IT IS often said they are the hardest games to win, and Fremantle made its preliminary final task even more challenging on Friday night.

So, what does history say about teams that recover from hefty deficits in preliminary finals?

The Dockers trailed at every break at the SCG on Friday night before surging past Sydney in an enthralling clash to book the club's second ever Grand Final appearance.

Since the finals format was introduced in 2000, Freo is just the seventh team to win a preliminary final after trailing at three-quarter time.

The deficit at the final change – 21 points – was larger than the previous six, underlining what a historic night it was for the club.

Ahead of Saturday's Toyota AFL Grand Final against Brisbane, does history suggest the comeback will take a toll, or make the Dockers feel unbeatable?

Well, of the previous six teams to win after trailing at three quarter time of a prelim final, five won Grand Final a week later.

Port Adelaide (2004), Sydney (2005) and West Coast (2006) all found themselves behind at three-quarter time before recovering to reach a decider and clinch the flag. Hawthorn (2013) and the Western Bulldogs (2016) did likewise, but it wasn't the case for Collingwood (2011).

Those Magpies rallied from 17 points down at three-quarter time against the Hawks to win a thriller, but conceded five goals to none in the final term against Geelong the following week to lose the decider.

The Eagles, 20 years ago, and Collingwood in 2011 were the only other teams who, like Freo, trailed their prelims at every change before reaching the Grand Final.

West Coast came from 22 points down at half-time against Adelaide in their 2006 prelim – and eight at three-quarter time – before edging Sydney in a one-point Grand Final thriller.

Not only did the Swans, Eagles and Bulldogs overcome a deficit at the last change, they did so on the road, just like Fremantle did on Friday night.

Now, the Dockers will look to repeat what each of those teams managed on the final Saturday in September.

Making a GF after trailing at 3QT

(since 2000)

2004: Port Adelaide beat St Kilda by six points*
2005: Sydney beat St Kilda by 31 points*
2006: West Coast beat Adelaide by 10 points*
2011: Collingwood beat Hawthorn by three points
2013: Hawthorn beat Geelong by five points*
2016: Western Bulldogs beat GWS by six points*
2026: Fremantle beat Sydney by 12 points

* won the Grand Final