Fremantle forward Josh Treacy has taken a game-saving mark in defence to sink Collingwood hearts in a Gather Round thriller.
Despite rain bucketing down at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, Treacy somehow managed to clunk an incredible mark running back with the flight of the ball in the dying seconds of the Docker’s six-point win over the Magpies.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Josh Treacy takes game-saving mark
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The star goalkicker didn’t kick a major in what was a low-scoring scrap, but made himself a hero down the other end when he killed off Collingwood’s best chance to snatch it at the death.
Speaking to Channel 7 after the game, Treacy said he knew he had to move himself down back when he saw a sign from the bench.
“I saw the red sign go up and I know that’s my duty to get back and help,” he said.
“They (marks) hadn’t stuck all night, to be honest, and it was just one of those nights where I fought and had to keep bringing it to ground.
“It was nice to hang onto one there at the end.”
Fremantle defender Jordan Clark told Channel 7 Treacy’s mark was no fluke.
“I think he’d mark a couple of hundred, maybe even a thousand balls a week,” Clark said.
“He’s out there at six o’clock every morning with Patty Voss and Jye Amiss and they do some enormous work, so there’s no surprise to see him go back and and clunk that, even when it’s pissing down.”
In a dour contest frequently marred by teeming rain, the Magpies led by four points at three-quarter time before Fremantle’s Jye Amiss and Matthew Johnson kicked two clutch unanswered goals to snatch victory.
Justin Longmuir’s Dockers move to 4-1 and second on the ladder, while Craig McRae’s Collingwood (2-3) were left to rue chances to put the game away early in the final quarter of the 7.3 (45) to 5.9 (39) defeat.
The Magpies’ effort was led by Nick Daicos (31 disposals), who returned from a corked calf and played brilliantly through discomfort despite coming under plenty of physical attention from Fremantle.
Collingwood’s defence was magnificent, with Billy Frampton keeping Treacy goalless and Brayden Maynard doing the same to Patrick Voss.
Jordan De Goey copped a knee to the head from Fremantle’s Heath Chapman in a second-quarter marking contest, then later smacked the back of his head on the turf when he was pushed over by the defender. He failed a head injury assessment and will miss next Thursday’s clash with Carlton.
Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson (38 hitouts, 17 disposals), was excellent, espeically after halftime when he went one-out against Darcy Cameron and Oscar Steen, giving first use to Caleb Serong (24 disposals).
Fellow ruckman Sean Darcy failed a concussion test after he went head-first into Collingwood’s Ned Long in the second term and will miss next Sunday’s derby against West Coast.
Fremantle defenders Jordan Clark (28 disposals) and Luke Ryan (25 disposals) were excellent along with Alex Pearce (10 intercepts).
Collingwood dominated the first term but were wasteful going into attack, scoring just 1.2 from 18 inside-50s to keep the Dockers in the game.
Fremantle were pedestrian in the opening half, struggling to get their ball movement going, and trailed by eight at halftime.
The Dockers came out of the break with vastly improved intensity and Isaiah Dudley brought the crowd to life with the opening goal.
Two more majors to Amiss and Dudley handed Fremantle a nine-point lead in a flash.
Magpies debutant Angus Anderson steadied the ship with his first goal, before Jack Crisp put Collingwood back in front at three-quarter time.
Collingwood blew multiple chances and Amiss’s thumping second goal in the rain cut the margin to a point, before Johnson kicked a goal on the run to put Fremantle in front.
– With AAP
