Fremantle have squandered an opportunity to take another step towards securing their return to the finals, suffering a shock four-point defeat to Carlton at Fremantle Oval.

The underdog visitors came in on the back of a difficult month which had seen them lose their last four games, including heavy defeats to premiership-contending Brisbane and the Kangaroos.

But they produced an effort full of spirit and kicked the only two goals of the final term to steal a 5.4 (34) to 4.6 (30) victory from their more-fancied hosts.

Ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster western derby, the result leaves the Dockers in sixth spot and with a one-game buffer on ninth with three games left in their season.

Trailing by 10 points at the final break, the Blues attacked the final term with a renewed intensity and were rewarded by an agile snap from ruck Breann Moody which brought the margin back inside one straight kick.

And they looked to have given the Dockers a huge late let-off when Darcy Vescio was only able to push a set shot which would have stolen the lead back across the face, but were rewarded for continuing to push on through Keeley Sherar, who broke loose of a contest to slot what proved to be the winner.

The late withdrawal of Hayley Miller due to calf soreness added to a lengthy list of Fremantle absences which includes stars Aine Tighe, Ange Stannett and Kiara Bowers.

But the strong efforts of ruck Mim Strom (47 hit-outs, 12 disposals, four tackles) and Aisling McCarthy (17 disposals) in the midfield were not enough to drive them over the line.

Slow starts have plagued Fremantle all season long but they opened the game in blistering fashion, with Ebony Antonio kicking two goals — the same amount as they had managed in all their other first terms on the year combined — in the first 10 minutes.

The veteran’s scoreboard impact came as part of a blistering start where the Dockers completely dominated proceedings, registering 10 of the first 11 inside-50’s.

But the Blues were able to respond with the next three goals, being sparked into life by Lila Keck capitalising on a 50-metre penalty before Keeley Skepper followed up with two clever finishes, to again leave Fremantle behind at the first break.

A free-flowing contest devolved into a tightly contested scrap in the second term, with Carlton’s frantic tackle pressure pinning the Dockers inside their defensive half.

The only score of the quarter came in the dying stages, with Tayla Ortlepp missing a golden chance to extend the Blues lead by only being able to slam a rushed snap into the post, leaving her side’s half-time advantage at six points.

Having not recorded a disposal in the first half, breakout young forward Tunisha Kikoak got Fremantle back in front inside the first two minutes of the second, slamming home a set shot from nearly 40m out.

And their next goal came in even more spectacular fashion, with defender Ash Brazill streaming forward from defence to kick a running left-footed drop punt from deep in the pocket which will figure among the contenders for goal of the season.

SCOREBOARD

CARLTON 3.1, 3.2, 3.2, 5.4 (34)

FREMANTLE 2.2, 2.2, 4.6, 4.6 (30)

Goals - CARLTON: K Skepper 2 L Keck B Moody K Sherar. FREMANTLE: E Antonio 2 T Kikoak A Brazill.

Best - CARLTON: M Guerin K Skepper K Sherar J Good K Peterson. FREMANTLE: M Strom A McCarthy L Pugh M Scanlon E Antonio.

Injuries - FREMANTLE: H Miller (calf) replaced in selected side by M Morrison. CARLTON: L Goss (ankle).

Umpires: M Adams G Devenish B Laycock. Crowd: TBC at Fremantle Oval.