A PATRICK Dangerfield masterclass has helped Geelong hold off a plucky Fremantle to remain in the hunt for a top-four finish. 

Dangerfield kicked four goals and had 31 disposals to help the Cats avoid slumping to a third straight defeat with an 11.12 (78) to 9.7 (61) win at Domain Stadium on Friday night.

The Cats appeared in control at three-quarter time despite only leading by 14 points, but they had to survive a final-quarter surge from the Dockers. The home side had 16 inside 50s to eight in the final term but squandered its chances, kicking 2.4 to the Cats' 3.1 to fall 17 points short.

FREMANTLE      4.1   7.2    7.3      9.7   (61)
GEELONG          1.3   6.7   8.11   11.12  (78)          

GOALS
Fremantle: Walters, Barlow, Taberner, Weller, Blakely, Pavlich, Ballantyne, Mundy, Sutcliffe
Geelong: Dangerfield 4, Smith 2, Menzel, Cockatoo, Stanley, Hawkins, Murdoch 

BEST 
Fremantle: Hill, Walters, Neale, Mundy, Blakely, Dawson
Geelong: Dangerfield, Enright, Mackie, Selwood, Duncan, Motlop 

INJURIES 
Fremantle: Barlow (AC joint), Ballantyne (cheekbone)
Geelong: Henderson (concussion) 

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Margetts, Findlay, Mitchell

Official crowd: 31,042 at Domain Stadium