The sting of a near-miss finals victory still lingers for the Fremantle Dockers, a painful reminder of an opportunity that slipped through their grasp. Last season, in a dramatic elimination final at Perth Stadium, David Swallow’s match-winning goal against the Gold Coast Suns sealed their fate. The Dockers had staged a remarkable comeback, clawing back a 26-point deficit in the third quarter to hold a slender lead with mere minutes remaining. However, crucial moments proved their undoing. Josh Treacy’s inability to prevent Mac Andrew’s uncontested mark and subsequent goal, followed by Brennan Cox’s holding free kick that led to Swallow’s fairytale winning shot, saw Fremantle bundled out of the finals race.
This heartbreaking exit marked the end of a season that had seen the Dockers finish seventh with 16 wins. It was a campaign that prompted Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick to issue a statement of intent during the club’s end-of-season awards. “One thing that was consistent and significant this year was that whenever we were challenged, we responded. Not always perfectly, but with honesty, courage and a willingness to look inward,” Garlick stated. He added, “That’s the mark of a team that understands the importance of ownership and accountability. That’s the mark of a team that can realise its potential.”
Turning Potential into Premiership Contention
Fremantle undeniably possesses a wealth of talent, and at times, this potential has been showcased with spectacular results. Victories against formidable opponents like Collingwood by a single point at the MCG, a win against the Gold Coast Suns on their home turf in round 12, and a hard-fought victory over the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne to secure a top-eight spot are testament to this.
Yet, there have been instances where, despite the star-studded talent on the field, the team has faltered. Heavy defeats, such as a 10-goal thrashing by St Kilda, losses to Sydney at Perth Stadium in round two, and the aforementioned snatching of a famous win by the Suns in their first final, highlight these inconsistencies. Garlick acknowledged this, stating, “The next shift will come when we stop being known for our talent alone, but become renowned for our toughness and consistency. That is how our club will achieve its vision of being brave, strong and successful.” Addressing and ironing out these lapses in concentration and performance will be crucial for Fremantle to ascend to genuine premiership contention.
The Quest for Consistency and Maturity
Consistency and maturity appear to be the operative words for Fremantle as they prepare for the upcoming season. The playing group has gained valuable experience, with another pre-season under their belts and another campaign completed. However, it’s noteworthy that the Dockers still boast one of the AFL’s younger squads, with an average age of 24.2 years, placing them as the equal sixth-youngest in the competition. Furthermore, they average the sixth-fewest games per player at 65.7.
On paper, this current squad is considered among the best assembled by the club in its 31-year history, leading to sky-high expectations. Yet, it’s also worth remembering that Fremantle has only managed to play finals in consecutive years once in its history. Therefore, what constitutes a realistic expectation for the Dockers? Making finals is undeniably the bare minimum. However, the club should be setting its sights higher, with a top-four finish being a more ambitious and fitting target.
“The work we’ve done over the past five years has been about building a period where playing finals isn’t an outlier, it’s the baseline,” Garlick remarked. The ultimate goal for Fremantle must be to make a deep run into September. Their premiership window is open, and it’s imperative that they seize this opportunity.
A Long Season Ahead for the West Coast Eagles
While the Dockers are looking towards the upper echelons of the ladder, the West Coast Eagles are also looking upwards, albeit from a very different vantage point. Two wooden spoons in the past three seasons, coupled with a meagre 11 wins since the start of 2022, have significantly lowered expectations for the Eagles.
For West Coast, success this coming season will likely not be measured by wins or ladder position, but rather by their performance within individual games. In 2025, they suffered seven losses by 10 goals or more, and an additional five by more than 40 points. A significant step forward would be to reduce the number of these heavy defeats and to remain competitive for longer periods within matches.
A telling statistic from last season is that West Coast managed to win just three third quarters and three fourth quarters. This suggests a tendency to run out of steam as games progressed. In total, they secured only 19 quarters of football across the entire year out of a possible 92 – a full nine less than Richmond.
The Eagles are entering 2026 as the youngest and least experienced side in the competition, with an average of just 53 games per player and an average age of 23. However, the return of key players like Jake Waterman and Elliot Yeo, the anticipated arrival of Brandon Starcevic once fit, and the natural development of promising youngsters such as Harley Reid, Brady Hough, and Elijah Hewett, should contribute to an improved performance. As author Richard St. John aptly put it, “Success is a continuous journey.” Fremantle and the West Coast Eagles are simply at different points on that journey, with the former aiming to accelerate and the latter striving to lay a stronger foundation.
