Fremantle beat Adelaide by 24 points at Optus Stadium on Friday night to clinch the minor premiership with a round of the home and away season still to play. The Dockers won 16.16 (112) to 13.10 (88) in front of 55,010.
Jye Amiss kicked five goals and Isaiah Dudley three. Caleb Serong had 29 disposals and 12 clearances, Andrew Brayshaw had 27 disposals, and Josh Treacy took 11 marks. Michael Frederick and Serong kicked two each.
Fremantle led at every break but never got clear of the Crows. They were 13 points up at quarter time, five at half time and seven at the last change before kicking five goals to three in the final term. Adelaide came in needing the win to strengthen a top four claim and made six changes to their side for it.
It is Fremantle's first minor premiership since 2015 and the second in the club's history. The win was their 19th of the season, which equals the 19 home and away wins West Coast recorded in 1991, the most by a Western Australian club. They can pass it against Carlton at Marvel Stadium next Saturday.
They also finished the home part of the season 12-0 at Optus Stadium.
Izak Rankine had a game high 39 disposals for Adelaide. Riley Thilthorpe, Josh Rachele and Darcy Fogarty kicked two goals each. Rory Laird and Callum Ah Chee kicked one apiece.
Luke Ryan played his 200th game for Fremantle.
The Dockers are 19-3 with a percentage of 142.5, which no other side can now catch. Sydney are second on 16 wins and five losses with two games left, Hawthorn third on 14 wins, a draw and six losses, and Brisbane fourth on 14 and seven. Adelaide sit fifth on 14 and eight, level on wins with the two sides above them and behind on percentage.
Round 24 starts on Thursday 20 August with St Kilda and Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium. Fremantle play Carlton at 1.15pm AEST on Saturday 22 August, and Adelaide host Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval that night. West Coast and Hawthorn close the home and away season at Optus Stadium on the Sunday.
