Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has praised forward-turned-defender Josh Treacy for his game-saving mark in the final seconds of the Dockers' six-point win over North Melbourne.
North Melbourne won a stoppage clearance on the wing with less than a minute to go, hurtling the ball towards the forward arc, where Harry Sheezel would put boot to ball towards a three on one contest in the Kangaroos' favour.
However, in the middle of it all was Treacy, standing tall in the clutch to take a mark with 45 seconds left and end any chance of a North Melbourne game-tying goal, helping the Dockers hold on for a thrilling victory.
The Fremantle forward had been swung back as a spare defender for the closing stages of the match, and was able to take his moment when it came.
Josh Treacy CLUTCHED UP with this intercept mark inside the final 45 seconds to see the @freodockers home by a goal โ๏ธ
โ๏ธ WRAP https://t.co/dSNy5fDdE7
๐ข FINAL STATS https://t.co/ekwB2EndZQ pic.twitter.com/7ev7VKPn0W— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 14, 2025
"It was unbelievable," Longmuir said post-game.
"They equalized, so he had to man up back there when we wanted him as an extra. And to be honest, to be fair on him, he marked it well all day. Thought he was really strong in the contest all day. And then the last line of defence to be able to have the sticky fingers like that to mark it was handy.
"We'll do a little bit of work on the kicking, would rather not kick it out and out of bounds on the full but take the good with the bad," Longmuir said lightheartedly.
Longmuir also confirmed the issue of veteran Michael Walters' latest setback, with the 34-year-old pulled out of his expected WAFL return on Saturday.
Walters has not played a game this season as he overcomes knee surgery, with his return to football this weekend delayed due to more knee soreness.
"Well it's not serious," Longmuir confirmed.
"Maybe just the fact that we built him the last couple of weeks in the main training, and he's got a little bit of soreness. I haven't got the full extent of what it is, but they tell me it's not serious, and we're hoping it settles down reasonably quick."
Longmuir also touched on skipper Alex Pearce's availability, and confirmed why Sam Switkowski was sidelined for the majority of the final term.
"He's a chance to play next week," Longmuir said on Pearce.
"(Switkowski) has got hammy tightness. I haven't had the update from the docs yet, so we'll get back in the rooms and see that.
"But the message up to the box was it was tightness and they didn't want
to risk him more than what you would have in the past."
With Fremantle's win the Dockers are now entrenched inside the top eight, but will come off a short five-day break to host the Bombers on Thursday night.
