Richmond has been defeated by Fremantle on Sunday afternoon, falling to the Dockers by four points in swirly conditions at Optus Stadium.

The Tigers had momentum in the final quarter but couldn't make the most of their opportunities, slumping to their sixth loss in seven weeks while the Dockers' finals hopes are still alive after the 7.13(55) to 6.15(51) win.

The Dockers dominated possession early but couldn't capitalise, and were rattled early in the second quarter when young forward Bailey Banfield was stretchered off after a collision with Richmond’s David Astbury.

Young Tiger Rhyan Mansell got a perfect bounce to get the Tigers on the board with a 60m bomb 22 minutes into the opening term, but that was the last goal for more than a quarter.

Inaccuracy plagued the first half, with Freo recording 2.10 and Richmond 1.8 to half-time.

The Dockers must have put their kicking boots on at halftime, as they kicked two early goals to start their second half in style.

The Tigers looked primed to stage a comeback late in the third quarter when mid-season recruit Matthew Parker booted a goal to bring Richmond within four points of the Dockers, but 100-gamer Matt Taberner booted one on the three-quarter-time siren to keep Fremantle 10 points clear at the final change.

Richmond held a nine-point lead 10 minutes into the final term and looked to have broken their younger opponents after clutch goals from Matthew Parker, Kane Lambert and Jack Riewoldt.

But Dockers forward Lachie Schultz took a brilliant pack mark and converted his set shot to cut the margin to three, before Serong snapped the go-ahead goal with 11 minutes to play.

Andrew Brayshaw was hugely important for the Dockers, racking up 39 touches, 12 tackles and eight clearances.

Captain Trent Cotchin (32 disposals and six inside 50s) was superb, while midfielder Dion Prestia returned to have 31 touches.

Defender Sydney Stack was excellent across half-back, with ruckman Toby Nankervis giving everything in a heavyweight ruck battle with Darcy.

FREMANTLE 2.6 2.10 5.12 7.13 (55)
RICHMOND 1.1 1.8 3.14 6.15 (51)

GOALS
Fremantle: Taberner 3, Schultz 2, Colyer, Serong
Richmond: Parker 2, Riewoldt, Lambert, Lynch, Mansell

BEST
Fremantle: Brayshaw, Mundy, Cerra, Ryan, Serong, Taberner, Young
Richmond: Cotchin, Prestia, Stack, Short, Rioli, Lambert

INJURIES
Fremantle: Banfield (concussion)
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Connor Blakely (replaced Banfield)
Richmond: Josh Caddy (unused)

Crowd: 24,979 at Optus Stadium