Fremantle have pulled of a sensational last-quarter comeback to surge into the AFL grand final with a tense 12-point win over Sydney.
Trailing by 27 points late in the third quarter, the Dockers kicked the last six goals of their preliminary final to win 12.11 (83) to 10.11 (71) at the SCG.
Fremantle advance to the second grand final in club history, where they will meet either Hawthorn or Brisbane.
Justin Longmuir’s men were staring down the barrel of an early exit before Hayden Young converted a difficult set shot after three-quarter time siren, and were full of running in a gripping finish.
Young (28 disposals), Andrew Brayshaw (29), Caleb Serong (28) and Shai Bolton (two goals) were instrumental in the victory.
But it wasn’t assured until the dying stages, when Isaiah Dudley ran into an open goal with less than two minutes on the clock.
Luke Jackson also finished with two goals in an entertaining ruck battle with Brodie Grundy.
Dudley’s second major was the Dockers’ fifth of a dominant final quarter, in which Patrick Voss’s huge fend-off and checkside goal on the run was a highlight.
Sydney’s brave effort came without injured captain Callum Mills and the five stars banned in the fallout from the Pullman Hotel scandal.
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Errol Gulden (36 disposals) was brilliant in setting up their lead, with Logan McDonald (three goals) dangerous in attack.
But they couldn’t stop an irrepressible surge from Fremantle in the final quarter.
– Australian Associated Press. Jonathan Horn’s full report to follow …
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