Dockers miss out on finals again, Port secure second

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Dockers miss out on finals again, Port secure second

Fremantle will miss the finals for a second consecutive season after slumping to a 20-point loss to Port Adelaide, with the result gifting Carlton eighth spot.

The Dockers entered Sunday’s match knowing a win would earn them a finals berth following St Kilda’s last-gasp two-point triumph over the Blues.

A huge roar went up around Optus Stadium before the Dockers-Power clash when St Kilda’s Jack Higgins scored a goal with 12 seconds remaining to secure victory over Carlton.

But the Dockers couldn’t complete their part of the equation, with two final-quarter goals from former West Coast Eagle ******* Rioli helping Port secure the 13.9 (87) to 9.13 (67) victory in front of 45,322 fans.

Sunday’s match was also crucial for Port, given a loss by about four goals would have allowed Geelong to leapfrog them into second spot.

Port’s win means they will now host the third-placed Cats in a qualifying final.

Port star Ollie Wines tallied 31 disposals and six clearances in his 250th game, Zak Butters had 27 possessions, while Jason Horne-Francis kicked two goals from 20 possessions and Rioli slotted three majors.

Andrew Brayshaw racked up 32 disposals and five clearances for the Dockers, while Hayden Young tallied 10 score involvements among his 19 possessions, but he spent most of the final quarter on the bench after sustaining a knock to his calf.

The win came at a cost for Port Adelaide, with defender Kane Farrell set to miss the start of the finals after injuring his left hamstring in the second quarter.

Fellow defender Aliir Aliir sent a huge scare through the camp when he also went down in the second quarter, but he was able to return to the field after receiving treatment on his ankle in the rooms.

The Power suffered a late pre-match ***** when Charlie Dixon was ruled out with illness.

Port Adelaide won the inside 50m count 18-11 in the first quarter but Fremantle made the most of their chances to open up an eight-point lead.

The roles were reversed in a pressure-filled second quarter, with Fremantle spraying 2.6 in comparison to Port Adelaide’s 4.3 as the visitors hit the lead.

A stunning one-handed mark from Nat Fyfe at the top of the goalsquare with just seconds remaining in the half ensured the margin was only one point at the long break.

The Power twice skipped away to 15-point leads in the third quarter, with Fremantle’s ill discipline off the ball handing the visitors a goal from point-blank range late.

But Sam Sturt’s late snap reduced the gap to nine points at the final change.

Dockers forward Patrick Voss floated across the pack to take a big mark early in the final term to reduce the margin to three points, but Caleb Serong missed the chance to put Fremantle in front when his shot on the run faded.

Rioli’s low mark helped Port extend the margin back out to nine points, and he popped up again late to kick the sealer.

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