Standing up in prime time and beating the teams it should was the challenge for Fremantle, and a powerful 41-point win against Essendon on Thursday night ticked both boxes at Optus Stadium as Fremantle continued their finals charge. 

Challenged briefly by a weakened Bombers side, Freo flexed their midfield muscle, won every quarter, and prevailed in a fifth consecutive game for the first time since 2022, winning 16.8 (104) to 9.9 (63). 

While they were able to perform below their best last week and still win, the maturing team left nothing to chance on Thursday night, suffocating the Bombers with their defence and then scoring clinically to pass 100 points for the fourth time this season.

The midfield was outstanding, led by vice-captain Caleb Serong, who lifted after the team was challenged early and sparked a six-goal run, finishing with 35 disposals, seven clearances, 10 inside 50s, and two goals in one of his best performances. 

Luke Jackson was handed the keys to the ruck with Sean Darcy rested and showed why he is such a formidable player, controlling stoppages with 48 hitouts and 10 clearances while also pushing forward to kick three goals. 

There were stars on every line for Fremantle, with defender Jordan Clark (33 disposals) also outstanding, and key forward Josh Treacy getting back among the goals with three after a dry spell.

With significant injury issues, the Bombers were always going to struggle in the west, but they showed plenty of grit at different stages. They could not compete with the Freo's midfield, however, losing clearances (44-26) and inside 50s (57-34) by large margins.

Young forward Nate Caddy (15 and a goal) worked hard to impact the game all over the ground, while midfielder Jye Caldwell (32 and eight clearances) battled at the coalface. Archer May booted two goals in an impressive second game.

Jackson was a force in the first quarter, racking up seven disposals and kicking a terrific goal, but it was Essendon's midfielders who made the brighter start at his feet, reading his hitouts and winning the clearances 7-4. 

Caddy was involved in both of the Bombers' early goals, working hard up the ground and then darting back to deliver the ball inside 50 as Peter Wright and Isaac Kako converted to grab an early lead. 

Fremantle steadied either side of quarter time, however, and went on a six-goal run as their ball movement became more direct, with Serong slotting an outstanding 50m goal from the boundary. 

When Treacy converted a long-range set shot from beyond the arc, Fremantle had all the momentum and a 23-point lead as skirmishes broke out involving Freo pair Shai Bolton and Pat Voss.

The Bombers were able to peg the margin back to 16 points at the main break, refusing to go away as Caddy took a soaring pack mark and converted before Zach Merrett found Xavier Duursma in space inside 50.   

The visitors maintained momentum to start the third term, but missed opportunities from Matt Guelfi and Jade Gresham, and a dropped mark from Archie Perkins, meant they didn't capitalise. 

The way Freo were pressing and locking the ball in their front half, the Bombers couldn't afford to waste chances, and they were eventually punished when Fremantle went on another blistering run with three goals in three minutes, opening a 37-point lead at the last change and putting the game to bed. 

Teenage ruck fights out debut
It was a baptism of fire for 19-year-old ruckman Vigo Visentini, going head-to-head with rampaging Fremantle big man Luke Jackson as a No.1 ruckman in his debut. The Bombers would be thrilled with the fight he showed, however, and his ability to impact the contest with 17 hitouts and four clearances. Most impressive was a crunching tackle that Visentini laid on Fremantle midfielder Matt Johnson in the second quarter, coming off second-best but highlighting his competitiveness. Mid-season recruit Archer May was equally impressive in his second game, kicking the first goal of his AFL career and presenting hard all night to finish with two.  

Wingman's courage pays off
Nathan O'Driscoll was playing his first game since round four after recovering from an ankle injury and showed how desperate he is to hold his spot and contribute with a diving spoil in the third quarter. O'Driscoll ran with the flight and launched courageously with Will Setterfield coming the other way to get a fist into the contest and prevent a mark. The ball spilled to Heath Chapman and ended with Caleb Serong kicking a running goal, but it was O'Driscoll who a lot of Dockers ran to when celebrating. The big moment sparked the run of goals that snuffed out the Bombers' chances.  

FREMANTLE     3.2    9.3    13.3    16.8 (104)
ESSENDON      2.2    6.5     6.8     9.9 (63)

GOALS 
Fremantle: Treacy 3, Jackson 3, Bolton 2, Frederick 2, Serong 2, Brayshaw, O'Driscoll, Reid, Voss
Essendon: Lual 2, May 2, Caddy, Duursma, Gresham, Kako, Wright  

BEST
Fremantle: Serong, Jackson, Clark, Brayshaw, Ryan, Treacy
Essendon: Caldwell, Caddy, Roberts, May, Lual, Parish 

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil 
Essendon: Duursma (hamstring) 

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: James Aish (replaced Nat Fyfe in the fourth quarter)
Essendon: Archie Perkins (replaced Xavier Duursma at half-time)

Crowd: 37,570 at Optus Stadium