FREMANTLE broke Collingwood's heart for a second-straight year with a thrilling 12-point win at Optus Stadium on Sunday night.

It was Michael Walters who stepped up with 30 seconds left in 2019, but with the star unavailable it was left to veteran David Mundy to sink the dagger with a goal after the siren.

In a battle of master against protégé it was first-year Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir who outfoxed his former mentor Nathan Buckley, taking home a 10.1 (61) to 7.7 (49) victory.

Longmuir's Dockers took a strangle hold in a 'keepings off' game early and bided their time until the Magpies eventually made mistakes. 

Fremantle's pressure was immense at ground level and the Dockers finished their work with speed and class when they forced Collingwood to turn the ball over.

The Magpies found themselves 14 points down halfway through the third term, but kept applying the pressure to find a three-goal swing to head into the final quarter with a four-point lead.

When Brodie Grundy got on top in the ruck and Collingwood's defence started to take control in the air, Longmuir switched Sean Darcy to the forward line and Rory Lobb immediately had an impact in the ruck.

First-year midfielder Caleb Serong was a shining light again for the Dockers with 24 disposals and nine clearances, while Nat Fyfe was strong with 24 disposals and a goal in his return match.

Brayden Maynard (11 intercept possessions) and Darcy Moore (13 intercept possessions) patrolled the skies, but Matt Taberner was again outstanding for Fremantle with four goals. 

The Dockers will have an eight-day break with the bye before they face Hawthorn, while the Magpies travel to Queensland to take on Sydney on Thursday.

Peaks and troughs in Sidebottom's return
Steele Sidebottom returned from his four-match sanction for breaking the AFL's COVID-19 protocols, but it took time for the midfielder to find his footing. Reece Conca was assigned to keep Sidebottom quiet, and with just one touch in the second quarter it looked like Sidebottom was destined for a dirty day. However, when the Magpies found themselves in trouble in the third and fourth quarters, it was Sidebottom who hit the scoreboard and completely lifted his teammates.  

All Australian hopeful gets the points in battle of the stars
Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe had Jack Crisp hanging beside him around the midfield, but the real battle was when the Dockers superstar moved forward. Darcy Moore took Fyfe when he rested deep and the mouth-watering match-up delivered instantly. Fyfe had the ball running into an open goal but fumbled under intense pressure from Moore. The Collingwood defender followed up multiple times and eventually out sped the dual Brownlow medalist to win the ball back and take the points in an outstanding play.

FREMANTLE:         0.0    4.1    6.1    10.1 (61)
COLLINGWOOD:   1.2    2.4    6.5    7.7 (49)

GOALS
Fremantle: Taberner 4, Crowden 2, Schultz 2, Fyfe, Mundy
Collingwood: Sidebottom 2, Sier, Grundy, Hoskin-Elliott, Mihocek, Stephenson.

BEST
Fremantle:  Serong, Mundy, Ryan, Taberner, Fyfe, Blakely
Collingwood: Sidebottom, Grundy, Noble, Maynard, Moore, Treloar 

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Collingwood: Nil