Overview
- Fremantle recovered from a 28-point deficit to beat the Sydney Swans 12.11 (83) to 10.11 (71) at the SCG on Friday after Hayden Young kicked a boundary set shot at the three-quarter siren and the Dockers kicked six straight goals in the final term.
- The Brisbane Lions held off Hawthorn 20.11 (131) to 19.8 (122) at the MCG on Saturday when a late holding-the-ball free against Jarman Impey allowed Hugh McCluggage to regain the lead and Kai Lohmann sealed the result with a goal after the siren.
- Sydney reached the preliminary final despite missing captain Callum Mills to a serious knee injury and five players suspended over the Pullman Hotel incident, and the club now faces decisions about veteran Dane Rampe’s playing future.
- In AFLW action on Friday in Cairns, Hawthorn shocked North Melbourne 4.8 (32) to 3.7 (25), ending North’s 32-game winning run that stretched across recent seasons and competitions.
- Next Saturday’s Grand Final will match Fremantle’s first‑flag quest and Brisbane’s bid for a rare three‑peat, setting up a clash between a club with limited grand-final experience and a settled Lions side used to the pressures of title deciders.