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AFL qualifying final live updates: Fremantle vs Hawthorn at Perth Stadium blog, scores and stats

Posted Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:12pmThu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:12pmThu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:12pmSkip to timeline

Fremantle’s finals campaign starts with a stern test in the west, taking on Hawthorn in the first qualifying final at Perth Stadium.

Follow all the action in our live blog.

Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.

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Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:45pmThu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:45pm

Fremantle Dockers — last 10 finals

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By Andrew McGarry

  • EF, 2025: LOSS to Gold Coast by 1 pt (Perth Stadium)
  • SF, 2022: LOSS to Collingwood by 20 pts (MCG)
  • EF, 2022: WIN over Western Bulldogs by 13 pts (Perth Stadium)
  • PF, 2015: LOSS to Hawthorn by 27 pts (Subiaco Oval)
  • QF, 2015: WIN over Sydney by 9 pts (Subiaco Oval)
  • SF, 2014: LOSS to Port Adelaide by 22 pts (Subiaco Oval)
  • QF, 2014: LOSS to Sydney by 24 pts (Sydney’s Olympic stadium)
  • GF, 2013: LOSS to Hawthorn by 15 pts (MCG)
  • PF, 2013: WIN over Sydney by 25 pts (Subiaco Oval)
  • QF, 2013: WIN over Geelong by 15 pts (Kardinia Park)

This is the fourth Qualifying Final for the Dockers since 2013 — they’ve won two and lost one of the previous three.

It will be only the third final Fremantle has played since moving from Subiaco Oval to Perth Stadium. They have a 1-1 record so far, but will be keen to erase memories of last year’s last-minute loss to the Suns.

Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:40pmThu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:40pm

Can the Dockers turn it on at home tonight?

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By Andrew McGarry

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In case you’ve been living on Centauri Prime for the last month or so, there’s this thing called Wharfie Time, and it’s going down a treat out west.

Not sure who came up with it, but it’s even more popular with Dockers fans than the guys getting danger money playing AC/DC on the roof of Perth Stadium before home games.

This one is left to an appropriate time in the final quarter when things are getting tight. The bells go off in the stadium and then a thumping bass like a heartbeat starts echoing around the stands. As you can see from the above clip, it often produces results.

Will we see some more of this tonight? You’d imagine we will.

Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:34pmThu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:34pm

Centre clearances vital for Dockers, Hawks

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By Andrew McGarry

 As they say there are lies, damn lies and footy statistics.

But the changes to the game this year have made centre clearances a lot more vital to success.

Just looking at the last month of football for both sides, some interesting tales emerge.

The Dockers have had 57 centre clearances in their last four games, while conceding exactly the same number (to the Blues, Crows, Demons and Bulldogs). In two of those games, Fremantle were level with their opposition; they won centre clearances in another game and they lost the other one.

Hawthorn had 56 centre clearances in the same period, but they conceded just 40 (to the Eagles, Magpies, Lions and Kangaroos). They won the centre clearances in each of those games.

Now obviously it’s not just how many you get, but what you do with it – and also what you do when the other mob gets one.

The raw figures would suggest that perhaps the Hawks might have a little edge here. But can they take advantage?

Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:30pmThu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:30pm

Hawks facing a test in the west

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By Andrew McGarry

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Always nice to see some captain’s run footage from the clubs, even though the addition of 50,000 mad Dockers fans will make a critical difference tonight.

The key element of the clip above is a certain Hawthorn number 19 drilling set shots.

Forget about The Wizard, if Jack Gunston has a big night tonight, then the Hawks will be right in the mix.

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Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:24pmThu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:24pm

Final Dockers and Hawks teams are in

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By Andrew McGarry

No late changes for either side.

Freo named five changes during the week. Murphy Reid, Jye Amiss, Sam Switkowski, Heath Chapman, Brandon Walker are in, and Christopher Scerri, Tobyn Murray, Bailey Banfield, Judd McVee and Brennan Cox are out.

Just one change for the Hawks, with Jack Ginnivan in for Jack Dalton.

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Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:20pmThu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:20pm

Key finals storylines kick off tonight

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By Andrew McGarry

All credit to the teams who brought us a couple of beauties in the wildcard round, but tonight is where the rubber really hits the road as far as the finals go.

What happens tonight and on Saturday afternoon will do most to shape the direction of September footy.

A win to Fremantle tonight will mean a Wharfie Time prelim in a fortnight’s time, while a Hawthorn win sets off chaos.

Then on Saturday afternoon, the Lions roll into the SCG as firm favourites to disregard the top-four positions and knock off the under-strength Swans on their home deck.

If they do, then the roads to the grand final will go through Perth and Brisbane.

If, somehow, the Swans manage to get the points, then they will deliver a huge blow to the three-peat hopes of the Lions, and leave the teams in the semifinals eyeing a way into the decider.

Whether it goes by the seedings or not, tonight is where it ALL starts. We can’t wait.

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Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:08pmThu 3 Sep 2026 at 7:08pm

Welcome!

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By Andrew McGarry

Hello, good evening and welcome to ABC’s online live coverage of the AFL finals series.

It’s a Thursday night special, it’s Perth Stadium, and it’s Justin Longmuir and the Dockers trying to kick off their finals campaign in perfect fashion against Sam Mitchell and the Hawks.

This is only the second time that Fremantle has won the minor premiership – can they take advantage? A win tonight gives them a week’s rest and another home blockbuster with a spot in the grand final on offer.

But for Hawthorn, this is the big opportunity. Can they win on the road and take control of the finals series and get Hawks fans dreaming of flag number 14? We shall see.

I’m Andrew McGarry, and with my friend and colleague Dean Bilton we will be bringing you all of tonight’s action.

Let’s get into it!