WEST Coast has been left to rue a controversial non-decision by the boundary umpire during their 15-point AFL loss to Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
The Eagles trailed by 40 points at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter of Sunday’s match before launching a fierce comeback.
The margin was just six points early in the last quarter when Eagles forward Josh Kennedy kicked his third goal.
But West Coast’s momentum was stopped in its tracks when Dockers midfielder Caleb Serong kicked a miracle goal from the boundary line.
After being bowled over by Dom Sheed, Serong sprung to his feet and threw the ball on his foot for a mesmerising banana goal that sent the 51,692 crowd wild.
However, replays showed that his teammate Adam Cerra had clearly taken the ball out of bounds while unleashing the short kick to Serong in the lead-up to the goal.
Serong’s major proved to be the final goal of the match, with Fremantle bravely holding on to post the 12.7 (79) to 9.10 (64) win that broke their 11-match western derby losing streak.
But more importantly, it saw Fremantle (10-11) move from 12th to 10th, putting them just percentage adrift of eighth-placed Essendon.
The Dockers need to beat St Kilda next week and have other results fall their way in order to snare a finals berth.
West Coast (10-11) slipped to ninth, and will need to beat Brisbane next week to have any hope of securing a spot in the top eight.
Eagles midfielder Tim Kelly was subbed out at halftime after teammate Luke Shuey fell across him and his left knee twisted at an awkward angle.
Fremantle midfielder Connor Blakely suffered a game-ending hamstring injury in the second quarter.
Sheed is set to cop at least a fine for his open-palm hit to the mid-riff of Bailey Banfield in the first half.
Serong won the Glendinning-Allan medal as best afield with 32 disposals, six clearances, and two goals.
Dockers veteran David Mundy tallied 27 possessions, seven clearances and a goal, while Bailey Banfield performed a crucial shutdown role on Kelly in the first half.
Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui was influential with 15 disposals, 38 hitouts and seven clearances, while Liam Ryan and Josh Kennedy booted three goals apiece.
The Dockers kicked 8.2 from their 13 inside 50s in the opening term, with Matt Taberner booting three himself from four contested marks in a dominant start to the match.
The scoreline read 62-22 at the 10-minute mark of the second term when Lachie Schultz nailed his first goal of the match.
But from there the contest turned on its head, with Jack Darling booting two goals in a run of four majors as the lead was whittled down to 11 points in the third quarter.
The Eagles continued to charge in the final term, but Serong’s goal from the pocket proved to be the sealer.
(C) AAP 2021
FREMANTLE 8.2 10.2 11.2 12.7 (79)
WEST COAST 3.2 4.7 7.9 9.10 (64)
Goals: Fremantle: M Taberner 3 C Serong 2 L Schultz 2 A Cerra D Mundy J Treacy S Darcy T Colyer. West Coast: J Kennedy 3 L Ryan 3 J Darling 2 A Witherden.
Umpires: Jeff Dalgleish, Dean Margetts, Nick Brown.
Official Crowd: 51,692 at Optus Stadium.
