Round eight saw the most exciting finish to an AFL game this season, when Richmond forward Sam Lloyd kicked a goal after the siren to beat the Sydney Swans.

The one point victory sent the footy world into hysterics, and opened up the discussion of which finish to a match in the modern age of football was the greatest.

And the late goal in round 21, 2005, by Freo’s own Justin Longmuir was a strong contender.

With just one point separating the sides, and Fremantle’s finals dream on the line, Luke McPharlin chased down St Kilda’s Justin Peckett in the dying seconds of the match.

He got the free and kicked it into the forward 50, where Justin Longmuir took a solid mark just 30 metres out. The crowd erupted.

Match preview: Freo v St Kilda

Longmuir composed himself and kicked the major. The sound of the siren went unheard under the deafening roar of the crowd.

The final score stood at 12.8 (80) to 11.9 (75).

All Australian defender Luke McPharlin recalled the nail-biting victory this week.

“I was well aware there wasn’t much time left, so it was really about getting back off the mark as quickly as possible and getting it into an area that I thought we’d have the best chance of kicking a goal,” McParlin said.

McPharlin said he was looking for full-forward Matthew Pavlich, but he had full confidence in Longmuir’s ability to convert the goal.

“He’s always had a pretty accurate kick and he just looked so calm and composed, his routine was solid, his run up was great and his follow through was strong,” he said.

“I was dropping him at his car after the game and I asked him what he was thinking and he said he felt completely relaxed.”

McPharlin was instrumental to the game as he, alongside Pavlich, kicked four goals apiece, as well as making the match winning tackle.

McPharlin said he was happy with his performance and glad he got the chance to play forward in the game.

“I was pretty happy with my performance, particularly in the last quarter I felt I was able to have some real impact when the game was on the line,” he said.

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“I’d been playing forward and defence for the whole duration of my career so to play forward that night and have an impact on the scoreboard was great fun.”

It was the second tight game between the sides in the 2005 season, as the Saints held onto a one-point win in round two.

McPharlin said the win was one of the best he had been involved in.

“It was incredible I don’t think I can recall, outside of us winning a preliminary final in 2013, the crowd being so loud as they were that night,” he said.

“Justin ran straight to the boundary line and was celebrating with the fans.

“It was just an exciting moment for a football team who hadn’t had too much to celebrate in our early stages.

‘It was just a really exciting game to be a part of and see the result go our way.”

The 2005 victory put Fremantle in the top eight, but their success was short lived when Port Adelaide crushed their finals dream in the last round of the competition.

They finished 10th on the ladder with 11 wins and 11 losses.

Fremantle take on St. Kilda this week at Etihad Stadium on Saturday at 2:35pm AWST.