2026 AFL Grand Final

Fremantle entered the 2026 season following a one-point elimination final loss to the seventh-placed Gold Coast Suns in 2025.^[3] The Dockers claimed the 2026 minor premiership, the second in the club's history, with a 19–4 record. This run included a dominant 14-match winning streak following a first-round loss to Geelong.^[4] In their first qualifying final, Fremantle suffered an upset loss at Optus Stadium to Hawthorn, 5.10 (40) to 10.12 (72).^[5] The following week, they hosted Geelong in a semi-final; after trailing in the third quarter, the Dockers recovered to narrowly win 18.12 (120) to 16.10 (106).^[6] Fremantle then travelled to the Sydney Cricket Ground to face the Sydney Swans in a preliminary final. After the Swans led by a game-high 28 points late in the third quarter, Fremantle kicked six consecutive goals and restricted Sydney to just one behind in the final quarter, triumphing 12.11 (83) to 10.11 (71). It was Fremantle's second-ever grand final appearance and their first since 2013.^[7]

Brisbane entered the 2026 season as back-to-back reigning premiers, having won both the 2024 and 2025 grand finals. Brisbane sat at 6–6 after round 12, then won 10 of their next 11 matches, finishing the regular season with a 16–7 record and placing third on the ladder. Their finals campaign commenced against the Sydney Swans at the SCG. Brisbane went in as heavy favourites, as Sydney was missing several key players due to internal suspensions stemming from an investigation into player misconduct. However, in a major upset, the Lions were soundly defeated 21.15 (141) to 13.10 (88).^[8] The following week, Brisbane comfortably defeated the Adelaide Crows 21.18 (144) to 13.13 (91) at the Gabba.^[9] They then faced Hawthorn in a preliminary final at the MCG, winning a thriller, 20.11 (131) to 19.8 (122), in what is widely considered one of the greatest preliminary finals ever played.^[10][11] Trailing in the third quarter, Brisbane kicked seven consecutive goals to take a 28-point lead early in the final term. Hawthorn responded with five unanswered goals to edge ahead by three points late in the game. In the final minute, a crucial free kick for holding the ball in the forward line allowed Hugh McCluggage to kick the go-ahead goal with just 18 seconds remaining. Brisbane secured the ensuing centre clearance and kicked another goal after the siren to extend the final margin to nine points. This victory secured Brisbane's fourth consecutive grand final appearance.^[12]

Fremantle is seeking its maiden AFL premiership, having appeared in only one previous grand final, a 15-point loss to Hawthorn in 2013. Brisbane is contesting its fourth consecutive grand final, aiming for its sixth premiership overall and attempting to become the seventh VFL/AFL club in history to win three or more consecutive flags. The two sides have never previously met in a finals series.^[13]

The two clubs met once during the 2026 regular season, with Fremantle recording a 25-point victory over the Lions at the Gabba in round 12.^[14] Brisbane opened as the clear favourite with bookmakers, holding odds of $1.65 compared to Fremantle's $2.30 on the Sunday prior to the game.^[15]

The match commenced at 2:30 pm AEST as scheduled.^[16]

Four-time Hawthorn premiership player Luke Hodge is the premiership cup ambassador and carried the cup onto the ground before the match. Three-time Geelong premiership player Paul Chapman will present the Norm Smith Medal to the player adjudged best on ground; Chapman himself won the medal in 2009. Former Sydney coach Paul Roos, who coached the Swans to the 2005 premiership, will present the Jock McHale Medal to the successful coach, while Richmond's 1969 premiership captain Roger Dean will present the Ron Barassi Medal to the winning captain.^[19]

If Fremantle wins the match, Shaun McManus, a member of the inaugural 1995 Dockers squad, will present the premiership cup to the team. If Brisbane wins, retired Lions great Simon Black, who played a key role in the club's hat-trick of premierships in the early 2000s, will present the cup to his former side.^[20][21]

The teams were announced on the Thursday before the match. Neither club made any changes to the line-ups that featured in their respective preliminary finals.^[22]

In the days leading up to the game, Brisbane faced a potential forced change. Co-captain Lachie Neale was initially suspended for one match for striking Hawthorn's Jack Ginnivan in the stomach off the ball during the first quarter of their preliminary final. Neale was suspended by the match review officer, and the ban was upheld by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday.^[23] Brisbane subsequently appealed to the league's Appeal Board,^[24] which overturned the decision on Thursday. The Board ruled that the tribunal had failed to give sufficient weight to Neale's exemplary record of 320 games without a suspension. Determining that this satisfied the clause relating to exceptional and compelling circumstances in the league's regulations, the Board downgraded Neale's suspension to a $10,000 fine, clearing him to play.^[25][26]

Fremantle

Brisbane Lions

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