RECAP: Fremantle Dockers earn finals berth in cut-throat win against Western Bulldogs
Fremantle will return to finals football for only the second time in a decade after holding off the Bulldogs in Melbourne.
A win also locked the Dockers into a home final in the first week of September with a fifth or sixth-placed finish.
Adding to the high stakes was the prospect of a loss leading to the end of Nat Fyfe’s career, with arguably the greatest-ever Docker set to bow out at season’s end.
Stay across all the action here.
Key to the game
Fremantle claimed victory in the meeting between these to in round four.
However, the Dogs were missing Marcus Bontempelli and it was only a 20-minute burst from the Dockers that saw the home side break free.
Justin Longmuir is rarely a tagging coach but he can’t afford to be beaten by Bontempelli as his side has been in the past.
Things you like to see
Shai Bolton and Michael Frederick finding the goals. Now just for the real deal.
Prep is key
The Dockers were out on the ground very early ahead of the match.
Luke Jackson and Corey Wagner were first out on Marvel Stadium. The pair started acclimatising to the conditions before the gates were even open to fans. Jackson was stretching and joking with ruck coach Sam Naismith before taking set shots at goal.
Jordan Clark appeared at 1:50pm Melbourne time just as the other pair were returning to the rooms, followed by Alex Pearce with his long locks flowing. Clark spent time chatting with former teammate Joel Selwood.
Pat Voss made an Auskicker’s day by giving him an autograph as soon as he ran onto the ground.
Travelling emergencies Oscar McDonald and Brandon Walker were still in their street clothes as other players started coming out.
FINAL TEAMS
Nat Fyfe has been locked in as Fremantle’s sub.
There are no late changes for either side, with Artie Jones filling the sub’s role for the Dogs.
Less than one hour until bouncedown in the big game!
Hasleby’s say
Fremantle favourite and The Sunday Times columnist Paul Hasleby has broken down the keys to victory - and wants his old teammate in Fyfe to shed the sub’s vest.
Freo’s sub call
We’ll get the final line-ups shortly, at 12.15pm, and that will instruct whether Nat Fyfe will be unleashed for a full match in what could be the retiring great’s last-ever game.
The Dockers have to weigh up their sub call, with Fyfe in the mix alongside the returning Hayden Young. The latter is a crucial cog in Freo’s midfield but has been unable to get a clean run at it and hasn’t played a full match since the side’s win over Adelaide all the way back in April.
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of one of the largest home-and-away games in Freo’s history!
It’s not quite win-or-go-home, but it’s pretty damn close. A victory launches the Dockers into either fifth or sixth and a guaranteed home final in the first week of September. A loss means it’s season over - unless a battered Essendon can cause an almighty upset and knock off the Suns on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night.
