Dane Rampe is set to play his 289th AFL match and 25th final for Sydney, stepping in as captain for the injured Callum Mills. With two more victories, the Swans and their former co-captain could make history by lifting the premiership cup.
Jonathan Horn is present at the SCG this evening to provide coverage of the preliminary final, delving into the Swans’ journey to this point, especially in light of the significant suspensions affecting the team’s narrative both on and off the field.
“Our judgments, conclusions and outrages were clouded, though not necessarily tempered, by the fact that almost none of us knew what had happened in that hotel room. The anger turned towards a few tactless tweets and comments by pundits who make a living saying objectionable things. And it blunted something that was secondary to the police investigation but still relevant – this was an extraordinary sports story. It was a story of a club shorn of several of the best players in the competition, and which had claimed to have torpedoed its own season. It was something we’d almost never seen before in the sport.”
Both teams have reached the preliminary finals after completing the home-and-away season, and a recap of their journeys is in order.
Fremantle’s path to the preliminary final
Fremantle could have enjoyed home ground advantage had they not experienced a stark reality check in the qualifying final against Hawthorn. However, the minor premiers regained their momentum with a narrow victory over Geelong in a thrilling semi-final at Optus Stadium.
Sydney’s challenges and changes
Sydney was seen as potentially vulnerable after suspending five key players for breaching club standards, which significantly weakened their lineup. The Lions appeared to have received a similar message, as they largely failed to compete against the undermanned Swans, who celebrated a memorable qualifying final victory at the SCG, securing this home preliminary final.
Final team selections have been confirmed with no last-minute changes. Sydney is forced to make two changes due to injuries. Captain Callum Mills suffered a serious knee injury in the first term of the qualifying final against Brisbane, while veteran defender Harry Cunningham has also been ruled out with a calf injury sustained during training. Justin McInerney returns for his first match since round 13, enhancing the Swans’ midfield, although he may struggle to regain the career-best form he showcased prior to his significant hamstring injury. Key defender Lewis Melican joins the backline to strengthen the defense against the Dockers’ tall forward line. Meanwhile, Joel Amartey will remain on the sidelines as the Swans opt to field Hayden McLean, who scored three goals against the Lions, in an effort to contain Fremantle’s big man, Luke Jackson.
Fremantle’s squad stability
Fremantle has not made any changes from the team that triumphed over Geelong in the semi-final. Key defender Brennan Cox will instead compete in the WAFL grand final for Peel Thunder as he continues his recovery from a calf injury. The Dockers have chosen not to rush Brandon Walker back from an ankle injury sustained in the qualifying final defeat to the Hawks, even with the threat posed by Swans’ spark plug Tom Papley.
Welcome to the live coverage of the AFL preliminary final between Sydney and Fremantle at the SCG. The Swans are just one win away from an unexpected grand final appearance after having suspended five players, including three star athletes, for breaching club standards a month ago. The Dockers, seeking their first grand final appearance since their sole visit in 2013, have followed a more conventional path, dominating the minor premiership until faltering in a shocking home qualifying final loss to the Hawks.
Despite being undermanned, Sydney finished as runners-up during the home and away season and, to the surprise of many, including myself, made significant strides towards a third grand final in five years with an impressive win over the highly regarded Lions. However, questions linger about whether this revitalized group has exhausted their energy with that victory against the complacent two-time reigning champions to earn a home preliminary final.
Fremantle aspired to enjoy home ground advantage for this critical match, their first high-stakes game since the 2015 preliminary final, following a record-setting 19 wins during the home and away season. Unfortunately, the occasion appeared to overwhelm the minor premiers. An inspired Hawthorn team came out aggressively right from the start, while the expectations from both players and fans weighed heavily, resulting in a disappointing defeat. Justin Longmuir’s team rebounded with a hard-fought victory against the Cats in a high-quality semi-final matchup, marking just their second finals win since reaching this stage in 2015, which should provide a boost of confidence heading into this crucial contest.
The winning team tonight will advance to face either Hawthorn or the reigning champions Brisbane in the AFL grand final at the MCG next Saturday. For now, the first ball-up at the SCG is scheduled for 7:40 PM local time / 5:40 PM AWST. I will share team news shortly. In the meantime, feel free to email me your thoughts and predictions. Let’s get started!
