Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says bitter lessons helped Dockers survive late Adelaide surge

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says it was desperation rather than method that led the Dockers to a thrilling two-point win against Adelaide on Friday night.

And Longmuir revealed he drew on their round one defeat to Geelong at three-quarter time, referencing the missed opportunity to ensure they didn’t make the same mistake on the way to the 11.12 (78) to 11.10 (76) victory.

The Dockers led by as much as 34 points midway through the third term before conceding seven goals and trailing by 10 points.

Goals to Shai Bolton and Josh Treacy restored the lead before several incredible acts, including captain Alex Pearce’s smother of what could’ve been the match-winning goal from Crows midfielder James Peatling, allowed them to hold on for a third consecutive win.

“In the first half, I thought we played really well. We stifled their ball movement, we were really strong in the contest, we’re efficient inside 50, which is hard to do against them,” Longmuir said.

“We bounced out of half-time really well, created some scoring shots, (had) an opportunity to put the game to bed in some sense, but kicked three points in a row.

“Then the contest turned. I didn’t think they got on top by slicing us with ball movement; they just got on top by rolling their sleeves up and playing their game in the front half, and we just couldn’t hold up.

“Once we coughed up the lead, I thought we handled that period of the game really well, a bit more composure than what we did down in Geelong ... I thought we had some big plays, clearly hit the front and got a bit lucky late. I felt like we held on not through system and method, we held on through desperation late.”

For much of the last half, it looked as if the Dockers were going to lose another game on the road despite having dominated for a big period.

It was eerily similar to the defeat to the Cats, when they led by 33 points at the first break before being overrun to lose by 10.

Longmuir said they learnt to take the game on rather than save it, and it held them in good stead on Friday night.

“It was a similar situation, the opposition team coming at us, the crowd really getting involved, and I thought we played really safe against Geelong,” he said.

“There were uncontested marks to be had, there were opportunities to drive at the game, and we just played way too safe, and it plays into the opposition’s hands.

“I thought we were better at it tonight. It’s not a finished product; we weren’t perfect, but we had some moments where we could’ve just succumbed and kicked it long, but we actually drove, and the game opened up for us. I thought it was a step forward in that sense.”

Longmuir also praised Pearce for not only the match-saving smother but his ability to restrict Adelaide spearhead Riley Thilthorpe to one goal.

“His will to win, (he’s) the ultimate competitor. I thought he played well all night,” he said.

“He had some great moments where he came forward and won contests or just outpointed his opponent.

“To show that desperation. It could’ve been a match-winning smother.”