Ross Lyon admits Fremantle stole Saturday night's thriller against Richmond after David Mundy capped a memorable comeback with a last-minute winner at the MCG.
The Tigers had their noses in front for most of the pressure-packed encounter, but a late mistake from Bachar Houli let the Dockers in to snatch a 12.10 (82) to 10.18 (78) win.
Damien Hardwick's men hit the post six times in an inaccurate display that ultimately cost them the game.
The Dockers trailed by two goals early in the final term but kept coming, with Matthew Pavlich kicking one of his three goals for the evening.
In a frantic climax to the game, Garrick Ibbotson marked Houli's errant kick-in following a behind, after Tom Sheridan missed his chance at the match winner with just over a minute left.
Ibbotson set up Mundy, who broke Tiger hearts with a set shot from 50m out with just 31 seconds left on the clock.
It was a position Lyon said his side had no right to be in.
"It was a pretty tough night really. I compliment my players on their effort, but not their method," Lyon said.
"The reason we were under pressure was some horrendous ball use. I thought our method was really poor. We just turned it over consistently, sent it back, and just gave them really easy opportunities."
Mundy was influential throughout with 28 possessions, with Nat Fyfe, who Lyon conceded was "a bit sore", and Michael Barlow also key contributors.
Brandon Ellis and Trent Cotchin were prominent for Richmond, along with Dustin Martin, but he was the chief offender in front of goal with four behinds.
"We had gettable shots but we didn't kick well," Hardwick said.
"It's not as if they were incredibly hard shots - we just didn't make the most of our opportunities.
"That's not anyone's good pressure. That's just our poor play.
"Unfortunately if you don't nail those chances the scoreboard doesn't create the pressure that it's designed to do and we fall short."
It was a fitting end for a game played with a finals-like intensity.
A dour first quarter that yielded one goal to each side and ended with scores level gave way to a more free-flowing second term.
Ivan Maric helped spark the Tigers with a brilliant chase down tackle on Fyfe and backed it up with two goals as Richmond edged ahead.
But a bizarre 50m penalty paid against Martin for squirting Lee Spurr with his water bottle played a part in a Dockers' fight-back.
Chris Mayne kicked a goal from point-blank range following the penalty and when Michael Taberner kicked truly after the half-time siren, Fremantle trailed by just two points.
The Tigers lost Shaun Hampson to an ankle injury but gained the upper hand early in the third quarter.
The Dockers couldn't break through Richmond's stifling forward press, with only the Tigers' continued inaccuracy stopping them from going further than 12 points up.
Another odd 50m penalty when Clancee Pearce was whistled while trying to get off the ground to receive treatment on a shoulder injury didn't hurt Fremantle, who again finished strongly to set up a tense finale.
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