Fremantle’s premiership odds have been slashed off the back of Saturday’s stunning upset, with the Dockers avoiding the prospect of a potential preliminary final clash against Brisbane at the Gabba.
The Lions were shocked by a Sydney side missing their five suspended players – and losing skipper Callum Mills in the opening quarter – in a 53-point qualifying final boilover.
It means the winner of this weekend’s Dockers-Geelong semifinal will face the understrength Swans at the SCG, rather than the two-time reigning premier Brisbane at their home fortress.
Bookmakers responded to the stunning result by shortening Freo into a $5 chance to win the flag. The WA club had started the day at $6.50.
Hawthorn are the new premiership favourites at $3.50, with Sydney into $5 and the Lions drifting out to $6.
The AFL is likely to confirm Friday night for Fremantle’s semifinal clash against the Cats at Optus Stadium. That would then indicate the SCG preliminary final – where the Swans face the winner of that clash – would be held on the following Friday night of September 18.
Freo and Sydney have plenty of finals history across the past two decades. Two of the Dockers’ three preliminary final appearances have come against the Swans – a win in 2013 and a loss in 2006 – while the clubs also split a pair of qualifying finals in 2014 and 2015.
It comes as Geelong’s Tanner Bruhn said the Cats were thrilled to earn a shot at redemption against Freo in Perth, in the wake of their narrow nine-point loss there in June.
“To be honest, I think we wanted the challenge,” Bruhn said.
“A few of the boys said not long ago that if we go to Perth, we’ll be ready.
“We thoroughly look forward to it.”
Cats coach Chris Scott said there would be no element of taking the Dockers lightly in the wake of their horror showing against Hawthorn in their finals opener.
“Even when you think about it casually, they didn’t get to where they were without having a lot of capability,” he said.
“It doesn’t mean they can necessarily roll it out after what they would consider to be less than their best.
“I don’t think the result (on Thursday night) or the way they played will influence our thinking too much … we think about what teams could do at their best. And their best is daunting.”
FREO’S PREMIERSHIP ODDS THIS WEEK
- Prior to Thursday’s Dockers-Hawks game: $3.25
- After Thursday’s game: $6.50
- Quarter time of Saturday’s Swans-Lions game: $5
- Half time of Saturday’s game: $6
- Three-quarter time of Saturday’s game: $5
- After Saturday’s game: $5
AFL FINALS SCHEDULE
Semifinals
- Fremantle v Geelong, Optus Stadium: Likely Fri Sep 11
- Brisbane v Adel / Bulldogs, Gabba: Likely Sat Sat 12
Preliminary finals
- Sydney v Fremantle / Geelong, SCG: Likely Fri Sep 18
- Hawthorn v Brisbane / Adel / Bulldogs, MCG: Likely Sat Sep 19
Grand final