Watson: Losing Prelim would be a “monumental disaster” for Freo

Tim Watson thinks it would be a monumental waste of a season for Fremantle if they don’t make the 2026 AFL Grand Final.

The Dockers, who finished a game clear on top of the ladder after the home-and-away season, now face Sydney in an away Preliminary Final at the SCG on Friday night.

Freo were made to go the hard way to make it to Prelim week after going down at home to Hawthorn in the Qualifying Final. Their tough 14-point win against Geelong in the Semi-Final booked their place in the finals’ third week.

While visiting teams in Prelims often enter as underdogs, the Dockers are hot favourites in this clash given the Swans are without a raft of key players including Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner and Callum Mills.

Given that the Dockers have a clean bill of health, Watson thinks they simply must make it to the last Saturday in September at the MCG.

“Are you in the camp that says if Fremantle don’t at least get into a Grand Final that this will be a monumental disaster and failure of a season?” Watson asked on SEN Breakfast.

“I think it would be absolutely a monumental waste of a season.

“When you think about the fact that they finished one game clear on the top of the ladder… they were clearly the best side throughout the home and away season, they had a little bit of a misstep late, but the motivation probably wasn't there.

“They've almost got a full list to choose from, and they're playing Sydney, who have got three of their best five players unavailable. Their captain is unavailable, and another one of their top 10 players this year, Justin McInerney, is questionable, coming off a long -term injury. All of Fremantle’s best players are available this weekend.

“Now, they had a little bit of a hiccup in the first week of the finals. They had a little bit of a scare in the second week of the finals.

“But the Sydney Swans are probably going to field (Tom) Hanily, (Jesse) Dattoli, (Billy) Cootee and (Caiden) Cleary. They've got a combined total of 41 games between them. Only one of those players has played more than 10 games.”

While Watson is certain the Dockers must get to the decider, he is willing to give them a pass on their 2026 campaign should they go down to either the Hawks or Lions in the Grand Final.

“How could we not look at this and say this is absolutely set up for Fremantle to at least get themselves into a Grand Final? What better chance will they ever have of getting themselves into a Grand Final the way that the cards are formed?” Watson asked.

“It would be a monumental failure if they don't do it. You can have luck on the day of the Grand Final. I'm going to give them a pass if they don't win the Grand Final.

“But not to make the Grand Final…”

Friday’s Preliminary Final between Sydney and Fremantle at the SCG begins at 7:40 pm (AEST). Listen on SEN and the SEN app.