The final game of the 2024 AFL home & away season is a must win game for the Dockers for their finals hopes. Can Fremantle climb into the eight? Or will Port Adelaide make it six straight wins? Check out our full preview and best bets for this intriguing clash below!
2024 AFL Round 24 Preview & Betting Tips
Fremantle vs Port Adelaide
Sunday 6:10pm AEST, 25th August, Optus Stadium
Fremantle have the most gut wrenching weekend, having to watch all eight games with results needing to go their way before they play in the final game of the weekend against the Power. Given Hawthorn shouldn’t have any issues defeating North Melbourne on Saturday, it’s the two games before the Dockers on Sunday that will determine if their season is alive, or they play a dead rubber.
The Dockers need one of the Western Bulldogs or Carlton to lose, to give them the chance to qualify for the finals. If one of those two results happens, a win against Port Adelaide will see the Dockers play in September.
Fremantle are in this precarious position courtesy of three straight losses by margins of 1, 11 and 9 points. The Dockers had chances to win all three games, and now have their destiny out of their control.
Port Adelaide on the other hand head into Sunday's fixture without a worry in the world. Regardless of the result the Power will finish inside of the top four, the main thing at stake is a top two position. Currently Port are 2.5% ahead of GWS, so if the Giants win, the Power will need to win to finish second and secure the right to host a Qualifying Final and potentially a Prelim.
The Power are in this position thanks to their fifth straight victory, a 22 point win over Adelaide in the Showdown. After trailing at half time, Port Adelaide kicked seven goals to two in the second half to secure their spot in the top four, led by Zak Butters’ 42 disposals and 1 goal.
The only negative to come out of the game was Dan Houston’s five match suspension, which means he will be unable to play again this season.
The positive for Fremantle is that they aren’t horrifically out of form over the past few weeks, they just haven’t been able to take their chances. Last week Nathan O’Driscoll missed a gettable shot that would have put the Dockers in front, for then just moments later Bailey Banfield gave away an unnecessary 50 leading to Jesse Hogan's game sealing goal.
The Dockers have been down on their turnover game which has produced well for them this season. In the last three weeks they’ve scored 29, 25 and 31 points from turnover, with their season average being 48.2 points. If they can generate more scores from turnover on Sunday, they’re every chance of beating Port Adelaide.
Match Prediction: This game could pan out very differently given the results of their earlier games, however given the nature of how this season has played out, you sense Fremantle will get a crack at playing finals come Sunday evening. The Dockers will have a lot more on the line than their opponents, and playing at home where they have won seven of eleven games will have them full of confidence.
Fremantle still have plenty of upside in their game despite the last three weeks and if they can convert their chances, they will give themselves a massive chance to win this game. The Dockers will find a way to get the job done at home, and give themselves a chance to play finals if results go their way.
Fremantle to Win
$1.80 (1 Unit)
Same Game Multi
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Andrew Brayshaw 30+ Disposals: Andy Brayshaw has been in scintillating form towards the end of the season, averaging 34 disposals per game since Round 19. Brayshaw has recorded 30 or more disposals in five of his last seven games, including 41 disposals against GWS last week.
Zak Butters 30+ Disposals: Zak Butters has lifted in the race to the finals, with performances of 33, 35, 28, 23, 30, 30 and 42 disposals across his last seven games. With three consecutive games of 30+ disposals, Butters will be out for another big game as Port look to secure a top two place.
Jason Horne-Francis Anytime Goalscorer: Horne-Francis has vastly improved in his third season in the AFL, but one thing that has gone under the radar in recent times is his goal kicking. The former number draft pick has hit the scoreboard in seven of his last eight games, with four of those seven games producing returns of 2+ goals.
SGM Odds: $5.00 at BoomBet
