SYDNEY is one win away from returning to the grand final stage for the third time in five years while Fremantle is out to reach the club’s second decider.

The Swans shook up the finals series as their undermanned side came out breathing fire and demolished the highly-fancied Lions with the club’s highest score in a VFL/AFL final. The rousing victory was built on manic intensity and faith in their system as much as speed, skill and star power, as Dean Cox’s team brushed aside concerns over how they would cope without five key players who have been banned for the remainder of the season for a breach of club standards. The Swans are now within reach of what was thought to be an unlikely shot at redemption for two forgettable trips to the decider in recent years, with a wave of momentum now behind them for a home preliminary final.

The Dockers bounced back from a horror qualifying final performance that sent alarm bells ringing over their ability to stand up to the finals heat with a win in a high-quality contest with the Cats. The minor premiers shook off any signs of stage fright when staring down the perennial contenders’ fierce challenge to book a spot in their first preliminary final in 11 years. The Dockers are now within touching distance of a second men’s grand final in club history and the first since 2013. And backed by a newfound belief that this time could be different for a club that is yet to win a men’s premiership, Justin Longmuir’s side should hold few fears about a trip to the SCG after winning two of its past three matches at the venue.

Sydney has turned to former co-captain Dane Rampe to lead the side in the remainder of its finals campaign with skipper Callum Mills ruled out with a serious knee injury. Justin McInerney looms as the likely midfield replacement for Mills as he nears full fitness after hamstring issues. Joel Amartey is also pushing for a return though Hayden McLean will be difficult to shift, while Lewis Melican could be called on to counter the Dockers’ spread of tall forwards. Fremantle got through its semi-final unscathed but might look to bolster the defence with Brennan Cox and Brandon Walker – the latter an ideal matchup for Tom Papley. The likes of Oscar McDonald, Luke Ryan and Judd McVee face a nervous wait.

Where and when: SCG, Friday September 18, 7.40pm AEST

WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR?

Round 18: Fremantle 15.21 (111) defeated Sydney 10.13 (73) at Optus Stadium

The Dockers underlined their premiership credentials as they turned around a goalless first half to pile on 100 points after the main break to seal a statement win. The clear top-two teams to this point of the season traded blows as the Swans pulled away while the Dockers kicked 0.11 before Jordan Clark finally slotted their first goal a minute into the third term. The visitors hung on to a two-point lead 12 minutes into the final term before the Dockers slammed on seven unanswered goals in a 15-minute burst to fire a warning shot across the competition. Josh Treacy booted two of his four goals during the late scoring blitz, while Michael Frederick added a pair of his own. Errol Gulden was the Swans’ best as the tireless midfielder gathered 30 disposals, while Charlie Curnow kicked five goals.

THE STATS THAT MATTER

Sydney

The Swans flipped the script on the way they have played this season to stun the Lions and book a home preliminary final. As heavy storms created slippery conditions and the pressure cooker of a final dialled up the intensity, the Swans put aside their focus on a slick, handball-at-all-costs style to rely more on a direct route with their equal most long kicks in a game this year. Dean Cox’s side also had their fewest handballs (130), highest kick-to-handball ratio (1.6:1), second fewest uncontested possessions (181) and third fewest metres gained by handball in a game this season, in a change of gears that the Dockers can expect again.

Fremantle

The Dockers burst out of the blocks with two quick goals to livewire Shai Bolton as their midfield dominated centre clearance early against the Cats. The two onball brigades went head-to-head in the middle as territory gained from centre ball-ups became the defining battle with both sides scoring more than a third of their points from the source. The Dockers’ +13 advantage in clearances (and +10 in centre clearances) proved to be critical to their victory as they outscored the Cats by 76-57 from stoppages in a 14-point win. And with red-hot ruck Luke Jackson leading the way with a game-high eight clearances the Swans have fair warning of just who – and what – they need to contain.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR ...

Sydney

If any player can set the tone for the Swans, it is Tom Papley. The firebrand small forward was at his provocative and energetic best as the Swans came out firing in their qualifying final against the Lions, as he laid a tough tackle early in the contest and booted two goals before the main break. Papley finished with five majors and a game-high 13 score involvements while helping key forwards Logan McDonald (six goals) and Charlie Curnow (five) to flourish around him. The 30-year-old has booted 32 majors this year after an injury-riddled 2025 campaign, with his 18 goals in eight matches since returning from a mid-season calf issue a key to the Swans moving to within one game of what would be Papley’s fourth grand final.

Fremantle

Luke Jackson rubber-stamped his status as one of the most impactful players in the competition as he stood tall when the Cats were charging to lead the Dockers into a preliminary final. The ruck-forward-midfield hybrid has averaged 18.7 disposals, five clearances and 25.7 hit-outs, as well as booted 27 goals, during an All-Australian campaign. But the 24-year-old outdid even himself when the semi-final was up for grabs late in the third term. The Cats had hit the front for the first time in the game when Jackson overpowered young ruck Mitch Edwards to boot two goals including one after the three quarter-time siren as the Dockers reclaimed the lead. The former Demons premiership player finished with 25 disposals, eight clearances and 35 hit-outs and a similarly dominant display against Swans ruck Brodie Grundy could be enough to carry the Dockers into their – and Jackson’s – second grand final.

PREDICTION

Fremantle went a long way to putting its disappointing display against Hawthorn behind it with victory against Geelong in an all-time classic final. The minor premiers, perhaps crucially, also shook a monkey off their back with just a second finals win since 2015. Sydney has hardly put a foot wrong on the field since banning five of its players for the rest of the season for a breach of club standards. But the absence of Mills will be a step too far into the Swans’ depth as they come up against the leading side this year. Fremantle by 11 points.