Fremantle has claimed its fifth Western Derby victory in a row, the young Dockers coming from behind in the last quarter to beat their cross-town rivals by five points in an ugly but enthralling spectacle at Subiaco.
There was certainly nothing pretty about it as both sides showed just why they're at the wrong end of the ladder, but ultimately five Fremantle youngsters proved the difference in an intense final term.
The Eagles had moved out to a seven-point lead and appeared to have all the running after Mark Le Cras booted his second goal at the seventh minute mark.
But a sensational 65-metre goal from Clancee Pearce set the Dockers in motion once more, Fremantle following it up with goals to debutant Jay van Berlo and Tim Ruffles, both of whom scored two.
Despite playing in just his third match, Ruffles showed great composure to take the ball on the boundary and check side the winning goal. But it proved a bittersweet moment for the young New South Welshman as his knee collapsed at the very next centre bounce.
There was still time for the Eagles to respond, as Ashley Hansen drilled one to bring the margin back to five points.
But as West Coast streamed forward from defence in the last minute, Greg Broughton produced a marvellous smother on Shannon Hurn before Hayden Ballantyne's tackle on Tom Swift sealed the 10.11 (71) to 8.18 (66) result.
Returning from a two-match absence with a hamstring injury, Aaron Sandilands won his first Ross Glendinning medal having posted 30 possessions and 31 hit-outs, his ruckwork during the final term setting up his young crumbers for goals.
Pavlich and Paul Hasleby both had over 30 possessions despite battling injury to take the field, while Paul Duffield and Broughton were solid in defence.
For the Eagles, Adam Selwood, Andrew Embley, Chris Masten and Quinten Lynch all earned over 20 disposals, but the Eagles lacked the class going forward that Fremantle has.
West Coast's forwards also hit the post on four occasions but the most costly miss proved to be from Embley at the 12th minute mark of the last term, the veteran kicking astray from dead in front with the scores level.
In a typically fiery Derby beginning, West Coast dominated the opening 10 minutes but failed to make it count on the scoreboard as the Dockers assumed control through the middle.
Fremantle was helped by a superb quarter from Sandilands acting more as a linking midfielder. The ruckman earned 11 possessions as he set up several attacks and helped the Dockers take a 12-point lead through late goals to Antoni Grover and Sandilands himself after the siren.
The pattern looked like repeating itself in the second term as West Coast kicked the first two goals before Fremantle replied suit. But just as the Dockers looked particularly threatening, some poor discipline by Dean Solomon in the defensive 50 gave two free shots at goal in two minutes to Adam Selwood and Matt Rosa, who converted to give West Coast the lead.
However, Fremantle took a five-point lead into the main break thanks to a poor kick-out from David Wirrpanda which fell beautifully for Nic Suban to slam it home.
What followed after the break was one of the poorest quarters of football ever seen at this venue as both sides turned the ball over time and time again.
The Eagles shaded the term, though, kicking 1.5 to 1.1 to cut the deficit to just one point at the final break. But neither side looked likely to kick a goal before Ruffles snapped truly at the 23rd minute mark, Priddis replying with seconds remaining to set up a quality final term.
FREMANTLE: 3.4, 6.8, 7.9, 10.11 (71)
WEST COAST: 1.4, 5.9, 6.14, 8.18 (66)
GOALS: Fremantle: van Berlo 2, Ruffles 2, Mundy, Grover, Sandilands, Ballantyne, Suban, Pearce
West Coast: Le Cras 2, Ebert, Kennedy, A. Selwood, Rosa, Priddis, Hansen
BEST: Fremantle: Sandilands, Pavlich, Hasleby, Broughton, Suban, van Berlo
West Coast: A.Selwood, Embley, Masten, Kennedy, Glass,
INJURIES: Fremantle: Ruffles (knee)
West Coast: Nil
REPORTS: Dean Solomon (Fremantle) reported by umpire James for charging Andrew Embly during the first quarter
CHANGES: Fremantle Luke McPharlin (calf) replaced in selected side by Scott Thornton
UMPIRES: James, Margetts, Keating
CROWD: 39,536 at Subiaco