearhead Jye Amiss was at the forefront, booting 3.4 and converting a pair of long-range set shots deep in the third quarter to give his team a critical break that they were able to defend. 

The win came with an injury scare, with gun midfielder Hayden Young coming from the ground in the third quarter with a knee issue before returning later in the quarter after some attention on the bench. 

He played his role in a deep and skilful midfield that largely controlled centre ball ups and won the inside 50s (54-44), with Fremantle also calling on their pressure game and aerial ascendency to get on top through the night.  

Geelong was brave and challenged the Dockers right to the end despite some key players missing, including Bailey Smith and Tom Stewart, with Patrick Dangerfield a constant presence in the midfield and defender Connor O'Sullivan playing a brilliant game on Freo spearhead Josh Treacy. 

The build-up to Thursday night was all about who the taggers on both sides would go to, but coaches Justin Longmuir and Chris Scott were happy to back their midfield stars in the opening quarter and let them go head-to-head. 

There were brilliant match-ups everywhere, with Caleb Serong and Dangerfield going head-to-head at stoppages, and Max Holmes lining up on both Hayden Young and Brayshaw as both midfields found space and attacked. 

Jack Martin was a major threat for the Cats, booting three first-quarter goals from marks inside 50, while Jackson, Murphy Reid and Patrick Voss all kicked majors through a see-sawing opening that saw the Dockers grab an early lead. 

Oli Wiltshire booted back-to-back goals in two minutes for the visitors, however, with Martin's third from some clever bodywork on Karl Worner giving the visitors a 10-point lead at the first break. 

The Dockers' inaccuracy continued to cost them in the second term, with Amiss booting his third behind from a set shot and Sam Switkowski, Voss and Reid all hitting the post from chances. 

They had 0.7 for the quarter at one point while the Cats couldn't miss and went on a seven-goal run that opened a game-high 28-point lead, with Jeremy Cameron dangerous and Shannon Neale benefiting from a protected area 50m penalty. 

There was a sense of urgency for the Dockers to respond and break their run of behinds, with Voss delivering after a goal line scramble and helping turn the tide, with Treacy then stepping up to convert from 50m. 

The key forward then combined with the brilliant Reid and Young at half-forward, working cleverly in tight before Young found Jackson inside 50 with his right foot for a third straight goal that cut the margin to nine points at half-time. 

Brayshaw turned the game in the third quarter with a massive performance in the midfield, racking up 16 disposals for the term as the Dockers went on a seven-goals-to-two run. 

Where their accuracy had deserted them early in the game, the key forwards locked in and didn't miss, with Amiss booting a pair of crucial set shots from long range and Treacy converting through a 7.0 quarter that opened up a 19-point lead at the last break. 

Geelong threatened to mount a charge and cut the margin to eight points late, but key defender Alex Pearce had some key intercepts to ensure he celebrated his 150th game in style.  

Bolton's brilliance 
Shai Bolton won Mark of the Year back in 2021 as a Richmond star, and he put forward his case for the award this year with a thrilling grab on the wing during the second quarter, flying over defender Jake Kolodjashnij and teammate Pat Voss. The effort was backed in seconds later when the Cats rebounded his forward entry, with Bolton outmanoeuvring Kolodjashnij and pulling in a diving mark at ground level. Bolton plays the game with joy and couldn't conceal his smile after the second grab as a record non-Derby home-and-away crowd went wild at Optus Stadium. Bolton finished with 18 disposals after a fast start and was one of the danger-men that Geelong put time into, particularly when he rotated at half forward.   

Freo's latest record (and a target to beat) 
The Dockers continue to break records and end hoodoos in a brilliant 2026, with their 13th straight win setting a new benchmark for consecutive wins for a WA-based AFL team. West Coast won 12 consecutive games to start their 1991 season, with the Dockers getting to 13 in a streak that has included five wins away from home. Undefeated at Optus Stadium this season, the Dockers play four of their next six games at home, starting with Gold Coast next week, and it is hard to see who will beat them on their home turf. There's a lot to play out, but an undefeated season at home would match the record 12 straight wins at Subiaco Oval across 2014-15.    

FREMANTLE                      3.4   6.11   13.11   14.15 (99) 
GEELONG                            5.2   9.2   11.4   14.6 (90) 

GOALS 
Fremantle: Amiss 3, Jackson 3, Treacy 2, Voss 2, Dudley, Erasmus, Reid, Serong
Geelong: Martin 3, Cameron 2, O.Henry 2, Neale 2, Wiltshire 2, J.Henry, Mullin, Stevens 

BEST
Fremantle: Jackson, Brayshaw, Reid, Pearce, Erasmus, Amiss, B Cox 
Geelong: O'Sullivan, Dangerfield, Holmes, Bruhn, Humphries, Atkins  

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil 
Geelong: Nil 

Crowd: 55,201 at Optus Stadium