Freo star Serong names the team to beat in this year's AFL finals series

Fremantle midfielder Caleb Serong believes the Western Bulldogs are the team to beat in the finals series.

With the Dockers missing out, the All-Australian on-baller admits he will struggle to watch the September action, but the Dogs - who finished sixth - have impressed him most in 2024.

“It’s a tough one to pick because of how close it is. All it takes is one team to get on a run. The Giants have had a good last couple of months. Port, we ran into a really hot team last week,” Serong told SEN WA Breakfast.

“I still think the Doggies are the best team in it with the way that they match up across the field.

“The way they’ve kind of mixed and matched across the year with Ed Richards going on-ball and Rory Lobb down back, those kind of moves in-season have worked really well for them.

“They’re well placed to shake it up, but they’ve come up against a pretty in-form team in Hawthorn next week, so I think that’ll be a cracker.

“I’m intrigued to see how they go. I’m not sure how I’ll go this soon and this raw and if I can bring myself to watch some footy, but hopefully by Prelim week I can get around it and appreciate some greatness.”

The Bulldogs beat Fremantle 149-82 in Round 14 and will take on Hawthorn in an Elimination Final next Friday night.