Fremantle young gun Ed Langdon booted a goal after the siren to hand the vastly improved Dockers a two-point JLT Community Series triumph over Collingwood in Mandurah on Saturday.
The 21-year-old marked in the dying seconds and from about 40m out on a 45-degree angle drilled the match-winning major and was swamped by his teammates as they ran out 1.11.12 (87) to 1.12.4 (85) winners at Rushton Park.
It was a morale-boosting performance for the Dockers after last week's rusty first-up showing against West Coast, but there was also plenty to like for the Pies as they fought back from 15 points down at the final change in 37-degree heat.
Importantly, star Freo ruckman Aaron Sandilands and reigning Doig Medallist Lachie Neale both got through unscathed in their comebacks from injury in energy-sapping conditions.
Sandilands, returning from a calf strain, was instrumental as Freo's engine room bounced back from a poor first-up showing.
The 34-year-old finished with 15 touches, 20 hit-outs and a goal after offering a marking target in attack, proving that yet again he holds a key to the Dockers' fortunes this season after missing most of last year through injury.
Neale (18 touches) worked into the game coming back from three bouts of surgery, while back-up ruckman Jonathon Griffin (two goals) made the most of opportunity after keeping his spot ahead of Michael Apeness.
But Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley would have been pleased with his big men Brodie Grundy (16 hitouts, 16 disposals) and Mason Cox (three goals) in a hard-fought ruck battle.
Grundy's follow-up work around the ground helped inspire the Pies to a handy two-goal lead at the long break.
In their first hit-outs of the pre-season, Collingwood stars Scott Pendlebury, skipper for the day Taylor Adams and Adam Treloar all had their moments as they blew out some cobwebs.
The Dockers ratcheted up their intensity after the loss to the Eagles and – led by recruit Bradley Hill's (one supergoal, one goal) precise kicking and line-breaking run - were much slicker as they took a three-point lead into quarter-time.
Freo should have been further ahead after controlling possession (83-68), clearances (9-4) and inside 50s (14-8).
But Collingwood's ability to absorb pressure and counter-attack would have pleased Buckley and the Pies made the most of a slight breeze to hit the front by two goals at the long break.
American giant Cox provided a focal point in attack and the Pies' fleet of runners swung the momentum back the visitors' way.
Youngster Tom Phillips (14 disposals) impressed with his dash, while Adams (21) was his typical busy self at the coalface.
Jeremy Howe was also superb for the Magpies, finishing with 24 touches and a supergoal to level scores at 73-all in the final term.
The Dockers appeared far more in tune in their second pre-season hit-out, and recruits Hill, Cam McCarthy and Joel Hamling showed encouraging signs.
McCarthy impressed with his workrate and snapped his first goal in purple in the opening term, while ex-Western Bulldogs premiership defender Hamling took some nice intercept marks.
However, former Cats forward Shane Kersten had a tough day with just four touches before he was crunched in a marking contest on the half-time siren and sat out the second half.
FREMANTLE 0.3.4 1.3.7 1.9.10 1.11.12 (87)
COLLINGWOOD 0.3.1 0.7.4 0.9.4 1.12.4 (85)
SUPERGOALS
Fremantle: B.Hill
Collingwood: Howe
GOALS
Fremantle: Walters 3, Griffin 2, Langdon 2, B.Hill, McCarthy, Sandilands, S.Hill
Collingwood: Cox 3, Fasolo 2, Moore, Phillips, White, Treloar, Varcoe, Greenwood, Adams
BEST
Fremantle: Sandilands, S.Hill, Walters, B.Hill, Hamling, Fyfe
Collingwood: Howe, Adams, Cox, Grundy, Treloar, Phillips
INJURIES
Fremantle: Kersten (TBC)
Collingwood: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Margetts, O'Gorman, Harris
Official crowd: TBC at Rushton Park
