The win secured Fremantle a qualifying final and, most likely fourth spot and a date with the Sydney Swans in the harbour city next weekend. Should Geelong drop its final match, the Dockers would end the home-and-away rounds in third spot and travel to Melbourne to face the Hawks in the first week of the finals. A win next weekend would secure Fremantle a home preliminary final in Perth for a second straight year.
2. Meanwhile, Port enters do-or-die final
Despite the loss, Port Adelaide looks all but certain to hold down fifth spot and a home elimination final next week. And depending on how results go, Adelaide Oval could host a post-season Showdown between the Power and the Adelaide Crows in a winner-take-all contest. The two South Australian teams have met in only one final – a 2005 semi final that the Crows won by 83 points at Football Park.
3. Dockers finish stronger despite six-day break
Fremantle headed into the game on the back of a six-day break, having played in Brisbane – the longest trip in the AFL – last Sunday. It seemed to have little effect though, with the home side kicking away to a 38-point lead midway through the final quarter before a late Port surge. The Dockers kicked nine consecutive goals either side of half time. By contrast, Port had eight days to prepare for this match, having beaten Carlton on Friday night last weekend.
4. Schulz finished season with 62 goals
Jay Schulz has all but secured a top three finish in the Coleman Medal race. Schulz booted six to lift his season tally to 62, level with Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead and five behind Lance Franklin, who was left out of the Sydney Swans' final round lineup. Hawkins sits seven behind with 55 majors for the season.
5. Port dry run at Subiaco
Port Adelaide extended its losing run at the ground against Fremantle to five, having last beaten the Dockers in Perth in round 10, 2008. Interestingly, while the Power has struggled to overcome Fremantle in the west, the club's record against the Eagles is much better, having won two of their past four matches here against West Coast.
