Fremantle have just pulled off the second biggest comeback in AFL finals history to send the Western Bulldogs packing.
Fremantle have just done the unthinkable by taking down the Western Bulldogs in front of a record breaking crowd at Optus Stadium.
The Dockers were dead and buried halfway through the second quarter when they were down by 41 points. From that moment it was one-way traffic as they kicked 11 of the next 13 goals to romp home to the 11.7 (73) to 8.12 (60) victory.
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You could have heard a pin drop in the first half as the crowd sat watching on in stunned silence, by the final quarter it sounded like a rock concert inside the stadium as the Dockers came from the clouds.
The win makes it the second biggest finals comeback in the AFL era, second only to Essendon's 42-point turnaround against the Adelaide Crows during the 1993 elimination final.
The Dockers last played finals footy seven years ago and it looked to have been all going horribly wrong as the Bulldogs burst out of the blocks. It looked to be game set and match in the second quarter.
But somehow the Dockers found a pulse and in the final 10 minutes of the term they slammed home four goals to head into the halftime break only down by 15 points.
As the second half got underway the Dockers continued their charge as the Bulldogs looked shell shocked and simply couldn't respond to the onslaught that was unfolding in front of them.
Fremantle will now take on Collingwood next Saturday night at the MCG.
34 points is the biggest quarter-time deficit that Freo's ever come back to win from in any of their 339 games in WA#AFLFreoDogs #AFLFinals
— Chris Robinson (@CJKRobinson) September 3, 2022
The fans have come flooding in and the Dockers have put on a show.
58,982 fans have packed into Optus Stadium, the most ever for a home Fremantle game and they've stunned the footy world with a wild comeback that currently sits at a 53 point turnaround.
Dockers record crowd at Optus 💜 pic.twitter.com/UsOVEGsD9F
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 3, 2022
Whoever is writing the scripts for the AFL Finals, they're not getting paid enough.
The Dockers have come from 41 points down to now lead by 11 points after Michael Walters made it 10 out of the last 11 for Freo after a horror turnover from Bulldogs defender Ed Richards handed Walters a sitter.
"Can you believe what is happening at Optus Stadium," Alister Nicholson said on Channel 7's coverage.
"Can you believe what is happening at Optus!" 😱 pic.twitter.com/zyhWjMjqsE
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 3, 2022
The Optus Stadium crowd is reaching ear shattering levels of noise with the Dockers coming home with a wet sail.
Fremantle hit the front for the first time in the contest after their seventh inside 50 saw Griffin Logue kick a goal from the line after an inexcusable 50m penalty.
The Bulldogs haven't yet been inside their own 50 this quarter. They simply do not have any answers for what the Dockers are doing to them right now.
"All rise for the Dockers" ⚓
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 3, 2022
From 41 points down, Griffin Logue puts Freo in front. pic.twitter.com/IbsfhEhpuR
The Dockers have tied it up only minutes into the final quarter.
From where we were in the second quarter this is unbelievable. The Dogs have lost all of their grunt as the Dockers have capitalised.
The Dockers have all the momentum. The home crowd is roaring and the Dogs look shell shocked.
What is happening.
Midway through the second quarter the Dogs led by 41 points, since then it has been one-way traffic inside Optus Stadium as the Dockers have closed to within 10 points.
The Dockers were gone for all money. The Bulldogs were burying them into the turf at Optus Stadium.
But like The Undertaker, the Dockers have risen from the dead and stormed back into the contest in the final 10 minutes of the second quarter.
After looking out of their depth, they flipped the script to kick the final four goals and bring the margin back to within 15 points at the half.
The Dockers are BACK ⚓ pic.twitter.com/pqfeWI8AG6
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 3, 2022
Fremantle have kicked a goal. They've finally done it thanks to Michael Walters with a little over four minutes to play in the second quarter.
But what's better than one … TWO. Andrew Brayshaw followed up instantly to nab the Dockers second goal of the contest from the next centre stoppage.
The crowd is starting to roar back into life.
Andrew Brayshaw drills one from 50 to give the Dockers back-to-back goals! 💜#AFLFinals | #AFLFreoDogs pic.twitter.com/931bGA4tcj
— AFL (@AFL) September 3, 2022
Despite playing at their home ground, Fremantle have failed to show up.
It's boys against men at Optus Stadium with the Western Bulldogs annihilating their opponents and leaving the packed crowd in stunned silence.
Halfway through the second quarter and the Dockers still haven't kicked a goal. Every single possession is under duress and looks shaky, for the Bulldogs they're running on top of the ground and slicing the Dockers apart.
Doggies absolutely smacking the Dockers. Every entry looks dangerous for the WB.#AFLFreoDogs
— Jude Bolton (@Jude_Bolton) September 3, 2022
The Western Bulldogs have run away with the contest, kicking the first four goals of the game.
Fremantle have mustered only four inside 50's, while the Bulldogs have 16. It has been a demolition job by the Dogs at Optus Stadium.
"Not only are they turning it over, they're getting smashed in everything. Smashed in one on one footy. The Dogs are just hungrier," Wayne Carey said on Channel 7.
The Bont, smooth operator. #AFLFinals | #AFLFreoDogs pic.twitter.com/vedFzTDQGu
— AFL (@AFL) September 3, 2022
Small forward Cody Weightman added to the first quarter bloodbath when he got on the end of one in the goal square. His shot at goal was almost spoiled by a retreating on field umpire. It's the most pressure a Dogs goal kicker has faced all night.
"Get out of the way, umpy" 😂
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 3, 2022
Dogs off to a flyer. pic.twitter.com/xyV3ArJH4t
The Western Bulldogs have taken the packed Optus Stadium out of the contest early by putting the Dockers to the sword.
It's been one-way traffic for the Dogs in the opening term, kicking three goals to race away to an early 21 point lead.
"This is really worrying now for the Dockers," Alister Nicholson said on Channel 7.
Oh dear @freodockers @abcsport #AFLFinals
— Tom Wildie (@tomwildie) September 3, 2022
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