AFL grand final: Recap as Fremantle Dockers suffer grand final heartache against Brisbane
It was the day Freo fans have dreamt about - and the game that could have seen Dockers players become immortals. But it ended in the most heartbreaking way possible. Relive the action from our blog.
AFL: It was the day Freo fans have dreamt about - and the game that could have seen Dockers players become immortals.
But it ended in the most heartbreaking way possible.
Fremantle’s second chance in club history to get their hands on the elusive premiership cup started well and looked on track until a remarkable three-minute ending that flipped the game on its head.
Relive the action from our blog.
Key events
26 Sep 2026 - 05:53 PM
Longmuir reveals all
26 Sep 2026 - 05:48 PM
Spare a thought
26 Sep 2026 - 04:59 PM
Fans’ reactions the moment it all went wrong
26 Sep 2026 - 04:59 PM
The moments that mattered
26 Sep 2026 - 04:41 PM
Quiet moments with Fyfe
26 Sep 2026 - 04:09 PM
ANALYSIS
26 Sep 2026 - 03:51 PM
Skipper’s vow
26 Sep 2026 - 03:47 PM
Wharfie Time backfire?
26 Sep 2026 - 03:40 PM
The Rewind
26 Sep 2026 - 03:30 PM
Norm Smith SHOCK!
26 Sep 2026 - 03:15 PM
FT: Fremantle 89, Brisbane 96
26 Sep 2026 - 02:38 PM
3QT: Fremantle 72, Brisbane 62
26 Sep 2026 - 02:18 PM
Pearce done
26 Sep 2026 - 02:13 PM
Nightmare injury!
26 Sep 2026 - 01:39 PM
HT: Fremantle 43, Brisbane 43
26 Sep 2026 - 01:15 PM
IN PICTURES: Freo fans geared up for game day
26 Sep 2026 - 01:03 PM
QT: Fremantle 22, Brisbane 23
26 Sep 2026 - 11:45 AM
Here’s Kylie!
26 Sep 2026 - 11:09 AM
Justin Longmuir confirms Dockers will be unchanged
26 Sep 2026 - 10:24 AM
Caleb Serong speaks
26 Sep 2026 - 10:04 AM
Grand Final tips
26 Sep 2026 - 08:43 AM
Duursma’s cheeky Freo message
26 Sep 2026 - 07:55 AM
It’s raining
26 Sep 2026 - 07:43 AM
Fyfe to do lap of honour at the G
26 Sep 2026 - 07:39 AM
Welcome
‘Hardest thing you can go through’
Caleb Serong cuts a despondant figure but he gives a great post-game interview.
He was very raw and admits they didn’t get the last three minutes right but backs the character of the Dockers to get back to the grand final.
He also revealed Justin Longmuir told the group how proud of them he is for their efforts.
Wharfie Time backfire?
Brisbane midfielder Josh Dunkley has revealed it was Fremantle’s Wharfie Time cry late in the fourth term that sparked their miraculous run to a third-straight grand final triumph.
The Rewind
Relive the final two minutes of the contest below.
Jeers and cheers
Lachie Neale getting his medal has brought about some noise as the Lions fans tried to drown out the boos from the Dockers faithful.
Neale didn’t have a big day after a last-minute reprieve on his suspension upon appeal but he stood up in some big moments, most notably in the final passage of play along the wing to stop Fremantle getting the ball back.
Norm Smith SHOCK!
Shai Bolton has been awarded the Norm Smith Medal in a shock.
He congratulates the Lions but tells his boys to keep “heads up” because they will be back.
The Joy
Brisbane skipper Harris Andrews had a very tough day against Pat Voss but he loved that winning moment.
Federal Hotel crowd on the edge of their seats
Thousands of fans in the laneway outside The Federal Hotel were on the edges of their seats in the final minutes as a surprise two goals sent fans into a fury.
People were crying, clutching each other and booing as one point stood between the teams fighting for the 2026 premiership.
But it was not to be.
‘Grew a leg’
Josh Dunkley says the Lions took Wharfie Time as a challenge and lit a spark when the Dockers called it.
From that moment, Will Ashcroft won three clearances in a row and the Lions turned it around from 17 points behind.
FT: Fremantle 89, Brisbane 96
The Dockers have been left heartbroken after giving up a 17 point lead to lose in just over five minutes.
The Lions seal a three-peat in one of the all-time comebacks for the second week in a row.
Will Ashcroft single-handedly pulled them back into the game after the Lions struggled from clearances all day.
Fremantle did not deserve to lose this game, they were massive today.
