Gold Coast has battled valiantly in its final outing of the AFLW season against finals-bound Fremantle at Fremantle Oval on Sunday afternoon.

The Dockers entered Sunday's match needing a huge win to overtake North Melbourne in fourth spot, but they were two goals short of what was required in the 7.4 (46) to 0.9 (9) victory.

The result saw the Dockers finish in fifth spot, thrusting them into an away qualifying final against the fourth-placed Kangaroos.

Gold Coast finished the season in 10th spot with three wins and a draw in a much-improved display from last year's winless wooden spoon campaign.

Star Fremantle midfielder Kiara Bowers marked her return from a knee injury with 18 disposals and 17 tackles, while Angelique Stannett was a rock in defence with 21 disposals.

Suns midfielder Alison Drennan tallied a game-high 25 disposals, while Kalinda Howarth (19 disposals) provided excellent run. Daisy D'Arcy was composed as ever in defence, taking the game on at every opportunity while Kate Surman lived up to her livewire reputation at the other end of the field.

Dockers forward Gemma Houghton scored the only goal of a tight opening quarter, and the home side kicked two more goals in the second to open up a 20-5 lead at the long break.

The SUNS had their opportunities in the third term and were desperately unlucky to not snag a major with a handful of near misses, before the Dockers controlled the final term, kicking away to a 37-point win.

FREMANTLE    1.1    3.2    3.3    7.4 (46)

GOLD COAST   0.1    0.5    0.8    0.9 (9)

GOALS

Fremantle: Houghton 2, K.Antonio, Tighe, Wielstra, E.Antonio, Miller

Gold Coast: Nil

BEST

Fremantle: Stannett, Bowers, Runnalls, Tighe, Strom

Gold Coast: Stanton, Howarth, Surman, Drennan

INJURIES  

Fremantle: Nil

Gold Coast: Nil

Reports: Nil 

Crowd: TBC at Fremantle Oval