THE PATH was paved for Fremantle to play finals, but a finely tuned Port Adelaide stood in the way as the Dockers fumbled their chance in a season-ending 20-point loss at Optus Stadium that handed Carlton the last September spot.
Trailing by three points early in the final quarter, the Dockers lost their ability to handle the ball cleanly under pressure and conceded the last three goals to a formidable Power team that made sure of its second-place finish with the 13.9 (87) to 9.13 (67) win.
DOCKERS v POWER Full match coverage and stats
Ken Hinkley's team will host a qualifying final against Geelong in the opening week and take momentum into its fourth finals campaign in five years after bringing a relentless pressure brand to the last game of the home-and-away season.
Carlton will travel to Brisbane for an elimination final after waiting until Sunday night to know if it would qualify following the Blues’ earlier loss to St Kilda in a rollercoaster Sunday to end the season.
The win came with pre-finals pain for the Power, who lost Kane Farrell to a hamstring injury before half-time. Important backman Aliir Aliir also limped from the ground in the second quarter, but he was able to return after the main break.
Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines was outstanding in his 250th match, finishing with 31 disposals to lead a midfield that applied relentless pressure and handled the big moments better than their opponents.
Jason Horne-Francis was a star in an ominous performance, kicking two goals as he rotated forward and plenty more, with Zak Butters (27 and six clearances) also vital.
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Premiership small forward Willie Rioli finished Fremantle, kicking two of three goals in the final quarter at a ground where he once starred as a West Coast player.
While the Dockers will kick themselves for stumbling when the game was on the line, they fought to the end and will be driven in 2025 after letting their September chance slip with four close losses to end the year.
The equation for the home team was simple at 4.10pm, win and you're in, and the team played with an early intensity that reflected the stakes, moving the ball quickly and bringing the pressure.
An early conversion from 45m for spearhead Jye Amiss was a good sign, and wingman Nathan O'Driscoll broke the lines with his attacking mindset and speed, kicking a brilliant early goal.
The Dockers held an eight-point lead at the first change, but they would have been concerned by the Power's weight of forward entries as their midfielders worked into the game.
Horne-Francis shaped as the dangerman, pushing forward to kick a classy running goal early in the second term and then setting up teammate Dante Visentini, who was a late inclusion for veteran forward Charlie Dixon (illness).
The Dockers had the better of the quarter in many ways, dominating groundball (30-21) and contested possessions (37-29) for the term, but spraying opportunities to kick 2.6 for the quarter.
The Power took their opportunities and were clean with the ball when it mattered, with Mitch Georgiades kicking back-to-back goals from set shots to open a narrow lead.
Fremantle's dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe cut it to one-point at the main break when he took a brilliant one-handed mark deep in attack and converted with less than 10 seconds left in the quarter.
Port ramped up its pressure in the third quarter and looked like using it to create a game-breaking period as Francis Evans and Horne-Francis kicked early goals.
They maintained it throughout the quarter and didn't relent in the run home, showcasing their professional approach with a finals brand that looks ready to take more scalps in the next month.
Dockers ride wave on Super Sunday
The build-up to Sunday's final game was befitting of a thrilling season, with Fremantle players warming up on the ground during the last quarter of St Kilda's win, and then gathering in a huddle before running out as they learned that Jack Higgins had snapped the match-winning goal at Marvel Stadium. A roar went around Optus Stadium at that point as Fremantle fans watched the Saints' clash on phones and televisions around the ground. It set the scene for a season-closing clash that had plenty on the line, when a dead rubber was a live chance seconds earlier.
Execution under pressure Freo's weakness
The difference between the two teams in the fourth quarter can be summed up by how they kept their cool under opposition pressure. Where Port was able to absorb the Dockers' defensive efforts and surge forward, Fremantle double handled the ball or spilled it entirely when there was no room for error. It's been the story of their past month, which has seen winning chances slip against teams that handle the moment better, with Port another example. It will give the team a clear focus over the pre-season as it strives to return to the finals stage.
Evans ready for fairytale finals
Power defender Logan Evans only arrived at Alberton halfway through the season as a mid-year recruit, but he shapes as a vital member of the backline in a premiership charge. The 18-year-old, who was overlooked as a draftee, had a season-best 23 disposals and 10 rebound 50s in a backline that was shuffling roles to cover for suspended rebounder Dan Houston. Fremantle boasts a dangerous group of high forwards, but time and again Evans stepped up to win critical contests in a dangerous part of the ground, cementing himself as a key player in the upcoming finals series.
FREMANTLE 4.2 6.8 8.11 9.13 (67)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.0 7.3 10.8 13.9 (87)
GOALS
Fremantle: Voss 2, Amiss, Frederick, Fyfe, Jackson, O'Driscoll, Sturt, Switkowski
Port Adelaide: Rioli 3, Georgiades 2, Horne-Francis 2, Byrne-Jones, Drew, F.Evans, McEntee, Sweet, Visentini
BEST
Fremantle: Brayshaw, Young, Switkowski, O'Driscoll, Ryan, Voss
Port Adelaide: Wines, Horne-Francis, Butters, Rioli, L.Evans, Bergman, Burton
INJURIES
Fremantle: Young (calf)
Port Adelaide: Farrell (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Michael Walters (replaced Matt Johnson at three-quarter time)
Port Adelaide: Francis Evans (replaced Kane Farrell in the second quarter)
LATE CHANGES
Fremantle: Nil
Port Adelaide: Dante Visentini replaced Charlie Dixon (illness) in the selected side
Crowd: 45,322 at Optus Stadium
