From history to heartbreak: The Fremantle Dockers’ season in pictures

We look back on the big moments, the highs, and the lows from a historic year for the club that culminated in heartbreak as a maiden premiership was whisked away in the dying minutes of the grand final.September 27, 2026 — 1:14pm1/33Caleb Serong is tackled by Geelong’s Jack Henry in round one, which eventually went the way of the Cats. It wasn’t the fairytale start to the season, but the Dockers still had plenty in store...Credit:Getty Images2/33Patrick Voss taunts Harrison Petty during the Dockers’ demolition of the Demons in round two. That ended up being a costly head-rub for the Prancing Pony...Credit:AFL Photos3/33...but Voss wasn’t done antagonising the Demons, famously picking up and carrying Melbourne’s Ed Langdon over the boundary line in a moment of madness at Optus Stadium.Credit:Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images4/33Shai Bolton gets a handball away under pressure during the team’s win over Richmond in round three.Credit:via Getty Images5/33Murphy Reid gets away from James Peatling of the Crows during round four.Credit:Getty Images6/33The Dockers, led by captain Alex Pearce who made a match-winning smother late in the game, celebrate victory over the Crows at Adelaide Oval. With three wins in a row under their belts, Fremantle could sense something big was brewing...Credit:Getty Images7/33Jordan Clark had 27 disposals and 11 score involvements on his way to winning the Glendinning-Allen Medal during the first Western Derby of the year in round six. Credit:Getty Images8/33Fremantle hosted Carlton for the annual Len Hall tribute match on Anzac Day at Optus Stadium in round seven as the Dockers extended their winning streak.Credit:Getty Images9/33Neil Erasmus embodied Fremantle’s fighting spirit during the match against the Western Bulldogs in round eight.Credit:Getty Images10/33Brennan Cox kept a close watch on Hawthorn gun Nick Watson as Fremantle kept the winning streak alive in round nine. Who knew at the time that the two teams would meet again in the first qualifying final.Credit:Getty Images11/33Shai Bolton climbs high to take a spectacular grab as the Dockers defeated St Kilda in round 11.Credit:Getty Images12/33Sam Switkowski scored a crucial goal when Fremantle faced Brisbane during round 12 in what would become a preview of Saturday’s grand final.Credit:Getty Images13/33The Dockers travelled south to Bunbury to take on the Kangaroos in round 13. Jye Amiss kicked two goals as Fremantle demolished the “home” team by 124 points.Credit:Getty Images14/33Fremantle set a club record in round 16 when their victory over Gold Coast became the side’s 14th straight win for the season. Shai Bolton kicked three goals to help his side defeat the team that knocked the Dockers out of the 2025 finals race.Credit:Getty Images15/33Jake Stringer of celebrates scoring a goal as Fremantle captain Alex Pearce looks on in round 17. The victory to the Giants brought an end to the Fremantle winning streak of 14 games.Credit:Getty Images16/33Patrick Voss let it all hang out when Fremantle faced Sydney in round 18. The Dockers failed to kick a goal in the opening half before piling on the goals and winning by 38 points.Credit:Getty Images17/33Mason Cox remonstrates with West Coast star Harley Reid as Fremantle got the better of their arch rivals in round 20.Credit:Getty Images18/33Hayden Young chases down Marcus Bontempelli from the Western Bulldogs as Fremantle continued their winning ways in round 21.Credit:Getty Images19/33Fremantle players look dejected after losing to Melbourne at the MCG in round 22 in what was described as one of the matches of the season.Credit:Getty Images20/33Isaiah Dudley celebrates a goal as the Dockers defeated Adelaide in round 23 and secured just their second minor premiership in club historyCredit:Getty Images