Fremantle showed the ruthlessness required to be a contender in 2026 with a powerful second half against Richmond on Saturday, recording a 60-point win at Optus Stadium.

The Dockers were challenged by a spirited young Tigers team in the first half and trailed by six points late in the second quarter, but they dominated proceedings thereafter to win 13.25 (103) to 6.7 (43).

They shifted gears after the main break and returned to the attacking style they have built in 2026, kicking 8.16 in the second half to clear 100 points for the third straight match.

Key forward Josh Treacy booted four goals and took 12 marks in the win, hanging onto every kick that came his way.

The Dockers' midfield was led by Caleb Serong (32 disposals and nine clearances) and Shai Bolton (33 and six inside 50s), while Sean Darcy (29 hitouts and a goal) lifted as the game went on to build touch in the ruck alongside Luke Jackson.

They set the win up in a devastating third quarter that saw them boot five unanswered goals, sharpening their game at the coalface and burning away from the Tigers in a match-winning burst.

Richmond coach Adem Yze flagged the need to take away the Dockers' speed as a priority, and his players got the job done early, holding the inaccurate Dockers to 1.5 in the process after they had booted a combined 15.11 in their two opening quarters to start the season.

Fremantle was forced to control possession more than it had, racking up uncontested marks and then kicking inside 50 to contests, with Jye Amiss kicking the only goal of the quarter after a crafty lead and strong mark.

The Tigers were impressive in the contest, but it wasn't until the second quarter when they started to connect well inside 50, picking out smaller targets as Tim Taranto and Steely Green combined for five goals in a superb run that saw them take the lead close to half time.

Their tackling pressure was important, forcing turnovers and then chaining the ball through the middle of the ground, with Sam Lalor picking out Green late in the quarter with a perfect kick inside 50 to cap an impressive half for the No.1 pick.

The Dockers didn't lie down, however, kicking back-to-back goals in the final 50 seconds of the half through Serong at a forward 50 stoppage and then Treacy to take back at six-point lead at the main break.

It was the start of an eight-goal run, with the Dockers taking total control through the third quarter, winning clearances 13-5 and inside 50s 19-7 and turning an earlier six-point deficit into a 44-point lead at the last change.

Captain Taranto 
Midfielder Tim Taranto has said that he would like to captain Richmond one day, and on Saturday the club got an early look at how he would approach the role if he ever took over from ruckman Toby Nankervis permanently. It was a good first showing from Taranto, who was elevated to vice-captain ahead of this season and will fill the top job for the next six to eight weeks as Nankervis recovers from a hamstring injury. The midfielder tackled relentlessly in the midfield through the first half and pushed forward well, finishing with 24 disposals, two goals and 10 tackles. The 28-year-old has embraced a leadership role at the club, and his encouragement and support was on show with young teammates.

FREMANTLE   1.5   5.9   10.18   13.25 (103)
RICHMOND   0.3   5.3   5.4   6.7 (43)

GOALS 
Fremantle: Treacy 4, Amiss 2, Serong 2, Darcy, Dudley, Jackson, Johnson, Voss   
Richmond: Green 3, Taranto 2, Faull

BEST
Fremantle: Treacy, Serong, Bolton, Clark, Wagner, Cox, Jackson
Richmond: Taranto, Green, Trainor, Ross, Short, Lalor

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil 
Richmond: Alger (knee)

Crowd: 35,245 at Optus Stadium