Fremantle just did the unthinkable by defeating the Western Bulldogs in front of a record-breaking crowd at Optus Stadium.
The Dockers were dead and buried midway through the second quarter when they were 41 points behind. It was a two-way street from there as they scored 11 of the next 13 goals for the 11.7 (73) to 8.12 (60) win.
In the first half you might have heard a pin drop as the stunned crowd watched, in the fourth quarter it sounded like a rock concert in the stadium as Dockers came out of the clouds.
The win makes it the second-biggest Finals comeback of the AFL era, behind Essendon’s 42-point comeback against the Adelaide Crows during the 1993 finals.
The Dockers last played in the football final seven years ago and it seemed like everything went horribly wrong when the Bulldogs stormed off the blocks. It seemed the game was ready and it fell apart in the second quarter.
Pulse and in the last 10 minutes of the season, they scored four goals and only reached the half-time break with 15 points.
As the second half progressed, the Dockers continued their attack while the Bulldogs looked shocked and just couldn’t react to the rush unfolding before them. Fremantle now meets Collingwood at the MCG next Saturday night.
Record Viewership
The fans flocked and Dockers put on a show. 58,982 fans packed Optus Stadium, the most ever for a home game in Fremantle, and stunned the football world with a wild comeback that is currently enjoying a 53-point turnaround.
The Dockers have come from 41 points down to now lead by 11 points after Michael Walters made it 10 out of the last 11 for Freo after a horror turnover from Bulldogs defender Ed Richards handed Walters a sitter.
“Can you believe what is happening at Optus Stadium,” Alister Nicholson said on Channel 7’s coverage.