AFL Finals live scores: Fremantle Dockers host Geelong Cats in do-or-die semifinal

“We’re a bit more relaxed than we were last week so the nerves are alright we’re excited,” he says.

“It’s about the contest early in the game we’re going to show strength early and taking it on.

“We want to get up in their face if they feed back from contest we want to be there to tackle them.

“100 per cent I have confidence we’re going to respond; the attitude from the blokes has been incredible.”

“We got to put our best foot forward tonight because it’s do or die now,” he says.

“I thought we got our contest right for large periods last week but what we did off of that wasn’t brave enough.

“When you’re panicking with the ball and not taking the game on it’s hard for our forwards up the ground.

“We’re not searching for something we don’t know exists we just have to get back to our best.

“We trained really well this week, and we’ll put our best foot forward tonight. I’ve got full trust in our forwards to bounce back.

“When we beat Geelong here in round 15 it was built on our contest work and if we get enough turnovers between the arcs that will hold us in good stead.”

Fremantle fans have piled into Optus Stadium for a do-or-die semifinal against Geelong — which will be the last time they get to cheer on the Dockers at home for the year.

“It’s a quiet first couple of days and then knuckle down on what Fremantle do and what we did last time we played them,” he says of his week.

“I think it’s about getting the next bit right if you look to far ahead you lose what’s in front of you.

“We’re really clear in what we need to do tonight to get going; as long as you’re playing your role within the team, your rewards will come.

“That’s been the focus for us as a forward line group as well as bringing the pressure to lock the ball in our forward half.”

Both teams will both go in as named.

Here’s a reminder of how they will line up.

DOCKERS

B: J Clark A Pearce O McDonald

HB: K Worner L Ryan H Chapman

C: M Johnson A Brayshaw M Frederick

HF: I Dudley M Reid S Switkowski

F: J Amiss J Treacy P Voss

FOLL: L Jackson C Serong S Bolton

I/C: M Cox C Wagner N Erasmus H Young J McVee

EMG: H Davies C Scerri N O’Driscoll

IN: C Wagner J McVee

OUT: B Walker (ankle) N O’Driscoll (omitted)

CATS

B: Z Guthrie C O’Sullivan J Henry

HB: T Stewart T Bruhn L Humphries

C: O Dempsey B Smith M Blicavs

HF: G Miers J Cameron B Close

F: P Dangerfield S Neale J Polkinghorne

FOLL: M Edwards T Takins O Mullin

I/C: M O’Connor M Holmes S Mannagh O Wiltshire O Henry

EMG: J Martin J Clark S De Koning

Last week was a nightmare for the Dockers, and the bright lights may have been too bright for some. Xavier Ellis looks at three important factors as Freo look to bounce back.

The gates have just opened, and fans are just starting to make their way into Optus Stadium.

Tickets for this clash sold out in under an hour of them going on sale with close to 60,000 expected once again.

Our very own Jackson Barrett wrote why they need to find their voice tonight.

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The West Australian’s Josh Kempton has ranked every Fremantle and Geelong player based on their ability to have an impact in Friday night’s do-or-die semifinal.

Hello and welcome to Optus Stadium where Fremantle one way or another will be playing their last home game of the season.

The Dockers are looking to respond from their Hawthorn shocker and avoid a fourth straight finals loss.

They will be hosting a Cats team that were far too good for the Blues but have question marks over their veteran stars.

Can Patrick Dangerfield back up his five goal haul while Jeremy Cameron has not registered a score in over a month as he battles with shoulder and arm issues.

Fremantle will have another massive home crowd behind them and their forwards will be fired up to respond from last week.