Arabic version: بريزبن وفريمانتل تقدّمان قصتين متباينتين في النهائي الكبير

According to The Guardian, the AFL grand final on Saturday at the MCG will pit Brisbane’s pursuit of a third straight title against Fremantle’s bid for its first premiership. Neither club will have home-ground advantage, leaving neutral and occasional fans with a choice between a recent powerhouse and a long-waiting contender.

The Lions have won five premierships since their Brisbane-based reincarnation in 1997 and can match the club’s three consecutive flags from 2001 to 2003. Of the 23 players in their squad, only two have not previously won flags. Brisbane’s route to the decider included a 53-point qualifying-final loss to Sydney, a home victory over Adelaide and a preliminary-final win over Hawthorn after trailing by as many as 22 points before half-time.

Brisbane’s squad includes brothers Will and Levi Ashcroft, veteran small forward Charlie Cameron and Dayne Zorko. Cameron played for the Newman Saints between shifts at a Pilbara mine before becoming one of the game’s biggest stars. The Lions are presented as a choice for supporters drawn to dynasties, even if another title would not make them a popular pick among neutrals.

Fremantle, which entered the league in the mid-1990s like Brisbane, has never won a premiership. The Dockers took nine years to reach the finals and were beaten by Hawthorn in the 2013 grand final. They had played only three finals in the following decade before this season, but recorded a club-record 14 consecutive wins and secured the minor premiership after losing only four games.

After Hawthorn beat Fremantle in the qualifying final, the Dockers returned to contention through wins over Geelong and Sydney. Their group includes Patrick Voss, captain Alex Pearce and a mix of unheralded recruits and players from other clubs. After a 32-season wait, Fremantle supporters believe the club can finally deliver what they call “Wharfie Time.”