Docker shocker as Saints hold Freo to five goals to bounce back

The Saints have proven too good for the Dockers

Mitch Owens celebrates a goal during St Kilda's clash against Fremantle in round eight, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

ROSS Lyon asked his team for more at the contest, and more is what it gave.

St Kilda shook off a hyper defensive start to explode in the second half, running out a 14.10 (94) to 5.3 (33) winner over Fremantle under the Marvel Stadium roof on Friday evening. And it was all built on the Saints' hard edge at the contest, winning the clearance count 50-22, and the contested possession count 151-103.

SAINTS v DOCKERS Full match coverage and stats

Meanwhile, things went from bad to worse for Fremantle, with dynamic midfielder Hayden Young suffering his third hamstring injury of the year, as he was subbed out in the second quarter.

In a game that was crying out for someone to take the spotlight, Cooper Sharman was the fire starter in the third quarter. First, he rose above the pack backyard footy style in a moment that exposed the Fremantle defence, and gave the Saint confidence to leap at the footy.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS Previous Next 02:39 Scintillating Sharman steals the show Cooper Sharman delivers an unforgettable performance with four goals, featuring a towering speccy and a Goal of the Year contender

08:04 Highlights: St Kilda v Fremantle The Saints and Dockers clash in round eight of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

00:51 Ross can only smile after Garcia's goal raises roof After a tough week, Hugo Garcia claims a well-deserved major in the final term as cameras pan to Ross Lyon's reaction

00:43 Owens brings the wow and then the bow Mitch Owens reels in a stunning one-handed mark before finishing strongly and celebrating with the home faithful

00:48 Super Cooper conjures 'goal of his life' in crazy contender Cooper Sharman delivers a familiar celebration after stunning the crowd with this ridiculous effort to put his hand up for Goal of the Year

00:42 Dudley finally cracks the code as Dockers end drought Isaiah Dudley provides the goal Fremantle was crying out for after a dry spell

00:38 Big Freo blow as gun subbed with hammy concern The Dockers are forced to substitute Hayden Young out of the game after the injury-riddled midfielder comes off worse for wear following a tackle

00:46 Jack rocks, then rolls after dribbler finds the goals Jack Higgins delivers a unique celebration after scoring a thrilling goal for the Saints

00:37 Owens the Saint goes flying in and Hill does the rest Mitch Owens reels in a courageous mark before finding Brad Hill for a superb opening goal

He backed it up with three goals for the term, and four for the game, including a neat kick around the body under pressure from the deepest of angles, and celebrated Jason Akermanis-style. His ability to get into the game was a result of St Kilda's willingness to empty out its attacking arc to offer its forward line some room to move.

Mitch Owens (18 disposals, three goals) added some creativity and class in the front half, and Hugo Garcia's response after a tough week bore 19 disposals, 10 tackles, and a goal for the match.

Learn More 08:04

It was a defensive, slow-moving opening half, leading to Fremantle's third lowest half-time score in its history at just seven points, and just the fourth time the club had generated fewer than three scoring shots in a half of football.

The Dockers simply couldn't get their hands on the footy.

Learn More 02:39

Andy Brayshaw (18 disposals, one clearance) couldn't establish any flow in his game, largely being marked by Saints captain Jack Steele, and Caleb Serong (15 disposals, eight clearances) had a rotating match-up of Jack Macrae (38 disposals, 14 clearances) and Garcia to contend with.

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St Kilda was effective in forcing the Dockers wide and slow, relying on the latter's tendency to bunker down when under pressure and opt for safe, stagnant ball movement. Every time there was a sniff of creative, quick play, they were caught out with indecision going inside 50 and ultimately turned the ball over.

The visitors' forward 50 arc acted almost as a force-field as a result of their poor use, and St Kilda's proactive defensive positioning. Jimmy Webster (21 disposals, seven intercepts) and Callum Wilkie (eight intercepts, 14 marks) were staunch behind play.

Despite the Dockers' defence's disorganisation at times, captain Alex Pearce (10 intercepts, four contested marks) stood tall fighting hard in the air and on the ground.

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Garcia's response

All eyes were on 19-year-old Saint Hugo Garcia after he was subbed out just 12 minutes into the second quarter last week. He was just one of many Saints who weren't getting the job done in the contest against the Lions, so Friday night was a chance for Garcia to sink or swim, and swim he did. Strong around the contest, competing hard with Docker Caleb Serong for long periods of the game, and his intent to compete was no clearer than when he impressively ran down Shai Bolton in the second quarter. As Bolton was running in space towards goal in the forward pocket, Garcia dug in to bring the Docker down and force the kick offline. Garcia played out the game, and capped off the performance with a crowd-lifting goal in the last quarter.

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Contested footy

St Kilda was let down by its inability to maintain possession out of the contest last week, much to the distaste of coach Ross Lyon, but importantly it rebounded to start the game on Friday night. By half-time it was up 31-23 inside 50s, 28-11 clearances, and 82-59 contested possessions. The Saints' hard edge, and work to worry Fremantle out of clean disposal or fast ball movement, was crucial. Jack Macrae led the charge through the middle, but it was leaping forward Mitch Owens and debutant Hugh Boxshall who also rose to the challenge.

More pain for Young

He was the player Fremantle could least afford to lose. Caleb Serong was being blanketed at stoppage, and Andy Brayshaw had a revived Jack Steele to contend with for much of the game, so it was Hayden Young who was most likely to do damage through the contest for Fremantle. But before the half-time siren even went, Young had shuffled off with a right hamstring concern, and subbed out of the game. Friday evening's match was just Young's fourth of the season after back-to-back hamstring problems during pre-season.

Learn More 00:38

ST KILDA 2.2 4.3 8.6 14.10 (94)

FREMANTLE 1.0 1.1 2.3 5.3 (33)

GOALS

St Kilda: Sharman 4, Owens 3, Wilson, Steele, Hill, Higgins, Garcia, Collard, Caminiti

Fremantle: Amiss 2, Young, Narkle, Dudley

BEST

St Kilda: Owens, Sharman, Macrae, Steele, Wanganeen-Milera, Wilkie

Fremantle: Pearce, Clark, Wagner, Ryan

INJURIES

St Kilda: Nil

Fremantle: Young (right hamstring)

LATE CHANGES

St Kilda: Mattaes Phillipou replaced by Tobie Travaglia

Fremantle: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

St Kilda: Tobie Travaglia (unused)

Fremantle: Quinton Narkle (replaced Hayden Young in the second quarter)

Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium

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