FREMANTLE is back in the top eight after a pulsating 11-point win against a spirited St Kilda, with star recruit Eden Zanker booting a pair of clutch fourth-quarter goals to drive the Dockers home at Cockburn ARC Oval. 

The Saints played with great energy and passion in caretaker coach Matt Brewer's first game in charge, and they took the lead early in the fourth term after Ashleigh Richards drove through a tackle and converted from long-range. 

DOCKERS V SAINTS Full match coverage and stats

Freo steadied from there, however, and booted three goals in six minutes to lock away their fifth win of the season, 7.9 (51) to 6.4 (40), celebrating the milestones of midfielder Aisling McCarthy (75 games) and forward Bella Smith (50 games) in style. 

It was a crucial home win for Lisa Webb's team after entering the match with a 1-3 record at their new AFLW base and needing to win to keep their finals ambitions on track. 

Small forward Noa McNaughton and Zanker each booted two goals and delivered in clutch moments late, with the pair combining for a crucial goal that put the Dockers 10 points clear before Hayley Miller sealed the result. 

"We just needed to take our moments and that was our biggest challenge today … we haven't done that well consistently enough, so really pleased," coach Lisa Webb said.  

"It's not through lack of effort or work rate, we do that really well. But we just need to keep staying in the moment and executing.

"I thought St Kilda were really good today. They pressured us really well and played the conditions well. We did a lot right today, but we've got a lot to improve on."  

Ruck Mim Strom was outstanding with 27 disposals, 30 hitouts and eight clearances, giving the Dockers midfield a 39-22 clearance advantage, while Kiara Bowers (36 disposals and 11 clearances) capitalised. 

McCarthy (32 and five) was prominent in her milestone game, while Gabby Newton (30) and defender Indiana West impressed.    

For the Saints, defender Serene Watson booted two goals to ignite her team, while Georgia Patrikios worked hard all day for 25 disposals. 

Brewer said there had been a focus on the Saints' celebrating each other's efforts, with the team's spirit shining through after a difficult two weeks following the departure of coach Nick Dal Santo.   

"I'm really excited about the next two weeks just from the way they went about today," Brewer said. 

"We wanted to get better at just celebrating the little things, so there was a real conscious effort from the girls to get around each other and celebrate those little one percenters." 

Fremantle monopolised possession early and kicked the opening goal against the breeze through Bowers, prompting the Saints to get numbers back and clog up their backline. 

They worked their way into the quarter from there, creating a few slingshot plays to gain territory and lock the ball in their front half, with Zoe Besanko kicking a nice goal off a couple of steps with 15 seconds left in the quarter. 

The Dockers capitalised on the breeze in the second term, with Matilda Banfield marking, spinning and running on to kick a terrific goal after a period of midfield dominance for the home team. 

The Saints used a loose player in defence, but Fremantle was still able to create opportunities from its stoppage game, winning the clearances 9-3 in the second term as ruck Strom took control. 

McNaughton gave the home team a 15-point lead on the siren after Tyanna Smith was penalised for insufficient intent, with the Freo small forward slotting a brilliant checkside shot from a tight ankle.

 The game had another twist in the third, with St Kilda skipper Watson sparking her team with the first two goals of her career as the Saints lifted their pressure and charged forward with the ball. 

When Nicola Xenos won a free kick and converted deep in attack, the Saints had their first lead of the day and all the momentum going into the fourth term, with the Dockers needing to respond after their intensity had dropped. 

While the Saints challenged them to the end, McNaughton was the spark the Dockers needed late and Zanker finished the job to square the Dockers season at 5-5.  

Scanlon benched after fighting through injury
Things did not look good for Madi Scanlon when she injured her right ankle and had to be helped from the ground by trainers in the second quarter, with the in-form Fremantle defender rolling her ankle after an aerial contest. The Dockers didn't rule Scanlon out of the game and brought her back on in the third quarter briefly, but the 25-year-old looked very proppy and was eventually benched, with further assessment now to come over the next few days. Coach Lisa Webb said the pacey back would have pushed on if the team needed, but it was not worth taking the risk.       

Long wait over for Saints skipper
Serene Watson had just one behind to her name after 75 games entering Sunday's clash having carved her niche as a reliable defender who rarely ventures forward. She did press up for an inside 50 stoppage during the third quarter against Freo, however, and the ball fell her way off the rucks' hands, allowing her to snap the first goal of her career. She wasn't done there, however, adding another minutes later from another left foot snap. The Saints were celebrating everything with great spirit and energy on Sunday, but they found a new level for Watson's pair of goals, jumping all over their skipper and generating great momentum. 

Next up 
The Dockers face a massive challenge next Saturday at GMHBA Stadium, taking on a rampaging Geelong after the Cats won their ninth straight match. St Kilda hosts Brisbane at RSEA Park on Saturday afternoon.  

FREMANTLE    1.2   3.5   3.6   7.9 (51)
ST KILDA        1.0   1.2   4.4   6.4 (40) 

GOALS
Fremantle: Zanker 2, McNaughton 2, Banfield, Bowers, Miller
St Kilda: Watson 2, Besanko, Richards, Smith, Xenos  

BEST
Fremantle: Bowers, Strom, Zanker, West, McNaughton, Newton 
St Kilda: Watson, Patrikios, Richards, Trudgeon, Lambert 

INJURIES
Fremantle: Scanlon (ankle) 
St Kilda: Nil 

Crowd: 1809 at Cockburn ARC Oval