A sensational three-goal burst in the final quarter has seen Fremantle fight back to defeat Carlton by four points at Princes Park in an AFLW classic.

The 6.9 (45) to 6.5 (41) result has all but ended the Blues’ finals hopes as they are now two games and percentage outside the top six with just two home-and-away rounds remaining.

When Nicola Stevens put Carlton up by 15 points with her second goal early in the final quarter, the hosts looked home.

But a pair of goals from Sabreena Duffy in the space of a minute got the Dockers to within four points.

Gemma Houghton’s long-range set shot shortly afterwards put the visitors ahead for the first time and they held on until the final siren.

The star for Fremantle was Kiara Bowers, who amassed 28 disposals (15 contested), 11 tackles and nine clearances.

Duffy and Jasmin Stewart slotted two goals apiece for the visitors.

For Carlton, captain Kerryn Harrington (21 touches) was impressive, as were ruck Breanna Moody (18 and 22 hitouts), Maddy Prespakis and Stevens.

Carlton came out firing in the first quarter.(

AAP: James Ross

)

The Blues absolutely swamped the Dockers in the first quarter, dominating the inside 50s (16-2) and contested possessions (35-16).

After conceding just 16 points on average per game this season, the Dockers had already leaked 3.4 before the second term began.

Five Fremantle players failed to touch the ball in the opening stanza.

The visitors turned the tide after the first change, ending Carlton’s run of three consecutive goals with three of the next four majors to cut the deficit to four points late in the third quarter.

Carlton seemed to have withstood the Fremantle surge, with goals from Georgia Gee and Stevens either side of three-quarter time putting them 15 points to the good.

But the Dockers had other plans as they completed an incredible fightback, snatching the Blues’ finals destiny from their grasp.

AAP



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