Fremantle will miss the finals for a second consecutive season after slumping to a 20-point loss to Port Adelaide, with the consequence gifting Carlton eighth spot.
The Dockers entered Sunday’s match understanding a win would earn them a finals berth following St Kilda’s last-gasp two-point overcome the Blues.
An enormous roar went up round Perth Stadium earlier than the Dockers-Energy conflict when St Kilda’s Jack Higgins scored a objective with 12 seconds remaining to safe victory over Carlton.
However the Dockers could not full their a part of the equation, with two final-quarter objectives from former West Coast Eagle Willie Rioli serving to Port safe the 13.9 (87) to 9.13 (67) victory in entrance of 45,322 followers.
Sunday’s match was additionally essential for Port, given a loss by about 4 objectives would have allowed Geelong to leapfrog them into second spot.
Port’s win means they may now host the third-placed Cats in a qualifying ultimate.
Port star Ollie Wines tallied 31 disposals and 6 clearances in his 250th sport, Zak Butters had 27 possessions, whereas Jason Horne-Francis kicked two objectives from 20 possessions and Rioli slotted three majors.
Andrew Brayshaw racked up 32 disposals and 5 clearances for the Dockers, whereas Hayden Younger tallied 10 rating involvements amongst his 19 possessions, however he spent a lot of the ultimate quarter on the bench after sustaining a knock to his calf.
The win got here at a value for Port Adelaide, with defender Kane Farrell set to overlook the beginning of the finals after injuring his left hamstring within the second quarter.
Fellow defender Aliir Aliir despatched an enormous scare by way of the camp when he additionally went down within the second quarter, however he was capable of return to the sector after receiving remedy on his ankle within the rooms.
The Energy suffered a late pre-match blow when Charlie Dixon was dominated out with sickness.
A shattered Andrew Brayshaw shares an embrace with Fremantle teammate Caleb Serong after the loss to Port Adelaide. (Getty Photos: Paul Kane)
Port Adelaide received the within 50m depend 18-11 within the first quarter however Fremantle made probably the most of their probabilities to open up an eight-point lead.
The roles have been reversed in a pressure-filled second quarter, with Fremantle spraying 2.6 compared to Port Adelaide’s 4.3 because the guests hit the lead.
A surprising one-handed mark from Nat Fyfe on the prime of the goalsquare with simply seconds remaining within the half ensured the margin was just one level on the lengthy break.
The Energy twice skipped away to 15-point leads within the third quarter, with Fremantle’s sick self-discipline off the ball handing the guests a objective from point-blank vary late.
However Sam Sturt’s late snap lowered the hole to 9 factors on the ultimate change.
Dockers ahead Patrick Voss floated throughout the pack to take an enormous mark early within the ultimate time period to cut back the margin to a few factors, however Caleb Serong missed the possibility to place Fremantle in entrance when his shot on the run light.
Rioli’s low mark helped Port prolong the margin again out to 9 factors, and he popped up once more late to kick the sealer.
Earlier, Marcus Bontempelli and the Bulldogs stand up to wild climate — and the Giants — in Ballarat to clinch finals footy.
Take a look at the stay weblog beneath for a full recap of all of Sunday’s AFL motion because it occurred.
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AFL Sunday
Thanks and goodnight!
Properly I am all blogged out after a ridiculous weekend of footy.
It was nice to get the SUPER SUNDAY (TM) that all of us needed as impartial followers, with the finals construction coming proper right down to the final quarter of the common season.
Heartbreak for Freo followers, who be a part of the likes of Collingwood, Melbourne and Essendon as groups who regarded like they might push for a flag sooner or later this yr however will not even get a shot on the finals.
And for the eight remaining, nothing however joyous hope in some of the even seasons in dwelling reminiscence.
Because of everybody who has joined me this weekend, whether or not by way of click on, remark, or imprecise passing curiosity.
Let’s do all of it once more in two week’s time!
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Week one finals fixture
So after one of many extra unbelievable common seasons of AFL footy, we lastly know what week one of many finals appears to be like like.
The schedule will not be launched till tomorrow, however I think it will likely be a Thursday evening, Friday evening, Saturday twilight and Saturday evening fixture.
The Thursday evening sport is prone to be a belter with Sydney internet hosting the GWS Giants on the SCG in a qualifying ultimate. Will probably be the fourth time the 2 groups have met in finals, with the Giants at present holding a 3-0 report.
The Friday evening sport will in all probability be the elimination ultimate between the Brisbane Lions and Carlton on the Gabba, with the AFL probably eager to keep away from going head-to-head with the Brisbane Broncos on Saturday. It will be the sequel to final yr’s unbelievable preliminary ultimate, which the Lions claimed by 16 factors.
On Saturday night, I might count on it to be Port Adelaide internet hosting Geelong at Adelaide Oval within the qualifying ultimate. The groups met in QFs at Adelaide Oval in each 2020 and 2021, and the Energy received each of them fairly comfortably.
And Saturday evening, we’ll probably see the Western Bulldogs internet hosting Hawthorn on the MCG in an elimination ultimate. The final time these two met in a ultimate was 2016, when the Canines went on their gorgeous run to the flag.
FT: Port Adelaide Energy 13.9 (87) defeat Fremantle Dockers 9.13 (67)
A sport of wasted alternatives for the Dockers.
They’d their probabilities going into the F50 however dearly missed Josh Treacy immediately.
Andrew Brayshaw (32) has probably the most touches for the sport, forward of Ollie Wines (31).
The Energy safe second place and host Geelong within the qualifying ultimate.
And the Blues, after the heartbreak of their ultimate second loss to the Saints, sneak into finals to play the Lions on the Gabba in an elimination ultimate.
Jordon Candy kicks the objective and this one is over!
Fremantle’s 2024 season is over, and Carlton makes it by way of to finals by the pores and skin of their enamel!
Rioli does it once more!
Travis Boak kicks a chaos ball into the objective sq. and Mitch Georgiades nearly takes an important one-hander, however it spills out.
Willie Rioli roves it although and kicks the objective!
He shushes the gang!
The Blues are within the field seat to play finals at this charge.
Hayden Younger appears to be like like he is in hassle
The star midfielder has sat out a lot of previous quarter-hour on the bench.
The Dockers introduced him again on to play him ahead, however he is simply not shifting proper.
It appears to be like like a calf.
Willie Rioli brings it again to 9 factors!
After all of the F50 entries for Freo, Port get the one and so they kick a objective from it.
Once more it is Jason Horne-Francis who coolly floats across the the throw in and collects the capsule, handing off to Zak Butters.
Butters spears it into the F50 and Rioli marks the ball low.
That actually hurts the Dockers after they’d a lot of the ball inside their ahead half.
Serong misses a flying shot!
That was an important likelihood for Freo to take the lead!
He had house and time however it hooks it to the left and it is down to 2 factors.
Voss takes a robust mark and objectives!
The Dockers lastly convert a F50 entry!
Patrick Voss clunks it 15m instantly in entrance and he … nearly misses! Boy oh boy that was shut.
However he does convert and it is again to a few factors!
Dockers inside 50s …
These Fremantle inside 50s are making me actually unhappy.
I am not a Dockers supporter.
I’ve no pores and skin on this sport.
They’re simply making me unhappy.
The Dockers make their sub
Corey Wagner regarded injured late in that third-term, however Michael Walters is coming in for Matthew Johnson.
It’s a tactical sub.
3QT: Port Adelaide Energy 10.8 (68) lead Fremantle Dockers 8.11 (59)
What a irritating quarter from the Dockers.
They peppered the F50 all through the time period however they have been all messy, unorganised entries that would have completed with a Josh Treacy on the finish of them.
However Josh Treacy is not there, and the Dockers cannot afford to be as cavalier with their ball use as they have been in that quarter.
They will be annoyed with the free objective to McEntee too. Foolish footy.
On the stay ladder, Carlton sit in eighth and Fremantle sit in tenth, however the Dockers are nonetheless in with a shot right here.
Geelong’s hopes of internet hosting a qualifying ultimate are wanting more and more much less probably although, with that 21+ level Dockers profitable margin in all probability past them.
The Dockers reply again!
Properly that was fast!
They get it out of the center and Sam Sturt sweeps in to kick the objective to carry it again to a single determine margin.
Port Adelaide get a free one
Jed McEntee is handed a free kick on the prime of the objective sq. after Liam Reidy offers away a foolish free kick down the sector because the Dockers arrange for a kick in.
Dumb footy. Expensive footy.
Luke Jackson will get one again for the Dockers!
The entry into F50 has been atrocious from the Dockers this quarter, however an enormous hoof from Hayden Younger places stress on the Port defence within the objective sq. and Jackson wins the free kick for entrance on contact.
It’s kind of of a tender one, I am undecided it was there, however the Dockers desperately wanted that one.
We’re again to eight factors!
Horne-Francis has alarm bells going off
Port strikes forward to a sport excessive 15-point lead by way of Jason Horne-Francis.
The within 50 comes from Logan Evans, and Esava Ratugolea makes use of energy to beat two opponents, and handballs to an open JHF.
Hassle right here for the Dockers.
Francis Evans attracts first blood for the half
There’s free males in all places for Port as Zak Butters shifts the assault to the opposite aspect of the F50 by way of Travis Boak, who then finds Evans.
The sub converts together with his first kick of the sport.
We’re underway within the second half
And Aliir Aliir is again on the market for the Energy!
Nice consequence for Port Adelaide, who’ve already misplaced Kane Farrell for the sport.
HT: Port Adelaide Energy 7.3 (45) lead Fremantle Dockers 6.8 (44)
Jason Horne-Francis and Mitch Georgiades imposed themselves on the sport there, and Port Adelaide holds a one-point lead at half time.
It seems like finals footy in the meanwhile and each groups are having their moments.
Andrew Brayshaw leads the disposal depend with 18, with Ollie Wines and Heath Chapman each on 15.
On the stay ladder, Carlton is at present within the eighth with Fremantle tenth. Port Adelaide is a win forward of Geelong in second.
