Arabic version: فريمانتل يواجه هاوثورن في مباراة تأهيلية مشدودة الأعصاب

According to The Guardian, Fremantle enter Thursday night’s qualifying final against Hawthorn after spending nearly four months atop the AFL ladder, but the minor premiers face a contest likely to test the advantage traditionally associated with finishing first.

The pre-finals bye, introduced in 2016, has changed the shape of qualifying finals between the top-ranked side and the team in fourth. Before its introduction, minor premiers beat fourth-placed opponents in qualifying finals across a nine-year stretch, with an average winning margin of 45 points. Since then, GWS defeated the top-placed Swans in 2016, Collingwood beat ladder-leading Geelong in 2019, and the Magpies narrowly overcame Melbourne in 2023. Sydney also recovered from five goals down in the second half to beat the fourth-placed Giants in 2024, while Collingwood beat top-placed Adelaide last year.

Fremantle’s season has supplied strong evidence of their credentials. Champion Data says the Dockers have the best premiership profile since the 2022 and 2007 Geelong sides. Five Fremantle players were selected in the All-Australian team, while captain Alex Pearce was among those considered unlucky to miss out. The Dockers have regularly produced impressive performances at Optus Stadium, and their loss to Melbourne at the MCG was described as arguably the best home-and-away game of the season.

Opposition coaches have attempted a range of approaches against Fremantle, including faster and slower styles, flooding and tagging. The Dockers have faced periods in several matches when they appeared vulnerable, but have adjusted and responded. Their late-season form was tempered by the fact that two home finals had already been secured, with players left in Perth for some matches.

The sides’ previous meeting delivered the jeopardy Fremantle are said to need, testing their coaching, commitment and talent as Hawthorn’s Nick Watson and Jack Gunston made an impact. Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell approaches coaching as a puzzle, while Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has acknowledged the significance of pursuing the club’s first premiership. Longmuir said: “I would be very surprised if that’s not at the forefront of everyone’s mind.”