Throughout the 2026 AFL Finals series, Zero Hanger will rank the game of each player based on their impact on the result.
Fremantle won a thriller full of momentum swings at Optus Stadium.
Here is how Zero Hanger judged every player's impact.
1 - Luke Jackson (Fremantle) - Fremantle was on the canvass midway through the third quarter: enter Jackson. The Fremantle big man, after a solid but unspectacular game to that point, put his side on his back. Kicked two goals, got one assist and two hitouts to Caleb Serong's advantage, helping to reverse the momentum the Dockers had completely lost at centre clearance which contributed to their brief perilous position.
2 - Shai Bolton (Fremantle) – Had the hot hand early with two goals inside 60 seconds including a pearler from 55. Had another score involvement soon thereafter and remained prominent throughout the contest with burst from stoppage ever-dynamic. Lifted in the last quarter, too.
3 - Bailey Smith (Geelong) – A spritely start after Shai Bolton kicked two goals from centre bounce on him in the first minute. Was probably Geelong's best with his acceleration and was a big part of the Cats' third quarter run.
4 - Hayden Young (Fremantle) – Had some huge moments aerially across the night and was busy and dangerous, finding space many others could not. His running goal from 55 was one of the highlights of a high-quality night.
5 - Ollie Henry (Geelong) – When all of his teammates were missing in the third quarter, he kicked a trio of goals, all from set shots. He also kicked one in the second quarter after finding himself in space inside 50. Got the better of Heath Chapman.
6 - Pat Voss (Fremantle) – Responded well with a strong first half and was up and about from the first siren, with his big contest in first 30 seconds helping Shai Bolton kick an immediate goal. Kicked a second quarter goal from beyond the arc and brought heat. A third quarter miss when his side needed something was disappointing but kicked a goal in red time from stoppage which lifted his side.
7 - Caleb Serong (Fremantle) – Had a busy start, setting up Shai Bolton's first goal of the game and finding plenty of contested possession. Oisin Mullin clamped down on him through the middle of the game but he came into it when Fremantle got on top late in the third term with back-to-back centre clearances significant to handing his side back momentum.
8 - Jordan Clark (Fremantle) – Offered composed distribution and excellent overlap off half-back to continue an enormous season and carry on his momentum from the qualifying final. Made things happen regularly.
9 - Andy Brayshaw (Fremantle) - Was his typical busy and hard working self around contest and played the most consistently across four quarters, staying role-compliant even as Geelong got the run on in the third term.
10 - Jack Henry (Geelong) - Was arguably the most important member of the backline, playing a sturdy game, with his pressure and body positioning, particularly when the Cats defended an avalanche early, important. Came off his man to effect a critical spoil early in the fourth term.
11 - Josh Treacy (Fremantle) – His goal from 50 to give Fremantle the lead back after a scare in the third quarter was the highlight of a bounce back game for the star key forward. Got himself involved in the first quarter with a commanding contested mark down the line and goal assist, and his field kicking throughout was typically precise. Sent a shudder through the Dockers' camp in the second term when he winded himself but shrugged it off.
12 - Isaiah Dudley (Fremantle) – Was scintillating as Fremantle established a 21-point halftime lead. Kicked two clutch set shots in the second quarter and his speed and energy was lethal and hard to defend. Put himself in the right positions and then combined athleticism and craft to tear the game open inside 50.
13 - Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) – Kicked Geelong's first goal of the night, an important steadier from 50 metres out and then gave Geelong the lead with a set shot conversion from outside 50, but missed a couple of other golden opportunities. Provided a contest and real presence inside 50.
14 - Shannon Neale (Geelong) – Had a couple of big moments on Alex Pearce, including a set shot conversion to keep Geelong in it late. Will rue a first half missed set shot he would usually bury but provided a barometer.
15 - Murphy Reid (Fremantle) – The 2025 Rising Star winner was one of the Dockers to cop criticism for lowering their colours last week but bounced back spectacularly. Didn't try to do to much, instead using his sharp decision-making to his advantage to set up forward thrusts regularly for the Dockers. His quick hands and inside 50 kicking was important.
16 - Tanner Bruhn (Geelong) - Played with desperation on defence and intent on offence. Had several little acts in the first half which saved shots on goal and was dangerous with ball in hand.
17 - Shaun Mannagh (Geelong) – Was consistent throughout the night, playing well with his clearance work when his side struggled in the first quarter, kicking a goal in the second term as the Cats came back and posing a threat in the second half with his liveliness and run.
18 - Lawson Humphries (Geelong) – Was unbelievable with his distribution by foot throughout the contest, breaking the game open and making bold decision to bite off corridor kicks.
19 - Matt Johnson (Fremantle) - Had the difficult matchup on Ollie Dempsey and Dempsey often looked dangerous inside 50 but Johnson had some moments, putting his body on the line necessarily in defensive 50 in the third quarter, before winning a critical one-on-one contest against Dempsey in the fourth quarter. He then delivered to Michael Frederick who kicked the first major of the fourth term.
20 - Ollie Dempsey (Geelong) – Got the ball moving against tide a couple of times and played with his usual energy, looking dangerous forward. Had a goal taken off him and missed another he would usually slot.
21 - Karl Worner (Fremantle) – Laid a big tackle in defensive 50 on Jeremy Cameron, winning a holding the ball free kick in the second quarter and was a key cog throughout.
22 - Oisin Mullin (Geelong) – Did well clamping Caleb Serong's influence through the middle of the contest and also had some moments of offensive impact.
23 - Alex Pearce (Fremantle) - Took a couple of big intercept marks, one in the first quarter and one on the fourth but was not at his absolute best despite competing well. A silly free kick in the fourth quarter invited pressure just as it seemed Freo had slammed the door shut.
24 - Michael Frederick (Fremantle) – The first goal of the last quarter was always going to be big and after some up-and-back, it was Frederick who seized the moment. Also kicked an earlier set shot goal from 40 and also got some touches in the defensive half which underpinned his work rate and running capacity.
25 - Connor O'Sullivan (Geelong) - Had some goals kicked on him but took some big marks and competed well.
26 - Jye Amiss (Fremantle) – Laid a big tackle in forward 50 early which was a signal of intent strong tackle signal of intent early, and took a strong contested mark in each of the second and third quarters, converting both shots - the third quarter major particularly important against the grain.
27 - Heath Chapman (Fremantle) - Panicked and gave away a free kick to Ollie Henry for tunnelling in the third quarter which drew the Cats within a goal but was otherwise reasonable and had some big moments in the last term.
28 - Sam Switkowski (Fremantle) – Played a typically hard-working game with his running power as a high forward a key ingredient of the first half dominance as he acted as an important conduit.
29 - Jeremy Cameron (Geelong) – His first goal since returning from injury was a spectacular snap hemmed on the boundary, before he missed an easy shot soon after. Kicked another big goal from the square in the third term and in the last term got back on the goal line and got a goal-saving touch on a Pat Voss shot.
30 - Corey Wagner (Fremantle) - Not a huge night statistically from the unheralded defender but brough a competitive edge.
31 - Luke Ryan (Fremantle) - Worked hard in the backline and neutralised some big contests.
32 - Zach Guthrie (Geelong) - Took an intercept mark and continued running, with his overlap setting up an Ollie Henry goal early in the third quarter. That was the highlight of a nice game off half-back.
33 - Gryan Miers (Geelong) - A fourth quarter setup kick for Ollie Henry oozed class and popped up for some moments in a low production game.
34 - Oscar McDonald (Fremantle) - Quiet night for McDonald but he still competed well and played his role.
35 - Neil Erasmus (Fremantle) – Was a solid enough contributor, with a couple of excellent second quarter inside 50 kicks the highlight of his night, but neither amounted to a goal.
36 Mark O'Connor (Geelong) - Played his role and had some moments in the backline.
37 - Judd McVee (Fremantle) - A quiet return for the inclusion, who had just 12 touches.
38 - Max Holmes (Geelong) - Finished with 18 disposals but was well below his game-breaking best after returning from injury last week. Cats missed his Dash.
39 - Tom Atkins (Geelong) - As always, you could not question Atkins' effort and he brought finals-like intensity but did not have great impact with ball in hand.
40 - Mitch Edwards (Geelong) - After spending time off the ground early after his finger got caught in an Andy Brayshaw tackle, he competed hard all night. Fremantle's scoring from centre bounces was a critical part of the contest, though, and Luke Jackson got right on top of him at a critical stage in the third term. Set up an Oli Wiltshire goal with an excellent kick deep inside 50 in the second quarter.
41 - Brad Close (Geelong) – Waxed well with Shannon Neale twice in the first half, both resulting in set shots and was buzzing with energy, particularly as Geelong came back in the third term.
42 - Mason Cox (Fremantle) – Was one of the beneficiaries of the big start, kicking a goal from an uncontested mark in the square. Competed well enough but was otherwise relatively quiet.
43 - Oli Wiltshire (Geelong)– Kicked an important first quarter goal but was otherwise relatively quiet.
44 - Mark Blicavs (Geelong) - A quiet night for the big utility who struggled to hit his usual heights.
45 - Tom Stewart (Geelong) - His intercepting and rebounding game was completely shut down by Fremantle, well nullified all night.
46 - Jay Polkinghorne (Geelong) - Wasn't a night for the undersized Cats tall forward who struggled to get himself involved.
