Fremantle has secured a crucial victory in its quest for a maiden finals appearance under Lisa Webb, defeating St Kilda by 11 points in a tussle at RSEA Park.
The Dockers kicked seven consecutive behinds in the torrid, defensive game, and free space was at a premium in the 3.7 (25) to 2.2 (14) result, while the Saints managed just one point in the second half.
In a rare patch of free-flowing footy, Ash Brazill kickstarted a charge out of defence in the final minute of the game, Gabby Biedenweg-Webster having more than enough time to fumble a goal through to seal the result.
It was a slow start to the game, with both sides holding up relatively well defensively. St Kilda looked the more dangerous team early, particularly when it used the wide expanses of RSEA Park to switch to the open side of the ground, but was unable to do so enough.
SAINTS MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 5
It took a neat sidestep and dagger kick from Nat Exon to open the goal scoring, the sole for the first term.
Brazill gave up 10cm to Jesse Wardlaw, the veteran Docker defender keeping things relatively even until the Saints star earned a free kick late in the second, giving her team the narrowest of leads at the half-time break.
Wardlaw was thrown into the ruck halfway through the third term – despite the Saints having both Emmelie Fielder and Simone Nalder in their 21 – in an attempt to kick-start something through the middle of the ground.
Fremantle had dominated territory in the third term but struggled to put it on the scoreboard. Young Docker tall Ariana Hetherington had three chances to kick a goal in the third term, but missed all her shots to the right, as the visitors inched ahead, point by point.
Mim Strom controlled the stoppages, the competition's in-form ruck a constant presence all over the ground and taking a number of strong intercept marks.
Fremantle lockdown defender Jess Low laid a crucial run-down tackle on Grace Kelly as she charged towards goal in the fourth term, and Sarah Verrier also laid a crucial smother on an Ella Friend snap.
Dana East's game finished before the final siren, ruled out with concussion.
ST KILDA 1.1 2.1 2.2 2.2 (14)
FREMANTLE 0.0 2.0 2.6 3.7 (25)
GOALS
St Kilda: Exon, Wardlaw
Fremantle: Kikoak 2, Biedenweg-Webster
BEST
St Kilda: Watson, Lambert, Priest, Wardlaw, Trudgeon
Fremantle: Strom, McCarthy, Miller, O'Driscoll, Kikoak
INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Fremantle: East (concussion)
