Waite kicks three as Kangas beat Dockers

FREMANTLE players were left stunned by a costly umpire howler in yesterday’s 28-point loss to North Melbourne at a rain-drenched Optus Stadium.

The Dockers were a chance of pulling off a come-frombehind victory when Michael Walters kicked a goal-of-theyear contender to close the margin to three points at the 11-minute mark of the final term.

But just minutes later Fremantle’s momentum was brought to a crashing halt by a controversial goal to Shaun Atley.

Dockers defender Joel Hamling should have been paid a free kick after being tackled to the ground without the ball by Ben Jacobs.

But with no free kick given, Atley was able to swoop on the loose ball and shoot truly from 35m out.

Dockers players were left shocked by the non-decision, with Atley’s major sparking a run of four straight goals that secured the 12.14 (86) to 8.10 (58) win in front of 37,575 fans.

Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands might miss a week after being heavily concussed in a clash of heads with Sam Durdin in the final quarter.

Durdin also left the field looking groggy, while teammate Kayne Turner copped a heavy hit to the head earlier in the match.

Spearhead Jarrad Waite stood tall in the wet with three goals — including two at crucial points of the third quarter.

Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe (31 disposals, one goal) and Ben Jacobs (29 disposals, one goal) enjoyed an intriguing battle.

The result improves North Melbourne’s record to 6-4, while Fremantle (4-6) face a major challenge to work their way back into finals calculations.

The Kangaroos dominated the match early but were left kicking themselves after a wasteful opening quarter, with the visitors registering six behinds in the opening six minutes before finishing the period with 1.8 (14).