Geelong ruckman Mitch Edwards wants to use the skills he took from Fremantle superstar Luke Jackson as a teenager to end the All-Australian’s season in the cut-throat semifinal at Optus Stadium on Friday night.
Mitchell Woodcock
A trio of Fremantle stars who have all tasted premiership success at other clubs have been backed to respond with the Dockers promising finals campaign on the line.
Samantha Rogers
Finals footy often descends into man-on-man battles as we look at which key match-ups will be crucial for Fremantle’s and Geelong’s semifinal fortunes.
James Palumbo
Justin Longmuir’s decision to recall Corey Wagner for their semifinal against Geelong looks all about stopping one crucial Cat, wrties Mitchell Woodcock.
Fremantle have axed wingman Nathan O’Driscoll for their must-win semifinal against Geelong as coach Justin Longmuir opts for more experience for their cut-throat final. SEE THE FULL TEAMS.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has implored his team not to panic despite their best chance ever at a maiden premiership being on a knife’s edge in their must-win semifinal against Geelong.
On the eve of the biggest game of his coaching career, Justin Longmuir was asked if he had a message for the Purple Army. But the Fremantle boss instead pivoted to put the onus on his playing group.
Geelong do not want to overburden their ageing stars, with Patrick Dangerfield one of more than a dozen Cats opting out of their Thursday captain’s run.
Jake Santa Maria
Fremantle defender Brandon Walker won’t play in Friday night’s semifinal clash against Geelong. See who Justin Longmuir has confirmed as his replacement here!
Fremantle will lose to Geelong if they don’t acknowledge that there is a vast difference between playing in-season football and finals footy. Justin Longmuir must be smarter in the box, writes Mick Malthouse.
Mick Malthouse
Fremantle had to figure out the best way forward after their loss to Hawthorn and one of their defenders has taken us inside what the players have done each day to be ready to face Geelong on Friday.
Craig O'Donoghue
Victorian powerhouse Geelong have arrived in Perth ready to drop anchor on “Flagmantle” and ruin the weekend for tens of thousands of Dockers fans who are desperate for redemption.
Star Geelong defender Lawson Humphries says silencing the Fremantle crowd early will be crucial to their hopes of upsetting the Dockers on Friday night.
Fremantle captain Ange Stannett says tangible improvements in their midfield and forward connectivity are providing a healthy blueprint as they prepare for a month which will shape their final aspirations.
Ben Smith
Former Fremantle forward Rory Lobb has opened up about his messy Dockers exit, admitting he failed to connect with the club during his time in the west.
Fremantle are desperate to get back to their “miserly” best against Geelong, with Dockers football boss Joe Brierty denying they have a weakness with stopping dangerous small forwards.
Fremantle forward Pat Voss says the Dockers are eyeing redemption after a “very deflating” showing in their finals opener.
The Dockers’ current situation is eerily similar to what I went through while coaching North Melbourne in 2007, writes Danielle Laidley.
Danielle Laidley
Andrew Brayshaw is adamant Fremantle will bounce back from their qualifying final blip in their cut-throat clash with Geelong on Friday.
Fremantle ruck Mim Strom’s 78-game streak looks set to continue with scans on a shoulder injury coming back better than the Dockers had expected.
Aaron Kirby
The club has officially ruled out one player, saying he needs another week of conditioning.
All eyes were on the injured stars at Fremantle training and the next group of contenders to see who could come into the team to face Geelong. The Dockers’ season goes on the line this week.
Josh Treacy had a shocker during the qualifying final against Hawthorn, but if his mood this week is anything to go by, then Geelong defenders are going to have sore bodies on Friday night.
It’s time for West Coast to man their panic stations after falling to 0-4 while a road win for the Dockers keeps them in the mix for a strong middle of the season. Danielle Laidley rates every player.
