A DOGGED Richmond fell short of a big NAB Cup upset against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium on Sunday afternoon, going down by 38 points.

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Despite missing captain Matthew Pavlich and star ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who was a late withdrawal after pulling up sore in the warm-up, Fremantle kicked the last five goals of the game to win 1.14.12 (105) to 0.10.7 (67).
 
Young midfielder Nat Fyfe was brilliant for the home team, finishing with 25 disposals (14 contested) and one goal in another sign that he could join the AFL's elite this season.
 
The 20-year-old was instrumental in the third quarter when Fremantle built a 21-point lead, winning 10 possessions for the term before being subbed out of the game at the final change.  
 
While Fremantle entered the match without its two best players, Richmond also made a point of protecting its top end talent, with midfielder Trent Cotchin and star half-back Brett Deledio rested for the trip west.
 
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick also removed midfielder Dustin Martin at half-time after the gun youngster won 16 possessions (eight contested) in a brilliant start to the match.
 
The 20-year-old was still the Tigers' leading possession winner at three-quarter time - alongside Shane Tuck - and was arguably his side's best contributor.  
 
Without its two best on-ballers, and with ruckman Ivan Maric also subbed out of the game at half-time after a strong start, the Tigers lost control of the midfield in the third quarter.
 
The visitors mounted a brief rally in the final term to pull the margin back to seven points, with Daniel Connors, Jeromey Webberley and Melbourne recruit Addam Maric all influential. 
 
Hardwick said the first half was more of an indication of where his team is placed as it prepares for a round-one clash against Carlton on March 29.
 
"We gave the younger guys some experience in that last quarter and it was a good test for those guys," the coach said.

"They certainly learned the pace of the game and [it is] something they can take home and build on.
 
"[Brandon] Ellis was very good; as the game went on he got better. Brad Helbig's another guy we brought in and [Jake] Batchelor was very good."
 
Fremantle entered the match without injured midfield trio David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Anthony Morabito, and coach Ross Lyon chose not to take any risks with Sandilands after he pulled up sore in the warm up.
 
Given opportunities, young forward Josh Mellington (17 disposals and two goals), Jayden Pitt (three goals) and Clancee Pearce (25 disposals) were solid contributors for the home team.
 
Lyon said he was pleased with his young team's effort in the stifling Perth heat, with temperatures pushing into the mid-30s early in the match.  
 
"Overall, we're improving our defence and we still moved the ball really quick and competed really well," the coach said.  
 
"We were good for about three out of the four quarters, so it was a step forward."

FREMANTLE    0.2.4   0.6.6    1.8.10    1.14.12 (105)
RICHMOND       0.3.0    0.5.2    0.7.4     0.10.7 (67)

GOALS
Fremantle: Broughton (supergoal); Bradley (3), Pitt (3), Mellington (2), Fyfe, Broughton, Mayne, de Boer, Ballantyne, Mzungu
Richmond: Riewoldt (2), Nahas (2), Miller, Vickery, Elton, Derickx, Connors, A. Maric

BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Bradley, Mzungu, Broughton, Pearce, Ballantyne
Richmond: Martin, Ivan Maric, Edwards, Riewoldt, Tuck, Addam Maric

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Law, Ritchie and Bannister

Official crowd: 7,294 at Patersons Stadium

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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club