Arabic version: فريمانتل وبريسبان على موعد مع نهائي دوري كرة القدم الأسترالية

According to The Guardian, Fremantle are one win from a first AFL premiership as they prepare to face Brisbane in the grand final at the MCG. Brisbane enter the decider as two-time reigning premiers and will play in a fourth consecutive grand final. The Dockers finished as the leading home-and-away side, recording a club-record 19 wins and a 14-match winning streak.

Fremantle recovered from a qualifying-final loss to Hawthorn by beating Geelong and Sydney. Their preliminary-final win over the Swans featured five final-quarter goals while Sydney managed one behind. Justin Longmuir’s side has equalled the VFL/AFL record with eight victories in a season after trailing at the last change.

The Dockers have the competition’s top-ranked defence, conceding an average of 74 points this year. Their territory and stoppage work proved decisive against Sydney, when they led 13-5 in clearances, 51-27 in contested possessions and 24-6 in inside-50s. Fremantle will seek greater output from key forwards Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Patrick Voss, who have combined for 45% of the team’s scores this season.

Brisbane bring a high-scoring attack, averaging 118 points since recovering from three straight mid-season defeats to win 12 of their past 14 matches. Logan Morris has kicked 69 goals, while Charlie Cameron, Kai Lohmann, Zac Bailey and Cam Rayner have also contributed heavily. The Lions are ranked first for clearance differential at plus 5.3 per game, with centre clearances set to be central against Fremantle.

Fremantle ruck Luke Jackson arrives in strong form after recording two goals, 15 disposals, eight score involvements and 27 hit-outs against Sydney. Brisbane midfielder Will Ashcroft has two Norm Smith medals and has averaged career highs of 28.5 disposals and 5.5 clearances in his fourth season. The match will be the first final meeting between the Dockers and Lions.