AFL finals: Live coverage of Fremantle Dockers’ preliminary final clash against Sydney at SCG
One more win. That’s all the Dockers need to return to the grand final stage - but Sydney won’t make it easy for them at the SCG. Stay across all the preliminary final action here!
AFL: One more win.
That’s all the Dockers need to return to the grand final stage - but Sydney won’t make it easy for them at the SCG.
The undermanned and underdog Swans stand in the way of Fremantle booking just the second grand final berth in the club’s history.
Despite being on the road, Freo will be full of confidence against Dean Cox’s side after piling on 100 points in the second half against them in their most recent meeting back in July. And from that night at Optus Stadium, four of Sydney’s top five disposal-getters - Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey and Callum Mills - are now sidelined.
Stay across all the action in the build-up and during the match below, with the opening ball-up at 5.40pm WA time. And don’t forget, you can catch it live and free on Seven and 7Plus!
Aaron Kirby and Chris Robinson are reporting live.
Nervous?
The Dockers only have one warm-up left ahead of the bounce.
Here’s how they’ve tackled the build up to the first siren so far.
Milestone man
The Dockers are making sure Caleb Serong feels the love ahead of game 150.
Stat check
The Swans have a small advantage in some of the major stats categories across the season.
Sydney average 385 disposals per game compared to the Dockers’ 368.
They lead inside 50s 61-54, clearances 38-35 and contested possessions 138-129.
The Dockers do have the advantage in their ruck and their ball use and effciency inside 50 are better.
And they will need to be if the game plays out to the stats.
Support the boys
Don’t forget to write your last minute good luck message to the Dockers with the fan board.
Head HERE to leave Fremantle your best wishes and help inspire them to the decider.
Getting acclimatised
From one of our two men on the ground at the venue - Craig O’Donoghue:
The SCG is a random venue for players who are creatures of habit because the centre circle gets roped off to protect the centre wicket area.
That meant Hayden Young was doing laps of the ropes instead of getting inspect the circle.
It also prevented Mason Cox from repeating his pre-game rituals at Optus Stadium where he lays in the centre circle and writes in his journal.
It’s been a glorious sunny day in Sydney so the conditions are perfect for footy. Dockers players have been out on the field for more than half an hour already, looking extremely relaxed.
Arrivals
The Dockers are in the building!
Freo’s players are on deck as we tick past two hours until the 5.40pm start of play.
It’s an unchanged line-up from the semifinal win over Geelong, with travelling emergencies Jaeger O’Meara and Chris Scerri in the mix should a late change be required.
Conditions appear perfect for some night footy at the SCG as some of the Dockers take to the turf for early warm-ups.
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of one of the biggest games in Freo history!
The Dockers enter the preliminary final as bookmakers’ favourites - but they’ll be made to earn it by a Sydney side that is always so tough to beat the SCG, regardless of personnel.
Stick with us across the afternoon and evening as we take you through all the build-up and the blow-by-blow action!
