Despite a gut-busting fourth-quarter surge from Echuca’s Ollie Wines and his Port Adelaide teammates, a clutch goal from Moama’s Lachie Schultz helped Fremantle to an important eight-point win on Sunday night.
Trailing by 34 points at the final break of the round 16 clash, the Power booted five of the last six goals to draw within a kick of the Dockers, but Schultz’s goal in the 16th minute, his second for the match, saw the Dockers escape with a narrow 15.9 (99) to 14.7 (91) victory.
Wines picked up a mountain of the football in a workmanlike performance with 39 disposals, six marks and five clearances.
Power teammate and Deniliquin export Todd Marshall hit the scoreboard with a goal and reeled in five marks but will be left to rue some missed late shots on goal alongside Robbie Gray.
Schultz finished with 11 disposals, two goals, five marks and the game-winning major, and his value to the Dockers when he hits the scoreboard is backed up by the fact that Freo is 18-0 when he boots multiple goals in a match.
He has also proven to be one of the top small forwards in 2022, booting 21 goals so far this season.
Another Echuca product in Brodie Kemp tallied 13 disposals and five marks in Carlton’s shock 25-point defeat to the Saints. The Blues travel to Optus Stadium to face West Coast on Sunday.
For Port and Wines, defeat has set them two games back in the race for finals with seven games to play, with the Power hosting GWS in a crucial encounter at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Schultz and Freo, a game clear in the AFL top four, travel to Marvel Stadium to face St Kilda.
