AFL finals: Recap Fremantle Dockers’ preliminary final win over Sydney at SCG
It’s real Fremantle fans, the Dockers are through to the grand final! Recap all the action from our blog.
AFL: It’s real Fremantle fans, the Dockers are through to the grand final!
It took the biggest three-quarter time comeback in the club’s history after the Swans threw everything at them but the last quarter was an avalanche.
Recap all the action below.
Key events
18 Sep 2026 - 08:40 PM
MATCH REPORT
18 Sep 2026 - 08:23 PM
THREE-WORD ANALYSIS
18 Sep 2026 - 08:18 PM
FT: Sydney 71, Fremantle 83
18 Sep 2026 - 08:05 PM
Mason magic
18 Sep 2026 - 08:01 PM
ONE. POINT. GAME!
18 Sep 2026 - 07:53 PM
COP THAT!
18 Sep 2026 - 07:43 PM
3QT: Sydney 70, Fremantle 49
18 Sep 2026 - 07:14 PM
Inspired!
18 Sep 2026 - 06:50 PM
HT: Sydney 48, Fremantle 29
18 Sep 2026 - 06:12 PM
QT: Sydney 29, Fremantle 13
18 Sep 2026 - 05:44 PM
First blood!
18 Sep 2026 - 04:18 PM
DEPTH CHART
18 Sep 2026 - 04:03 PM
Support the boys
Wham bam!
Just as the Dockers were getting back on top, the Swans kick two in a row.
The first came after -43 metres gained by handball pushed the Dockers into disastour while the second was a lucky crumb from McDonald.
SYD 62, FRE 42
Hot sauce!
Jackson took a strong contested mark against Grundy after a panic kick from full back and gives the Swans big man a serve.
He backs it up by slotting the set shot and turning to the purple section of the crowd.
SYD 50, FRE 41
Bad break
The Swans appear to have lost another star.
Papley copped a corky from a knee to the back in the first term and has battled through.
However, he can barely move after the halftime break and has come from the ground.
SYD 50, FRE 35
Inspired!
Amiss has given the Dockers the first goal of the second half.
The big guy spilled the chest mark falling to ground but jumped up like a panther and pounced on the crumb.
He quickly snaps from the pocket and finds the big sticks!
SYD 50, FRE 35
Riding the wave
The local fans in Freo have been on the edge of their seats all night!
Hall’s kids LOVING IT
Just like they were a fortnight ago... Swans great Barry Hall’s children are going wild in the stands!
Shirts off, celebrating goals. They’re having a ball!
HT: Sydney 48, Fremantle 29
The stats are misleading in this one.
Freo are doing fine on the stats sheet but watching, they are falling apart in some areas.
They are being hurt by indecision and allowing the Swans to get first hands.
Murphy Reid looks very worried about body contact, it may be related to his testicular injury ahead of September, and his kicking has been woeful.
Gulden and Serong lead all comers for disposals while Caleb and Jai lead the clearances.
The Dockers need a quick mindset switch at the break because they are not even close to being out of this game.
Please convert!
The Dockers lead clearances by seven and have had the same amount of inside 50s as the Swans.
But this game feels under the home teams’ control even if they are not leading by much.
The Dockers are lacking their poise and class finish and it’s costing them dearly.
SYD 42, FRE 27
Change of fortunes?
The Swans appeared to be escaping again after another poor inside 50 but a high fend-off gives Frederick an ease set shot.
He was dead in front but went around the corner to give the Dockers something to build off.
SYD 36, FRE 21
That hurts
After missing their chance, the Swans go the length of the field to grab another major.
McDonald gets a front-on contact free kick almost in the square and makes no mistake.
SYD 36, FRE 15
