Fremantle threatened to be the architects of their own downfall.

But they have survived a stern examination from fellow premiership contenders Geelong, holding on for a nine-point win to again showcase their credentials for the flag and extend their remarkable and record-setting winning streak to 13 games at Optus Stadium.

The Dockers made a shockingly-inaccurate start to the heavyweight bout, with their first 13 scoring shots bringing only three goals after a succession of chances went begging.

In a remarkable turnaround, their next 10 attempts went through the major opening as they rode a seven-goal third-quarter blitz to a 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90) victory which ensured they honoured captain Alex Pearce reaching 150 games in winning fashion.

Just as he has been throughout the season, Pearce was titanic on the night, saving his side time after time and hauling in seven intercept marks.

And once more, he was one of a succession of Fremantle’s stars who stood up to be counted when their side needed them most.

Luke Jackson took another massive step towards a maiden All Australian berth with another brilliant showing, putting Dockers Next Generation Academy prospect Mitch Edwards to the sword.

On top of his 28 disposals and 25 hit-outs, the ‘Unicorn’ also once more showed he truly can do it all by working forward to kick three crucial goals.

Murphy Reid’s remarkable second season also continued to reach new heights, with the 19-year-old oozing class in an 28-disposal performance which also included nine score involvements and plenty of moments of maturity well beyond his years.

Without stars Tom Stewart (concussion) and Bailey Smith (illness), the Max Holmes-led Cats were brave and made the most of their chances, but ultimately came up short as the Dockers’ depth and quality proved too much to match.

The Thursday night blockbuster was taken in by 55,201 fans at Optus Stadium, Fremantle’s largest-ever crowd in a non-derby home game.

A 17th win from their last 20 games at home will ensure the Dockers remain at least one game clear atop the ladder for another week and their cushion inside the top two may be as large as four games at the conclusion of round 15 if other results go their way.

A finals-like atmosphere hung over the night and the two sides combined to produce an early spectacle worthy of September, splitting eight goals in an enthralling opening 20 minutes.

Fremantle had their moments in the first quarter, including Reid finishing on the run with the class that has become his trademark and Pat Voss kicking truly from the junction of the 50-metre arc and boundary line.

But they largely struggled to make the most of their chances, with five combined set shots from Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss netting no goals.

At the other end, the Cats were much more efficient, hitting the Dockers on the counter to great effect in coming up with five combined majors through unheralded forwards Jack Martin and Oli Wiltshire.

Fremantle’s finishing woes continued with three missed chances inside a helter-skelter opening 90 seconds of the second term and were brought into sharp contrast by Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale both slamming set shots straight through the middle in response.

Shai Bolton gave an increasingly-tense crowd a massive lift by elevating over Voss and Jake Kolodjashnij’s one-on-one contest to reel in a Mark of the Year contender.

Despite the Dockers’ fans best efforts to spark their team to life, more chances went begging as Geelong extended their run of unanswered goals to seven.

At long last, their settler finally came through Voss soccering his second — after an Amiss air-swing in the goal square — which Treacy and Jackson followed up on by holding their nerve to finish chances, ensuring their side took the momentum and only a nine-point deficit into the main break.

After Jackson continued another amazing night by snapping his third goal to mark the opening of the second half, Neil Erasmus managed to take his opportunity to give Fremantle their first lead since midway through the first term.

Any suggestion the visitors would roll over was quickly quashed through Ollie Henry and Oisin Mullin fashioning responses, before Young limping from the field after copping a knee knock left the stadium collectively holding their breath.

Thankfully, Fremantle’s injury-prone star was right to return, while his side responded to their test of character by coming up with the last five goals of a game-breaking quarter.

Their run started by the returning Caleb Serong marking his return by flashing through an inside-50 stoppage and finished with Amiss (three goals) shaking off his shocking night when it mattered most, flushing two late set shots.

The Dockers were given another test of their nerve when Neale came up with the first goal of the final term and Ollie Henry managed the next to give them a real fright.

Yet more twists were left in a see-sawing contest after Amiss snapped his third goal, with the other Henry brother Jack working forward to claim a mark and convert a chance to cut their deficit inside two straight kicks as the clock ticked into time on.

Although the mystery Wharfie Time operator’s finger was surely hovering over the button, they opted against hitting it, and the Dockers showed they did not need it in doing enough to overcome the only side they have faced and not beaten in 2026.

SCOREBOARD

FREMANTLE 3.4 6.11 13.11 14.15 99

GEELONG 5.2 9.2 11.4 14.6 90

GOALS – FREMANTLE: L Jackson 3 J Amiss 3 P Voss 2 J Treacy 2 C Serong M Reid N Erasmus I Dudley. GEELONG: J Martin 3 O Wiltshire 2 S Neale 2 O Henry 2 J Cameron 2 G Stevens O Mullin J Henry.

BEST - FREMANTLE: M Reid L Jackson A Brayshaw A Pearce J Amiss S Bolton. GEELONG: M Holmes T Bruhn J Cameron L Humphries.

UMPIRES: - N Foot J Howorth C Fleer J Mollison. CROWD: 55,201 at Optus Stadium.