Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir insists 2024 doesn't represent a wasted season despite Sunday's 20-point loss to Port Adelaide costing the Dockers a finals berth for a second straight year.
On a dramatic Super Sunday of AFL action, Fremantle got the slice of luck they were so desperately craving when St Kilda beat Carlton by two points.
A huge roar erupted around Optus Stadium before the Dockers-Power clash when St Kilda's Jack Higgins scored a goal with 12 seconds remaining to secure victory over Carlton.
That result meant Fremantle simply needed to beat Port to secure eighth spot.
But the Dockers couldn't complete their part of the equation, with two final-quarter goals from former West Coast star Willie Rioli helping Port secure the 13.9 (87) to 9.13 (67) victory in front of 45,322 fans.
It meant Carlton (13-10) finished eighth, with Fremantle (12-10-1) sliding to 10th.
Sunday's match was also crucial for Port, given a loss by about four goals would have allowed Geelong to leapfrog them into second spot.
Port's win means they will host the third-placed Cats in a qualifying final.
Fremantle posted one win, one draw and six losses from games decided by 13 points or less this year.
Their defeats to Essendon (one point), Geelong (11 points), GWS (nine points) and Port (20 points) meant Fremantle became the first-ever team to go from as high as third with four games remaining to missing the finals since the top-eight system was installed in 1994.
Longmuir rued his team's inability to win close contests.
"Under pressure when the game's been on the line, we haven't handled those moments enough," Longmuir said.
"We've gone up a notch (overall since last year), but we haven't gone up far enough.
"And our goal will be to be able to finish those games off better and take our opportunities when they present against the best sides.
"If we can do that, we'll finish higher on the ladder."
Longmuir described season 2024 as a missed opportunity, but not a wasted campaign.
'It's not a term I'd use, wasted. You don't waste a game," Longmuir said.
"It's a missed opportunity, absolutely, and there's some really clear things that let us down against the best sides, but I wouldn't use the word waste.
"We've got games into a lot of players. I think a lot of individuals have improved, taking their careers and their footy forward.
"To term it a waste would be disrespectful."
Port star Ollie Wines tallied 31 disposals and six clearances in his 250th game, Zak Butters had 27 possessions, while Jason Horne-Francis kicked two goals from 20 possessions and Rioli slotted three majors.
Andrew Brayshaw racked up 32 disposals and five clearances for the Dockers, while Hayden Young tallied 10 score involvements among his 19 possessions but spent most of the final quarter on the bench after a knock to his calf.
The win came at a cost for Port Adelaide, with defender Kane Farrell set to miss the start of the finals after injuring his left hamstring in the second quarter.
Port Adelaide (16-7) won their last six games of the season to finish a game clear in second spot.
"What I'm proud of is we earnt it," Port coach Ken Hinkley said.
"If you look at the draw on who we had to play and where we had to play, and what we've done, we've really earned that right.
"We're a game clear in second too. So we didn't just stumble there. We found our way there."
Fremantle closed to within two points in the final quarter, but two goals to Rioli helped put the game to bed.
