THE BIGGEST focus this season for Fremantle forward Pat Voss has been making sure a bad half, or even a bad three quarters, doesn't derail him mentally and prevent him from taking his moment when it comes.

After delivering when Friday night's epic preliminary final against Sydney was on the line, it is clear that work has paid off for Voss in the biggest way possible, with the goalkicker overturning a quiet first half to help steer his team into an historic Grand Final.

Voss produced one of the moments of the preliminary final when he brutally fended off Swans captain Dane Rampe at the SCG and snapped a terrific goal early in the final quarter to help build momentum for his team.

It was the signature moment of the 23-year-old's career so far, and it came after his only disposal in the first half came at the end of the second quarter, with the boisterous Docker bouncing back to have nine disposals and five marks in a much improved second half.

"I've done a lot of work in my mental game throughout the year, and something that is a room for improvement for me is just my consistency. I don't want a bad half or a bad three quarters to trickle on to bad games," Voss told AFL.com.au on Friday night. 

"I knew my moment was going to come, I just had to keep showing up and it did. I was really happy I could stand up when my moment came.

"I don't think it was my greatest of nights, but that (mental side) is something that I've really gone to work on.

"It's probably been the number one thing that I've tried to improve throughout the season, my mental game and how can I stay in the moment for longer. So I was really proud that I was able to stand up when my moment came."

There was a clear shift in Voss's game after half-time on Friday night, with the key forward emerging from the main break and playing with the attitude and aggression that the Dockers needed to get back into the game.

Their big men started crashing packs and forcing spills and cut the margin to eight points before a run of Sydney goals extended the home team's lead again to 28 points.

Voss missed a set shot late in the quarter and watched nervously as star midfielder Hayden Young slotted a stunning set shot after the siren to turn the preliminary final in one of the biggest moments in club history.

"I was absolutely praying she went through because I just missed a sitter 30 seconds before it," Voss said. 

"It was a massive goal, and obviously a very hard goal too, and it gave us that little bit of momentum and that extra bit of belief that we needed going into the last quarter. The rest is history."

Voss reflected on the critical moment in his career three years ago when he was delisted by Essendon and then signed by Fremantle months later after a training stint before the 2024 season.

A nervous wreck as he waited for a meeting with the Dockers' list management team to find out if he would be given a career lifeline, he was full of gratitude as he prepares now for a Grand Final as a key player and emotional driver in the Dockers' three-pronged forward line.

"It's pretty crazy. It was three years ago and around this time of the year when I got delisted," Voss said. 

"I'm so fortunate and grateful to be at a club that's obviously having success now.

"It's not just the players and coaches. It's so much more than that, and I've just got such gratitude to be a part of this and play a small role.

"This is the best win I've ever been a part of. So we'll enjoy this, and no doubt we'll be on to our preparation for next week very soon.

"We'll be up for the challenge, that's for sure."