Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he's not in the business of hope. But if he was, business would be booming.
The Dockers gave their AFL finals hopes a massive boost with a stirring 21-point win over Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
Michael Walters booted six goals in the 15.10 (100) to 12.7 (79) win, while Nat Fyfe starred with 37 disposals and 10 clearances.
Three wins on the trot have seen Fremantle (7-5) shoot up to sixth spot on the ladder.
And with games against strugglers Melbourne (MCG) and Carlton (home) to come over the next fortnight, Fremantle could be inside the top-four by the time their round 16 derby against West Coast arrives.
The Dockers haven't made the finals since 2015, but fans are now daring to dream of sweet September again.
But Lyon isn't one to get carried away by emotion.
"It's not a business of hope. We can't hope. You've got to act," Lyon said.
"It's the business of action and relentless action.
"We've been relentless over summer committing to hard work. We've been enjoying ourselves. There's a great bond.
"You don't hope your way forward. We believe in ourselves and we've got to keep working hard.
"As good as this is, when the ball is bounced next week it will count for nothing, and we need to go again."
"From here that's what's going to separate teams, the ability to go again each week."
Fremantle have become the AFL's final-quarter kings, winning a league-high nine for the season from 12 games.
They lived up to that title against the Power, outscoring them 3.4 (22) to 0.0 (0), as well as winning the inside 50m count 20-5 and the clearances 15-3.
"I don't think there's been a game where we haven't gone to the end," Lyon said.
"We're the best last quarter team in the competition."
Although Port Adelaide got smashed in the final quarter, one big positive to come out of the match was the successful return of Hamish Hartlett from a knee reconstruction.
Hartlett tallied 23 disposals and bravely put his body on the line on several occasions.
"He was good wasn't he," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.
"That's the positive I take out of the game, as much as anything else, the ability the 'Hammer' showed to come back and fit into the team really well and play a really solid game. And he'll be better for that run."
Port (6-6) could welcome back forward Charlie Dixon and co-captain Ollie Wines for next Saturday's crunch clash with Geelong at Adelaide Oval.
