AFL qualifying final live updates: Fremantle vs Hawthorn at Perth Stadium blog, scores and stats

• R9, 2026: Fremantle by 15 (Perth Stadium)

• R18, 2025: Fremantle by 13 (Perth Stadium)

• R18, 2024: Hawthorn by 13 (Launceston)

• R24, 2023: Fremantle by 37 (MCG)

• R8, 2023: Fremantle by 69 (Perth Stadium)

• R13, 2022: Fremantle by 13 (Perth Stadium)

On face value, this has been a rather one-sided recent rivalry, with the Dockers winning five of the last six, and eight of the last nine encounters.

However, before that run, the Hawks had been victorious in the previous six encounters, and in 12 of the last 13.

The only time the Hawks beat Freo at Perth Stadium was their first game at the venue in 2018.

We had a bit of a shower of rain about 45 minutes ago, but it’s ok right now.

There might be a bit more coming however. How will that suit the Dockers’ array of tall timber?

One thing – I don’t think the home fans are worried about the weather … the ROAR they just sent up for the Dockers running onto the ground was very impressive. 

• PF, 2025: LOSS to Geelong by 30 pts (MCG)

• SF, 2025: WIN over Adelaide by 34 pts (Adelaide Oval)

• EF, 2025: WIN over GWS by 19 pts (Sydney Showground)

• SF, 2024: LOSS to Port Adelaide by 3 pts (Adelaide Oval)

• EF, 2024: WIN over Western Bulldogs by 37 pts (MCG)

• SF, 2018: LOSS to Melbourne by 33 pts (MCG)

• QF, 2018: LOSS to Richmond by 31 pts (MCG)

• SF, 2016: LOSS to Western Bulldogs by 23 pts (MCG)

• QF, 2016: LOSS to Geelong by 2 pts (MCG)

• GF, 2015: WIN over West Coast by 46 pts (MCG)

It’s easy to forget that 10 finals ago for Hawthorn was the grand final win over West Coast that clinched the three-in-a-row in 2015.

There’s been a fair bit of water under the bridge since then, including a couple of straight-sets exits, and later a couple of runs ending in the semifinal and elimination finals respectively.

The Hawks have never played a final at Perth Stadium — and they have only played five finals ever in Western Australia. Their record? Two wins and three losses.

• EF, 2025: LOSS to Gold Coast by 1 pt (Perth Stadium)

• SF, 2022: LOSS to Collingwood by 20 pts (MCG)

• EF, 2022: WIN over Western Bulldogs by 13 pts (Perth Stadium)

• PF, 2015: LOSS to Hawthorn by 27 pts (Subiaco Oval)

• QF, 2015: WIN over Sydney by 9 pts (Subiaco Oval)

• SF, 2014: LOSS to Port Adelaide by 22 pts (Subiaco Oval)

• QF, 2014: LOSS to Sydney by 24 pts (Sydney’s Olympic stadium)

• GF, 2013: LOSS to Hawthorn by 15 pts (MCG)

• PF, 2013: WIN over Sydney by 25 pts (Subiaco Oval)

• QF, 2013: WIN over Geelong by 15 pts (Kardinia Park)

This is the fourth Qualifying Final for the Dockers since 2013 — they’ve won two and lost one of the previous three.

It will be only the third final Fremantle has played since moving from Subiaco Oval to Perth Stadium. They have a 1-1 record so far, but will be keen to erase memories of last year’s last-minute loss to the Suns.

In case you’ve been living on Centauri Prime for the last month or so, there’s this thing called Wharfie Time, and it’s going down a treat out west.

Not sure who came up with it, but it’s even more popular with Dockers fans than the guys getting danger money playing AC/DC on the roof of Perth Stadium before home games.

This one is left to an appropriate time in the final quarter when things are getting tight. The bells go off in the stadium and then a thumping bass like a heartbeat starts echoing around the stands. As you can see from the above clip, it often produces results.

Will we see some more of this tonight? You’d imagine we will.

 As they say there are lies, damn lies and footy statistics.

But the changes to the game this year have made centre clearances a lot more vital to success.

Just looking at the last month of football for both sides, some interesting tales emerge.

The Dockers have had 57 centre clearances in their last four games, while conceding exactly the same number (to the Blues, Crows, Demons and Bulldogs). In two of those games, Fremantle were level with their opposition; they won centre clearances in another game and they lost the other one.

Hawthorn had 56 centre clearances in the same period, but they conceded just 40 (to the Eagles, Magpies, Lions and Kangaroos). They won the centre clearances in each of those games.

Now obviously it’s not just how many you get, but what you do with it – and also what you do when the other mob gets one.

The raw figures would suggest that perhaps the Hawks might have a little edge here. But can they take advantage?

Always nice to see some captain’s run footage from the clubs, even though the addition of 50,000 mad Dockers fans will make a critical difference tonight.

The key element of the clip above is a certain Hawthorn number 19 drilling set shots.

Forget about The Wizard, if Jack Gunston has a big night tonight, then the Hawks will be right in the mix.