“Don’t panic.”
That was Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir’s message as the Dockers stare down a semi-final date – and not the preliminary final most experts had tipped.
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The minor premiers were shock losers to Hawthorn in last week’s qualifying final and now face the possibility of becoming the sixth team in six years to bow out in straight sets.
They’d be the 11th team in just 12 years to hit that brutal low should they lose consecutive finals and blow a golden opportunity in front of home fans.
There’s no question Fremantle got stage fright last Thursday night, with AFL premiership coach Adam Simpson even accusing players of “not showing up”.
Hawthorn upset Dockers in big finals win | 04:23
What had been the AFL’s number one ranked defence was torn apart by Hawthorn’s attack, while their own forwards simply failed to function.
But pressure is a funny beast.
And that valve appears to have been released after that first-up finals loss, as the Dockers now take on a stacked Geelong side searching for their own grand final revenge.
Freo young gun Isaiah Dudley said players were quick to own up to their poor showings against Hawthorn.
“It was one of those rare games where the footy gods weren’t talking to us,” he told foxfooty.com.au.
“If the big boys aren’t working well, then something is wrong. We couldn’t fire a shot.
“(Hawthorn) had all the answers… But that’s footy.”
Pleading with fans to “just stick with us”, Dudley said the Dockers were going to give it a “red-hot crack” in tonight’s semi final against Geelong.
“Hopefully we can come out firing and throw the first punch,” he said.
Lyon gives dire warning to defeated Freo | 01:10
And as Longmuir has said, it starts at the contest.
Expect a fired up Freo on Friday night.
On the line – only a fourth-ever preliminary final appearance for the club, and a first for Longmuir as coach.
SELFLESS ATTACK TO GET BACK TO BASICS
Fremantle’s 2026 season has been spearheaded by a three-pronged attack that has delivered time and time again.
The big trio of Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Pat Voss has proved a headache for defences across the competition.
Treacy and Amiss have been ranked second and third in the AFL for marks inside 50 with Voss in 16th.
Amiss was the fourth-most targeted player inside forward 50 in the competition, with Treacy in 15th and Voss in 24th.
“I think that Amiss has been one of the most improved players of the competition over the past two seasons,” dual premiership Roo David King praised.
“He’s become a key power forward now that most clubs would die to get.”
“He’s their lead up option,” Jack Riewoldt added.
Dockers dominate All-Australian team | 02:42
What we’ve seen in 2026 is when one opponent locks down one or two of those big forwards, the third gets off the chain in a sign of just how flexible Freo’s attack is.
But we didn’t see it last Thursday.
Instead of the individual leading lanes and off-the-ball applause that has become a feature of Freo’s forward line, the Dockers tall targets crashed into each other.
Conceding players had a “very honest chat” about where they went wrong, Isaiah Dudley said there was an easy fix come tonight’s semi final.
“Everyone wanted to be the man. During the season, our forward line has been as selfless as it’s been and enjoyable to play with,” he shared.
“Because we weren’t firing a shot, I think everyone wanted to be the man and take the moment.
“But we’ve got to get back to what we were doing for the past 24 rounds and be that selfless forward line which we have been all year.
“That’s the exciting part.
“The big boys have reviewed it. We go again Friday.”
Where did Justin Longmuir go wrong? | 04:59
That selfless nature that’s been a feature of Freo’s game is highlighted by an attack end with Treacy, Amiss and Voss all bagging 40-goal plus seasons; at a time teams like wildcard finalist Carlton didn’t have a single player hit that mark.
Only fellow premiership contender Brisbane had an attack end achieve the same feat in a sign of just how damaging the Dockers can be when firing.
So a team bonding day at Peel Thunder last Saturday was exactly what the doctor ordered as the club’s WAFL affiliate booked their own grand final date.
“JL’s message was pretty clear – we didn’t get our roles set the way we wanted to defend,” Dudley said.
“We didn’t get our roles right or the ground set as we wanted. The stuff we’ve been doing all year we didn’t execute right.
“We had a good training sessions today and everyone is buzzing.
“Footy doesn’t always go the way you want it to… but we’ve set our season up to have a second chance. We finished top for a reason.
“We get another crack at it.”
Fremantle players back at training this week.Source: Getty Images
UNITED DOCKERS READY TO TEST THEIR BONDS
Fremantle’s 2026 season has been one of both on and off-field success.
A historic 19 wins and a record membership of almost 62,500 has put the club in the best position possible.
Spots in the team have been hard to come by as a lack of injuries and the club’s willingness to pick and stick at selection should the form warrant it, has seen plenty of AFL-level players bide their time in the WAFL.
But one thing clearly working in Freo’s favour is the unity within the club.
Week after week, players have been adamant the club is the place to be as this band of brothers attempt to break Fremantle’s longstanding premiership drought.
“We’re a team with a team mindset. We don’t want standout individuals,” Jordan Clark told foxfooty.com.au.
“It takes a whole army – not just the 23 players out there.”
While Longmuir admits it’s “been hard” for players to get an opportunity, like Chris Scerri who has travelled at least five times as an emergency while managing just nine games in his debut season, it shows the determination.
“There’s so many good players knocking on the door at Peel Thunder,” Scerri told foxfooty.com.au.
“It’s great to see. For me, whenever my moment comes I’ve got to take full opportunity.
Cats head west for Freo showdown | 00:53
“I’m ready to do whatever the team needs and do my role to the best I can.”
Scerri agreed the unity within the club – both at AFL and WAFL level – was something that made it feel like home.
“We’re all brothers – running out there, it’s not just your mate. You run out with 22 of your other brothers,” he said.
“We play for each other. We have that much love for each other, not just on the field.”
“Players aren’t playing to get the accolades… we’re playing to help our teammates and be on the trademark clips on Monday,” Neil Erasmus added.
And that bond will no doubt be on display against the Cats as Fremantle look to respond to last week’s horror show.
Pat Voss, the player rival fans love to hate, said the Dockers were a “really close-knit group”; summed up by their attendance in the ‘Pat Voss Academy’ – a pre-training workshop for players to upskill.
“We do a lot of work on our connection away from the field and it really shows on field,” Voss said.
“There’s no ground ball – it’s all marking (laughs).
“It’s got a great vibe around it – a lot of boys come to it, a lot of boys buy into it. There’s a great culture around it so I think the boys enjoy it – we all get something out of it.
“My biggest room for growth has been my marking and my aerial craft. I saw an opportunity every main training morning to do that. Got the right coaches behind me.
Sicily lets Voss have it after the siren | 00:38
“Me and Josh Treacy actually did it together – now we’ve got just about all the key position players doing it.
“(Assistant coaches) Jaymie (Graham) and Jade Rawlings come out every morning.
“(Graham) has got a lethal right boot – he gets them in pretty hard.”
“I think it’s a fun environment – everyone gets on. It’s one big group that’s connected and driven for a common goal,” Matt Johnson told foxfooty.com.au.
“I love coming to the footy club every day – I’ve got the best mates there to see. We’re all invested in the club and where it’s going.”
TIME TO END THE HEARTBREAK
Fremantle don’t have the best finals record under Longmuir – sitting at 1-3, as it’s been heartbreak after heartbreak in recent seasons.
Last year, the one-point final minute loss to the Gold Coast Suns saw Freo bow out in a home elimination final.
In 2024, it was a torrid late injury run that saw the Dockers slip from top four to missing finals altogether off the back of four consecutive defeats – three of those by less than two goals.
In 2022, it was Collingwood who ended Freo’s charge in front of more than 90,000 at the MCG in a semi final blockbuster.
Jordan Clark with a SCREAMER! | 00:40
So Freo have been close … but not good enough in those big moments under Longmuir.
But the chance to book the team’s first preliminary final in more than a decade looms large. And Longmuir remains confident the finals heartbreak tide is turning.
“I feel like we’re ready to go,” Longmuir said.
“We learnt the lessons we needed to (against Hawthorn).
“The players are really positive and keen to get out there and amends.
“Right some wrongs.
“We should have a lot of confidence that we can handle the moment and handle what the game’s going to throw at us.
“Last week is last week.
“And just like last week, we’re one win away from a prelim.”
Longmuir said there’s “more than one way” to make it to a grand final, as Freo blew their first chance last Thursday night.
But star Andy Brayshaw is confident players can get the job done, as he embraces the hype surrounding the club.
Andy Brayshaw speaks to the media ahead of the semi final vs Geelong.Source: Getty Images
“You don’t get another chance,” Andrew Brayshaw said this week.
“Cafes, restaurants… every one is up and about which they should be.
“It’s a really exciting time to be part of the club.
“We’re trying to lean into that love.”