Pearce stars in milestone match, Bolton plucks mark of year contender as Dockers extend unbeaten run

Jarred Cross Published June 19, 2026 at 2.00pm (AWST)

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Pearce celebrated his 150th career game with a win, and a season-best performance against the Cats. Image: Richard Mainwright/AAP

The Dockers' status as AFL frontrunners firmed and their unbeaten run extended in a come-from-behind win over Geelong on Thursday, with skipper Alex Pearce starring in his 150th game.

The Palawa key defender was critical to Fremantle's 13th consecutive win with seven intercept marks, and 11 intercept possessions overall, in a swinging top four contest.

Shai Bolton was electric when he found the footy on the run, though his match highlight was genuine mark of the year contender in front of a packed Optus Stadium stands.

After inaccuracy in front of the sticks threatened to spoil their evening the Dockers staged a huge third quarter comeback before holding off a stubborn Cats.

Geelong forward Jack Martin got off to a flyer, kicking three straight in the opening term to help his side take a 10 point advantage into quarter time.

The visitors held onto a margin thanks to a 4.0 goal term and Freo's inability to capitalise on their chances with 3.7 before the main break.

Seven straight from Freo swung the contest back their way in the third, and provided enough of a buffer to finish winners despite Geelong's late tilt at taking the four points.

Pearce proved a major influence on the result with a season best performance, including 18 touches at 83 percent efficiency to go with a game-high 11 marks.

"I got lucky, a couple fell in my lap," Pearce told Seven's coverage post-match.

"It was a tough game. They're a good side. We knew they were going to really make us earn it when we hit the lead in the third we had the momentum, but they stuck at it and really threw a lot at us, which they do, because they're a mature, good side."

The match played out eerily similar to the two side's round one meeting - Freo's sole loss for the year.

The Dockers jumped out of the gates before a Cats' resurgence at Kardinia Park.

It was a comeback Pearce said the club had learned from in the lead up to his 150th, and again on Thursday night.

"We spoke a lot about where do we go in those moments as an individual and as a team, and how do we get the game looking more the way we want, and how you can flip the script and get back in the arm wrestle," Peace said.

"We're just doing that a lot better now, when teams have got to run on, we're just a lot more connected, and we're, yeah, we're able to just get it back, plenty of firepower."

Pearce was also all plaudits for a calm, unselfish Bolton.