An unacceptable performance from St Kilda has seen the four points slip right through their fingers and gift a barnstorming Fremantle outfit an emphatic win at Metricon Stadium.

It was a dream-turned-nightmare for the red, white and black, who led by 36 points after a scintillating seven-goal opening term, before the Dockers pieced together the year’s most incredible come-from-behind triumph to emerge victorious in the 12.7 (79) to 11.7 (73) result.

A last-gasp fightback from the Saints and quick goals to Tim Membrey, Jade Gresham and Zak Jones levelled the scores in the dying minutes, with a costly 50-metre penalty against Michael Walters opening the door for a miraculous escape.

But it was youngster Lachie Schultz who seized the opportunity with less than a minute on the clock, steering through the match-winner after missing a chance to bury the Saints earlier in the day.

The odds were stacked heavily against the Dockers after finding themselves two men down in the first half – Sean Darcy felled by a big Ben Long bump and Hayden Young sidelined with a suspected ankle injury – but managed to outpoint their opposition all over the ground to record their second win on the trot.

Most disappointingly, the Saints' runaway start showed no signs of slowing down after registering the equal-highest opening quarter score of 2020.

Ratten's brigade feasted on Freo’s fumbles off the back of their own pressure and pace, with the smattering of Saints fans at Metricon Stadium blown away by the new-look side.

But the scoring, intensity and flair evaporated shortly thereafter, as cries of joy turned into ones of frustration.

Fremantle looked like a completely different side after their disastrous first quarter, slamming home 11 goals against the stagnant Saints, who had no answer for the resurgent home outfit.

The huge momentum swing was unable to be contained by the fading visitors, who were in turn held to just four goals for the rest of the match as Michael Walters (26 disposals, eight clearances), Andrew Brayshaw (20 disposals, six tackles) and a goalsquare-residing Nat Fyfe (two goals) got to work to stoke the Dockers’ fire.

With zero overlap run, minimal hunt around the contest, poor execution coming out of defence and the weight of Fremantle’s forward press bearing down, the Saints crumbled as what originally looked like a sure victory devolved into an easily forgettable affair.

Jack Steele (22 disposals) was able to hold his head high after toiling hard through the middle, while Tim Membrey kicked three goals to keep the Saints in the contest.

But too much was left to too few, with the influence of many of Brett Ratten’s men significantly diminishing after the rampant opening term.

It was only Freo’s inaccuracy in front of goal that kept St Kilda’s hopes flickering, with the red, white and black cobbling together one final charge to almost clinch the win from their valiant opposition.

But the four points ultimately went to the deserving Dockers, whose persistence in the face of adversity couldn’t be questioned, even if the result could have gone either way in the final minute.

St Kilda will look to remedy Saturday’s missteps next Monday against Adelaide, while Fremantle will return home to Western Australia in the hopes of making it three on the bounce in Sunday’s Western Derby against the Eagles.

FREMANTLE  1.2  6.4  9.7  12.7 (79)
ST KILDA  7.2  8.5  8.5  11.7 (73)

GOALS
Fremantle: Schultz 2, Taberner 2, Fyfe 2, Darcy, Lobb, Bewley, Fyfe, Tucker, Serong, Banfield
St Kilda: Membrey 3, Jones 2, Billings, Butler, Kent, Lonie, King, Gresham

BEST
Fremantle: Walters, Fyfe, Brayshaw, Taberner, Tucker, Lobb, Schultz
St Kilda: Steele, Membrey, Billings, Jones, Wilkie, Clark, Howard

INJURIES
Fremantle: Cox replaced in the selected side by Duman, Young (ankle), Darcy (concussion)
St Kilda: Nil