Blues leave it late to over-run Dockers in AFL thriller

Michael Voss's team has now won three games by 10 points or less after over-running the Dockers with the last three goals.

Freo held a nine-point break 23 minutes into the final quarter, before the Blues stormed to a fourth consecutive win.

In a last-gasp burst, Charlie Curnow (three goals), Michael Cottrell (two) and Matt Kennedy scored three majors in the last six minutes.

Carlton's Jacob Weitering was superb in defence, taking a dozen marks,  and Adam Cerra (one goal, 24 touches) and Adam Saad (25 disposals) were standouts.

Fremantle's Andrew Brayshaw collected a game-high 38 disposals, and James Aish (27), Jeremy Sharp (29) and Jordan Clark (30) were also prolific.

Ex-skipper Nat Fyfe gathered five clearances in 26 touches, and defenders Luke Ryan and Alex Pearce were solid.

Cerra snapped the first goal, but a tight tone was set early, with Freo scoring the next two before Blues skipper Patrick Cripps converted a set shot.

The Dockers led by one point (2.2 to 2.1) at quarter-time, and by three at halftime (4.2 to 3.5), when they had the top five ball-winners on the ground.

The Dockers snuck further ahead while the Blues were stuck in a rut, scoring six consecutive behinds, a lean spell  broken by Curnow, who squared scores after a contested mark.

And five minutes later the dual Coleman medallist converted a 40m shot from a tight angle as the Blues hit the front for the first time since the opening term.

But Carlton's advantage was short-lived as two Dockers - Tom Emmett and Josh Treacy - earnt holding-the-ball decisions to reply rapidly and restore a seven-point buffer.

Fremantle's Fyfe was then involved in a flashpoint when, after taking a mark on the wing, he was collected high by Carlton's Lachie Fogarty, whose outstretched arm in the contest will attract match review scrutiny.

Fyfe played on and the Dockers edged their lead to nine points at three-quarter-time, 7.7 to 5.10.

They appeared en route to victory when nine points up after a Michael Walters goal, only for the Blues to come from behind for a gallant win.