After the heartbreak of last year, Fremantle fans will be familiar with needing a win to qualify for finals in the last round of the season, and that’s exactly what the Dockers may need next week, after a brutal loss to the Brisbane Lions.
Freo have stormed home to win 11 of their last 13 games, but may still require four more points if they are to return to the finals, assuming their opponents next week the Western Bulldogs, beat the West Coast Eagles this Sunday, and Hawthorn, Gold Coast and GWS all win at least one game over the final two weeks.
The Dockers faced a similar scenario last year, losing their final four games of the season to miss the finals by just two points.
But despite a crushing loss to the Lions, coach Justin Longmuir remains confident his group has what it takes to finish the job this time around.
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“We’ll go over there and give our best shot,” he said post-game.
"I know everyone will be doom and gloom and write us off again after tonight but [I’ve] got a lot of faith in this team
"We’ve grown a lot, we’ve already won three more games than last year.
"Everyone wants to talk about the last four games of last year. We had some injuries through that period to really key players, people forget about that as well."
The Dockers had a chance to secure their spot in finals on Friday night, but instead were on the receiving end of a 57-point drubbing by a rejuvenated Brisbane side looking to defend their premiership.
Freo will now travel to Marvel Stadium next Sunday for a date with the Western Bulldogs, in a game that could potentially be win-or-go-home for both sides.