Week 2 of the AFL Finals saw premiership heavyweights Brisbane and Fremantle flex their muscle after underwhelming Week 1 performances.
Dockers answer every question as Jackson inspires season-saving classic
For seven days, Fremantle had been answering questions. Were they genuine premiership contenders? Had their qualifying final loss exposed deeper flaws? Could they handle the pressure after finishing on top of the ladder?
By Friday night, they had their answer. The Dockers produced one of the games of the finals series to defeat Geelong 18.12 (120) to 16.10 (106) in an Optus Stadium thriller, keeping their premiership dream alive and booking a preliminary final date with Sydney.
After being outplayed by Hawthorn a week earlier, Fremantle came out with the aggression and urgency that had been missing from their qualifying final. The Dockers kicked the opening three goals and looked determined to make amends in front of a fired-up home crowd.
But what elevated this from a good finals win to an unforgettable one was what happened next. Geelong refused to go away. The Cats erased a five-goal deficit and surged to an eight-point lead late in the third quarter, threatening to end Fremantle’s season. At that point, the match needed a match-winner.
It got one. Luke Jackson delivered a breathtaking stretch of football, accumulating clearances, score involvements and two crucial goals in a matter of minutes. It was the moment the contest turned. Just when Fremantle looked vulnerable, Jackson dragged them back in front and changed the momentum of the entire game.
Luke Jackson with a HUGE effort to set up Pat Voss 🤝#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/6SXVpUHfOr
— AFL (@AFL) September 11, 2026
Geelong had their chances. A controversial score review involving Ollie Dempsey became one of the night’s defining talking points, but the reality is the Cats were beaten by a team that rediscovered its best football when everything was on the line.
A week after looking shaky, Fremantle again looks like a side capable of winning the flag.
Lions rediscover their edge as Adelaide’s run comes to an end
For a team chasing a third consecutive premiership, Brisbane looked surprisingly vulnerable after Week 1. The Lions had been dismantled by Sydney, were dealing with injury concerns and entered their semi-final under more pressure than many expected. Three hours later, those concerns looked very overblown.
Brisbane overwhelmed Adelaide 21.18 (144) to 13.13 (91) at the Gabba, producing the sort of response that has become synonymous with successful finals teams.
From the opening stages, Brisbane played with far greater intensity than they had against Sydney. Their ball movement was faster, their pressure was cleaner and their forwards consistently capitalised on opportunities inside 50. Adelaide fought hard early, but once Brisbane gained control, the gap between the two sides became increasingly obvious.
For Adelaide, the defeat shouldn’t completely overshadow the progress made throughout 2026. The Crows won a final, ended a lengthy September drought and showed clear signs they belong back among the AFL’s contenders. But this match also highlighted the difference between becoming a finals team and becoming a premiership team. Brisbane’s experience, composure and ability to punish mistakes proved decisive.
There was also emotion attached to the result, with the match marking the end of Taylor Walker’s AFL career. While Adelaide would have loved to extend its season by another week, the veteran forward exits as one of the club’s most influential figures of the modern era.
Textbook.
A classic Taylor Walker goal in his final AFL game ❤️#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/PiooecXSVN
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 12, 2026
Now Brisbane’s reward is enormous. A preliminary final against Hawthorn awaits, and after a week that began with questions surrounding the reigning premiers, the Lions have once again reminded the competition they’re not giving up their crown without a fight.