Live: Swans look to continue fairytale finals run against Dockers

Sydney looks to book its spot in another grand final as it hosts minor premiers Fremantle in a preliminary final at the SCG.The Swans are coming off a week's rest having downed Brisbane in their qualifying final a fortnight ago, while the Dockers downed the Cats last weekend to advance after being shocked by the Hawks in week one.Fri 18 Sep 2026 at 7:02pmFri 18 Sep 2026 at 7:02pmSydney's recent finals historyHere is a look at Sydney's last five finals performances:QF, 2026: Sydney 21.15 (141) def. Brisbane 13.10 (88) @ SCGGF, 2024: Brisbane 18.12 (120) def. Sydney 9.6 (60) @ MCGPF, 2024: Sydney 14.11 (95) def. Port Adelaide 8.11 (59) @ SCGQF, 2024: Sydney 14.11 (95) def. GWS Giants 8.9 (57) @ SCGGF, 2022: Geelong 20.13 (133) def. Sydney 8.4 (52) @ MCGFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:55pmFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:55pmLongmuir says Dockers are not taking undermanned Swans lightlyFremantle coach Justin Longmuir says his side will have to dominate centre bounces tonight. (Getty Images)Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir having a chat to Fox Footy ahead of the first bounce."It feels good. We're into the last four and these games mean a lot," he says of being into the penultimate weekend of the season."You start focusing on what they haven't got and you forget who they have got."They're playing with great spirit as a team and they've won easily in the last two weeks. We're not going to take them lightly, absolutely."Their stoppage work in the last six weeks have been phenomenal, and we're going to have to be at the top of our game."Longmuir is asked who will get the job on Tom Papley and Charlie Curnow and says Judd McVee will get the Papley assignment.As for Curnow, Longmuir says his talls will "mix and match".Fri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:55pmFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:55pmRecent history between Swans and DockersFremantle emerged comfortable winners over Sydney in the only match between the two sides this season. (Getty Images)Here's a look at the last five meetings between these two sides:R18, 2026: Fremantle 15.21 (111) def. Sydney 10.13 (73) @ Perth StadiumR17, 2025: Sydney 14.10 (94) def. Fremantle 12.11 (83) @ SCGR2, 2025: Sydney 9.14 (68) def. Fremantle 9.11 (65) @ Perth StadiumR16, 2024: Fremantle 15.9 (99) def. Sydney 14.14 (98) @ SCGR9, 2024: Sydney 13.9 (87) def. Fremantle 4.15 (39) @ Perth StadiumFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:50pmFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:50pmThe Dockers get used to enemy territoryFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:47pmFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:47pmPapley says Swans have bonded closer after scandalTom Papley is one of Sydney's leaders both on and off the field, and explains how the club has been able to rebound after its off-field saga."The football club has always been really close, but in the last three or four weeks it has really galvanised," he tells Fox Footy."The 'Bloods' culture has really shone through."Fri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:41pmFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:41pmA few Swans going through their pacesFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:33pmFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:33pmThe big bosses have a chat to the umpiresAFL boss Andrew Dillon chats to umpires ahead of the preliminary final (Getty Images)AFL CEO Andrew Dillon is having a chat to the officials out on the SCG pre-game.I wonder what that's all about.Dillon isn't the only AFL big-hitter around tonight either, with the head of football, Greg Swann, also in attendance.Fri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:25pmFri 18 Sep 2026 at 6:25pmWelcome!Good evening and welcome to ABC Sport's live coverage of the AFL finals!It's preliminary final this week, some people say these are better games than the grand finals, and we could have two belters on our hands.Things get started at the SCG tonight as Sydney hosts Fremantle.These were the top two teams of the home and away season, but the Dockers were stunned in their home qualifying final against the Hawks and have had to do it the hard way.Sydney seemed decimated by the suspensions to five of its first-choice players, but rebounded by smacking Brisbane in the first week to set up a home prelim.The first bounce is set for 7:40pm AEST, so strap yourselves in as we bring you all the latest pre-match news.