FREMANTLE’S bold decision to rest almost half of its best line-up in round 21 has been justified after the rejuvenated side defeated Carlton by six points at Subiaco Oval on Friday night to secure a home elimination final.
 
Small forward Hayden Ballantyne’s late inclusion meant Fremantle made an incredible 11 changes to last week’s side and it might not have held off a late Carlton surge without the fresh legs, eventually prevailing 13.15 (93) to 13.9 (87).    
 
Carlton booted the first three goals of the fourth term to chop a 30-point deficit back to just 11 points, and it kicked the final three of the game in a tense last quarter.
 
But Fremantle held on in front of a sell-out home crowd to notch one of the club’s most important wins in a thrilling finals-like contest.   
 
Mark Harvey’s side now appears likely to host Hawthorn in the first week of September with the remote possibility that Carlton could be returning to Perth in one week’s time, should the Swans lose to the Lions on Saturday night.
 
The more likely scenario for the Blues, who will enter the finals after five losses in eight games, is a trip to Sydney’s ANZ Stadium for a do-or-die clash with the Swans.  
 
Rested Fremantle players David Mundy (23 possessions and four clearances) and Matthew Pavlich (25 and two goals) were important in the win, while Aaron Sandilands returned from a three-week foot injury to have a massive 40 hit-outs, 13 clearances and 17 contested possessions.  

HAWTHORN clinically disposed of an under-strength Fremantle side by 116 points at Aurora Stadium in Launceston on Saturday.

Freo rested seven players for the clash, including skipper Matthew Pavlich, and veteran midfielder Paul Hasleby was a late withdrawal from a side that had no answers to the Hawks' dominance in the 24.11 (155) to 5.9 (39) demolition.

Despite the assertive performance, Hawthorn finished the match with injury clouds over Luke Hodge and Grant Birchall who both watched much of the final term from the bench.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson confirmed post-match that he expects Birchall to miss at least a couple of weeks with a hamstring tear, potentially ruling the rebounding half-back out of finals action.

“That’s a disappointing aspect of the game as he was up and going and playing quite well for us,” Clarkson said.

“You play in this brutal game and you’re going to get injuries and unfortunately for Birch he’s got an injury that will probably keep him out for a couple of weeks.”

The news was better with regards to star utility Hodge’s “wrenched knee”, with Clarkson declaring him an almost certain starter for the Round 22 clash against Collingwood next Saturday.

THE SYDNEY Swans overcame injury to notch a courageous nine-point win over Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Saturday, reigniting their push for a home final and leaving their opponents on shaky ground.  

In a thrilling final term that included five lead changes, the Swans kicked the last two goals of the game to snatch a 14.12 (96) to 13.9 (87) win that Fremantle had its chances to seal.

Jesse White emerged as an unlikely hero in the final minutes, kicking the goal that gave the Swans the lead after a dirty day against Antoni Grover.

Fremantle then went into attack but couldn’t snare the goal they needed before Ryan O’Keefe, who had been used in a defensive role all day, marked on the goal-line and sealed the Swans’ gutsiest win of the year.

It was the Swans’ first triumph against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval since 1998, and it leaves them level on points with sixth-placed Carlton and one game behind Fremantle, which failed to lock in a home final.  

The visitors played out most of the second half without Ben McGlynn (three goals, 17 possessions), who had been a star up to the point he collided with Zac Clarke and sustained a facial injury. Clarke was reported for rough conduct.

Jarred Moore was shaken when he fell into Luke McPharlin’s knee backing back for a courageous mark, and he was taken from the ground on a stretcher before returning late in the final term.    

NORTH Melbourne's finals hopes have received a huge boost with a 54-point win over Fremantle at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The Kangaroos got off to a flying start to lead by six goals at quarter time, and though Fremantle cut the margin to 11 points at the main break, they were never headed on their way to the 19.9 (123) to 10.9 (69) result.

While North's September dream edges closer, Fremantle's prospects of finishing in the top four are looking shaky.

Brady Rawlings starred for North, gathering 39 possessions and shutting the dangerous Stephen Hill right out of the game. Held to seven touches, Hill's impact was minimal.

Captain Brent Harvey was prolific around the ground, finishing with 34 disposals and three goals, while Daniel Wells was significant as a rebounding defender and occasionally ventured forward.

Dylan Roberton played a similar role for Fremantle and was one of his side's best players, and though fellow youngster Nathan Fyfe was also busy he too often ignored his first option and took too long to dispose of the ball.