Fans react to Freo’s semi-final win over Geelong
Fremantle’s blockbuster preliminary final against Sydney has sold out in just hours.
The Dockers are just one step away from the decider after avenging a qualifying final defeat at the hands of Hawthorn by beating Geelong in the semi on Friday night.
And it’s now just the Swans, who finished second on the ladder, standing between them and a shot at their maiden premiership on the last Saturday in September.
The chance to witness the Harbour Club’s first preliminary final since 2015 has driven the Dockers’ faithful into a frenzy, with tickets snapped up as fast as they were released.
Airlines, including Qantas, have already put on extra flights to help keen West Australians get across to the SCG for Friday night’s do-or-die clash.
It’s the third sold-out crowd in as many finals for Fremantle, but the crowd at the SCG will be significantly smaller than what the Dockers experienced in last week’s semifinal at Optus Stadium.
The crowd for Freo’s win over Geelong was a WA club record of 59,725, while Sydney’s biggest-ever SCG attendance was 46,323 in the 2017 elimination final against Essendon.
It’s also smaller than the nine successive 50,000-plus crowds they enjoyed at Optus Stadium during the home-and-away season en route to the minor premiership, also their first since 2015.
The Swans will be undermanned for the clash after losing stand-in skipper Callum Mills in their upset qualifying final victory over reigning premiers Brisbane, as well as missing the suspended ‘Pullman Five’.
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