Source : ABC NEWS
Free kick denies Dudley an early goal
We’ve got our first big call of the evening!
Isaiah Dudley snaps at goal and the ball sails through as Joel Hamling gets bundled over inside the square by Jye Amiss.
However, the umpire blows the whistle and gives Hamling the free kick.
I’ve got to say I think that one was there.
Papley gets Sydney’s second straight with beautiful snap
Tom Papley is off and running for the evening!
He stands front and square from congestion perfectly and receives the handball before snapping truly on the right boot.
Great stuff from the Swans forwards to keep that ball alive when it looked for all money that it was about to be a ball-up.
There is no way Judd McVee can give Papley that kind of time and space inside 50, he’ll cut you to shreds.
It’s been an excellent response from the Swans after Freo’s fast start.
Swans defence holding up well under pressure
Fremantle leads the inside 50 count 7-2, but so far the Swans defence has been up to the mark with a couple of good intercept marks.
Errol Gulden looking busy early, he leads all players with four touches through the first five minutes.
Again, I must stress, I’ve never heard a Swans crowd sound like this at the SCG. They are AMPED.
Campbell with the quick response for Sydney!
Braeden Campbell sets the SCG alight as he snaps truly in heavy traffic!
Lovely response to Jackson’s goal by Grundy as he wins the centre clearance and sends the Swans forward.
There’s a bit of push and shove after that one as well.
Jackson outpoints Grundy and kicks early goal
Luke Jackson with the early points in the ruck battle!
Jackson edges Grundy under the ball and takes a lovely contested mark inside 50.
He’s on a tricky angle, but makes absolutely no mistake on the set shot for his 28th goal of the season.
This is a dream start for Freo, Justin Longmuir has to be thrilled.
McCartin lays a huge tackle on Voss early
Freo with the territorial dominance in the opening few minutes.
Tom McCartin with a lovely tackle in the pocket as Pat Voss looked to break towards goal.
Its national anthem time
Always spine-tingling stuff this moment in footy finals.
The Swans and Dockers are arm-in-arm and staring each other down as we have a beautiful rendition of the Australian national anthem.
Just minutes away from the first bounce. The camera pans to Cal Mills getting a hug from Brett Kirk on the Swans bench.
There is a decent Dockers contingent in attendance
Fremantle might be outnumbered in the stands tonight, but it’s not ALL Sydney either.
You can see very prominent pockets of purple where the Dockers fans have made their way over from WA.
Big Ben with some pre-match poetry
Well may Andrew Pridham have said Sydney’s season has been torpedoed, however there’ll be many of us tonight who still believe Sydney IS the torpedo, Freo is in the crosshairs, that nothing with save the Dockers from defeat, and airfares from Sydney to Melbourne are about to enter the stratosphere (which is a predictable shame).
– Big Ben
I’m with you Ben. A big middle finger to the airlines that hike up the prices during the footy finals.
Some of the most un-Australian behaviour you’re ever likely to see.
Who’s my tip for tonight?
Got a prediction Chris ? Seeing as we flogged Fremantle a couple of weeks ago , as a Hawker I’d prefer to see them on top.
– Phillip
Just for the story, I would love to see the Swans get up tonight, seeing them in a grand final after all the adversity would be incredible.
My gut says Freo might have just a little bit too much firepower though.
Fremantle’s recent finals history
Here’s a look at Fremantle’s last five finals performances:
SF, 2026: Fremantle 18.12 (120) def. Geelong 16.10 (106) @ Perth Stadium
QF, 2026: Hawthorn 10.12 (72) def. Fremantle 5.10 (40) @ Perth Stadium
EF, 2025: Gold Coast 11.14 (80) def. Fremantle 12.7 (79) @ Perth Stadium
SF, 2022: Collingwood 13.10 (88) def. Fremantle 10.8 (68) @ MCG
EF, 2022: Fremantle 11.7 (73) def. Western Bulldogs 8.12 (60) @ Perth Stadium
Who will take out tonight’s big ruck battle?
One of the biggest match-ups tonight will be the battle between Fremantle’s Luke Jackson and Sydney’s Brodie Grundy in the ruck.
There is not a whole lot between the two big men stat-wise at all.
Grundy has averaged 20.2 disposals this season, a hair above Jackson’s 18.7.
Grundy also has the lead in the clearance count, averaging 5.3 to Jackson’s five per contest, as well as the hitouts, where he leads 34.3 to 25.7.
Jackson’s edge comes in his ability to hit the scoreboard. He’s kicked 27 goals this season, a career-high mark, while Grundy has kicked just nine.
Loading Twitter content
Sydney’s recent finals history
Here is a look at Sydney’s last five finals performances:
QF, 2026: Sydney 21.15 (141) def. Brisbane 13.10 (88) @ SCG
GF, 2024: Brisbane 18.12 (120) def. Sydney 9.6 (60) @ MCG
PF, 2024: Sydney 14.11 (95) def. Port Adelaide 8.11 (59) @ SCG
QF, 2024: Sydney 14.11 (95) def. GWS Giants 8.9 (57) @ SCG
GF, 2022: Geelong 20.13 (133) def. Sydney 8.4 (52) @ MCG
Longmuir says Dockers are not taking undermanned Swans lightly
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir having a chat to Fox Footy ahead of the first bounce.
“It feels good. We’re into the last four and these games mean a lot,” he says of being into the penultimate weekend of the season.
“You start focusing on what they haven’t got and you forget who they have got.
“They’re playing with great spirit as a team and they’ve won easily in the last two weeks. We’re not going to take them lightly, absolutely.
“Their stoppage work in the last six weeks have been phenomenal, and we’re going to have to be at the top of our game.”
Longmuir is asked who will get the job on Tom Papley and Charlie Curnow and says Judd McVee will get the Papley assignment.
As for Curnow, Longmuir says his talls will “mix and match”.
