Dockers Stun Swans with Incredible Comeback to Reach Grand Final

Fremantle Dockers have pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Sydney Swans by 12 points, booking their spot in the Grand Final. The Dockers trailed by 21 points at three-quarter time but produced a remarkable last quarter to turn the game around.

Hayden Young sparked the comeback with a remarkable goal from the boundary after the three-quarter time siren. Shai Bolton then produced a stunning long set shot, before Patrick Voss fended Dane Rampe into next week and curled home a brilliant goal to cut the margin to nine points.

Isaiah Dudley, in just his second AFL season, then booted the goal that sent Fremantle to just its second Grand Final. "We were down for so much, we were playing so poorly for it felt like large parts of it, but we hung in there," Dockers captain Alex Pearce told Fox Footy.

"I don't want to say it's a sense of relief; it's a sense of joy and pride for my teammates in how we were able to play our best footy in that last quarter when the pressure was at its highest."

Fremantle fans would have been forgiven for giving up on the Premiership dream midway through the third quarter. Sydney, undermanned as they were, had an answer for every challenge the Dockers threw their way.

Fremantle had more of the ball but struggled on the short SCG, kicking over the head of their forwards time and again. Josh Treacy struggled to have an impact as the Dockers missed targets inside 50 on numerous occasions.

Voss, Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy combined for just eight disposals in the first half, which was emblematic of the Dockers' struggles. Sydney's pressure was intense, as it appeared the Dockers would crack as they did against Hawthorn two weeks ago.

But after the final change, they showed the resolve that had made them the best second-half side for the season. "We put a bit of pressure on them [Sydney], and they probably didn't play with the same dare," Dockers coach Justin Longmuir told Fox Footy.

"It was a game of adjustments. I didn't think our intensity was off early; I think our method was off early."

The win brings to an end a season that will forever be remembered for the events in mid-August which saw the Swans suspend five first-choice players. The Swans produced a stunning win over Brisbane in their qualifying final in which they also lost captain Callum Mills to a serious knee injury, but couldn't repeat the dose.

"We were in a really good position for three-and-a-bit quarters, and to their credit, at this time of the year you can't give a team any momentum, and they took it," Swans coach Dean Cox said.

"They've been the best team all year, and it showed you've got to play a full 120 minutes against those teams to get the result you're after."