Fremantle is through to a preliminary final after holding on to claim one of the most remarkable semi-finals in recent AFL history.
The Dockers on Friday night delivered a pulsating 14-point win, 18.12 (120) to 16.10 (106), over a gallant Geelong at Optus Stadium – set up off the back of star Luke Jackson’s heroics.
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Despite opening up a five-goal lead in the second term, the Cats came charging in the third term to steal the lead.
But when the Dockers needed a hero, it was Jackson who stepped up with arguably the greatest 10-minute patch ever played by a Docker.
In the dying stages of the third, Jackson racked five disposals, four clearances and four score involvements, including two of his own goals.
And from there, Freo rode that momentum through the final term to hang on for a 14-point win and book a preliminary final showdown with Sydney at the SCG next weekend.
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“Respect to both teams for turning on a show,” Anthony Hudson said.
“One of the best games that I reckon you could see,” Garry Lyon added.
“Heroes everywhere for both sides.”
Pat Voss finished with four goals, including the sealer in the final minute.
Earlier, Fremantle got off to a red-hot start with the opening three goals of the match.
Just as coach Justin Longmuir and star Caleb Serong called for, they came out hunting to pile the pressure on a Cats side described by Lyon as “deer-ish in the headlights”.
Voss was dominating his opponent Tom Stewart in the perfect response to his quiet qualifying final.
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And by the first change it was Freo with a six-goal opening term – more than their entire score against the Hawks last week.
But you can never count out the Cats, as they began to creep closer.
When they finally got their midfield game going, the goals started to come more freely at both ends of the ground as it turned into a shootout.
At half-time, it was Fremantle holding a 21-point buffer in a display Serong told Fox Footy “is us”.
But the third term was where the match turned.
The Cats came out with a killer instinct – but couldn’t put Freo away.
They kicked 1.7 (13) from eight inside 50s in a total domination, with Ollie Henry’s fourth goal putting Freo on the ropes as they suddenly stared down a 10-point deficit.
Enter Jackson, who “turned the game on its head”.
“Luke Jackson, take a bow,” Garry Lyon said.
“He’s been pivotal.
“He just stood up and said no, not on my watch.”
By the time the Dockers turned for home, they held a 16-point buffer in front of a record 59,725 crowd at Optus Stadium.
When Serong set sail from the arc to put Freo up by 24 points, the Dockers looked home.
But no one told the Cats.
A big holding free kick to Shannon Neale saw the margin close to just 12, setting up a thrilling finish.
“Hollywood blockbusters have got nothing on this!” Dwayne Russell said.
Tom Stewart nailed his second goal of the season to bring the Cats to within eight points as Wharfie Time set in with just 75 seconds to play.
With the noise deafening, Voss got out the back to goal and ensure it was Fremantle going into just the club’s fourth-ever preliminary final.