Michael Walters celebrates a goal against the Eagles. Picture: AFL Photos

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FREMANTLE will enter round one on a high after mounting a late comeback to upset West Coast in a Marsh Community Series match that turned on its head at HBF Arena on Saturday.

After three dreary quarters that had both sides looking rusty and underprepared for round one, both teams went to a new level and a thriller emerged as the Dockers kicked five unanswered goals to snatch a late lead. 

06:12

West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui tied the scores with minutes remaining before star Docker Michael Walters kicked the point that gave his team the edge, winning 8.7 (55) to 7.12 (54).

DOCKERS SNATCH A THRILLER Full match coverage

It was an exciting finish that came from nowhere after 10,384 fans sat through three laboured quarters of football that saw both teams go goalless for quarters as they protected the ball and racked up uncontested marks.

Boxes were ticked on both sides, however, with Fremantle welcoming back stars Nat Fyfe (23 possessions and four clearances) and Walters (21 and two goals).

The Dockers got another excellent pre-season performance out of third-year midfielder Andrew Brayshaw, who led the team with 25 possessions and five clearances to underline his readiness for a breakout season.

00:42

Midfielder Darcy Tucker also returned from a knee knock to cement his round one spot with 24 touches, including 12 in the final quarter as the Freo midfield drove the late charge.

Brayshaw and Tucker combined for seven of the Dockers' 13 clearances in the fourth quarter.

The new-look backline, led by Griffin Logue who dominated Josh Kennedy, was the backbone of the team before the midfield lifted in the last quarter.

A quad concern saw classy half-back Stephen Hill leave the game at three-quarter time, while Brayshaw was sore after having his foot stomped.

Fremantle hearts were in their mouths early in the second quarter when ruckman Sean Darcy went down clutching his right ankle in what would have been a bitter blow for the Dockers.

Longmuir's No.1 big man, who has already endured a bruising pre-season, was assisted by trainers and could not put weight on his right leg, only to emerge 10 minutes later and play out the match. 

The Eagles would have been satisfied to see star defender Jeremy McGovern finish half a game unscathed in his return from a heel injury, all but securing his place for the season opener against Melbourne on March 22.  

Gun midfielder Elliot Yeo returned from All Stars duty to lead the midfield with 33 possessions, eight clearances and eight inside 50s as the Eagles' best. 

Andrew Gaff (32 and five inside 50s) was also prolific, while Dom Sheed rotated forward effectively to kick two goals.

00:47

Recruit Tim Kelly continued to build ahead of round one and was a cog in the engine room, rather than the star, finishing with 29 touches.

NEW FACES
West Coast: Victorian midfielder Xavier O'Neill was set to be unveiled as a late replacement for Brendon Ah Chee, but he was not used by the Eagles in the end. Star recruit Kelly played his second pre-season game and found the ball, but didn't have a big impact at stoppages.

Fremantle: Prized draftee Caleb Serong didn't emerge until half time and played limited minutes for three disposals. Second-year forward Sam Sturt started as the deepest forward, coming out of the goalsquare and rotating with Matt Taberner. He was unable to find space in a cluttered forward line.

WHO'S MISSING?
West Coast: Key forward Jack Darling (cheekbone) is on track for round one, but was not ready to be risked on Saturday, with Oscar Allen (ankle) in the same boat. Ruck/forward Bailey Williams (hamstring tightness) missed in a blow to his round one chances. Brendon Ah Chee (illness) was withdrawn late. 

Fremantle: Recruit James Aish and defender Luke Ryan were withdrawn late with soreness, while senior regulars Connor Blakely and Brandon Matera were axed mid-week. Prized youngster Hayden Young missed as his workload is managed. Important defenders Joel Hamling and Alex Pearce (both ankle) and veteran David Mundy (leg) are on the sidelines, with Jesse Hogan (mental health) away from the club. 

00:29

FANTASY WATCH
Elliot Yeo ($762,000, MID) was on 80 Fantasy points at half time and cruised home to finish on 126 as the game's dominant midfielder. He won plenty of his own ball and laid a team-high seven tackles in his first Marsh Series game. He looks a safe pick in a midfield that will see Kelly and Luke Shuey attract tags.

Andrew Brayshaw ($516,000, MID/FWD) ticked the last box for many Fantasy coaches, who will jump to select him in their forward lines. The third-year midfielder racked up 57 Fantasy points in the first half and finished on a team-high 118. A pure midfielder, he worked cleverly into space to take seven marks and tackled ferociously (eight), both nice Fantasy attributes.

NEXT UP
Fremantle hits the road in round one, travelling to Marvel Stadium to take on Essendon on Saturday, March 21 at 1:45pm AEDT. West Coast opens its season against Melbourne the following day at Optus Stadium at 3:20pm AWST.  

WEST COAST   3.3       3.7       5.11     7.12 (54)
FREMANTLE   1.2       3.4       3.5       8.7 (55)

GOALS
West Coast: Sheed 2, Yeo, Hutchings, Naitanui, Ryan, Kennedy
Fremantle: Walters 2, Banfield 2, Schultz, Colyer, Taberner

BEST
West Coast: Yeo, Sheed, Gaff, Hurn, Naitanui, Duggan 
Fremantle: Walters, Fyfe, Logue, Brayshaw, Tucker, Hughes

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Fremantle: Hill (quad)

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Dalgleish, Heffernan, Williamson 

Crowd: 10,384 at HBF Arena