AFL Finals player rankings: Every Sydney and Fremantle player rated 1-46

Fremantle have won their way through to the second grand final in their history, storming home to overrun a spirited Sydney Swans outfit.

The Dockers trailed for much of the contest, but kicked five goals to none in the last to steal a famous preliminary final victory.

Several Dockers had their colours lowered early, but the team rallied, chasing down a Swans outfit bereft of physical and emotional energy.

There's something in the water in Circular Quay, and it's not just diesel soot from their famous ferries. After one of the most tumultuous period's in the relocated club's storied history, pundits aplenty assumed a straight-sets exit was in the immediate future of those in the red and white. Instead, they knocked over Brisbane, and came oh-so-close to a second September boilover.

Here is how Zero Hanger judged every player's impact.

1. Hayden Young (Fremantle) - His lethal left peg was on full display. Young was waging a one-man war early, but kept his side in the contest with his skill and composure. His set shot finish on the three-quarter-time siren was the stuff of legend, and that legend only grew in the last.
2. Caleb Serong (Fremantle) - Toiled sublimely. Appeared to relish the fight. Had a smile on his face when the second half was beginning, and played like a man who wasn't going to let his side get back on a plane without punching their ticket to the big dance. Three clearances from seven disposals in the telling last term alone. Special stuff.
3. Shai Bolton (Fremantle) - Winning the first two centre clearances of the match was a telling indicator of the night he may have been in for, but it took until the final term for his indelible mark to truly be left. His major - the first of the last - gave his side belief, and his second - to bring the game back to within a point - was just as enormous. Showed why they went and got him, did the former Tiger.
4. Errol Gulden (Sydney) - Shocking turnover for the first goal of the game, but fought his way back into the contest, as is this talisman's way. 36 touches, the most metres gained on the ground, and a never-say-die effort.

   

5. Luke Jackson (Fremantle) - Signalled his intent early with a contested mark on opponent Grundy, before kicking truly. Was combative and provocative in that tussle all night, and ultimately, takes the points.
6. James Rowbottom (Sydney) - Caught the much larger Alex Pearce cold holding the ball in a statement moment in the second term. Just loves to do the tough stuff for his team, and showed why his teammates love suiting up next to him.
7. Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle) - Ball use was poor early - just 57% in the first term - but tried his tail off. 29 touches, five clearances, six tackles - just a gritty midfielder's performance.
8. Tom Papley (Sydney) - Important goal in the first to get the game back to level pegging. Was at his sublime, fire-starting, celebrating and barometric best at times, and a tick off the pace at others. Footy gods intervened after he lowered his colours with a shocking dive for the match's next shot, which missed. Hit the post in the last 90 seconds. Quite simply, tonight was a microcosm of the Tom Papley experience.
9. Charlie Curnow (Sydney) - An absolute laser to the chest of Logan McDonald in the first was indicative of King Charles at his best - when he's not kicking them, he's using his rare skillset to aid others. A quiet first half was all but forgotten when he took mark of the night and kicked truly in the third, opening up a 27-point lead.
10. Heath Chapman (Fremantle) - Great intercept mark for one of his first touches. Brave, and a key reason why the margin was not greater. Should get his flowers this week.
11. Isaiah Dudley (Fremantle) - Always kept defenders honest. His x-factor was noticeable. Would want his late set shot over again, but ultimately it did not matter, as he iced the game, walking in the goal that sent his club to the second grand final in its history.
12. Jordan Clark (Fremantle) - One of the few Dockers who didn't seem out of his depth at any stage in this one, as was the case in the qualifying final.
13. Brodie Grundy (Sydney) - Was engaged in an enthralling and physical battle with Luke Jackson all night. Ultimately fell short of the younger man who plays in prime Grundy's mould. Still one of his side's best.
14. Logan McDonald (Sydney) - McDonald's super September continued with his three majors the most on the ground. He crashed packs, capitalised, and looked to be driving his side into an unlikely grand final appearance. Went missing in the last, though, as supply dried up.
15. Jai Serong (Sydney) - Had a purple patch late in the first where his repelling kicks, second efforts and composure leapt off the tape. Playing in a less-familiar role, Serong did not look out of place. Lining up on brother Caleb will be stuff of Christmas-lunch legend for years to come in that household.
16. Joel Hamling (Sydney) - Important intercept marking presence, and got the better of Jye Amiss.
17. Justin McInerney (Sydney) - Looked unbothered by his long-term hamstring injury. Speed to burn, and some nice moments, including a lovely set shot major.
18. Tom McCartin (Sydney) - Was not sighted in the first - a good thing for a key defender. Part of a defence that gained plenty of admirers in the first term.
19. Michael Frederick (Fremantle) - Did not touch the Sherrin in the first frame, with only Patrick Voss joining him in that mire. Announced himself with a crunching tackle on Harry Kyle in the second term, but missed the shot. Did not do the same after winning a shot for a high fend off. Stuck to task defensively and was rewarded, eventually.
20. Alex Pearce (Fremantle) - Had some huge contested wins in the last term, when they were most required. His desperate acts inspired his side, as they so often do.
21. Sam Wicks (Sydney) - Hit the pill with speed early, but ball use was poor. Held his own, otherwise, in tough matchups against Bolton and Dudley.
22. Murphy Reid (Fremantle) - Plenty of it, but lacked damage. Will be hoping to find his best this week, with a fairytale premiership at his fingertips.
23. Angus Sheldrick (Sydney) - A lesser light who won some early clearances and laid some heavy tackles. His major after Fremantle kicked the first two of the third felt like a telling moment.
24. Jake Lloyd (Sydney) - Scrambled in defence well, and kept Dean Cox's back half organised, alongside stand-in-skipper Dane Rampe and Tom McCartin.
25. Hayden McLean (Sydney) - Displayed excellent utility in the first half, as a serviceable second ruck. Crashed marking contests too.
26. Braeden Campbell (Sydney) - Super crafty snap for his side's first. Was an important conduit early, and had a moment to remember when he paddled it to himself, tight against the boundary.
27. Caiden Cleary (Sydney) - Loved the tough stuff early. Stuck his tackles, and kicked an important steadier to restore a 20-point buffer in the second.
28. Dane Rampe (Sydney) - Chased up his own kicks to provide an option and drive from the back half. Understandably devastated at the final siren.
29. Harry Kyle (Sydney) - Did well to not look overawed on such a stage, in game 12.
30. Lewis Melican (Sydney) - Solid on return to the senior side.
31. Matthew Roberts (Sydney) - 17 at 82% with five intercepts. A clean performance.
32. Oscar McDonald (Fremantle) - The journeyman looked out of his depth early - but a few wins late in the first term steadied his ship. His one-on-one win against Charlie Curnow was a highlight, as was his bravery and toil.
33. Karl Worner (Fremantle) - Played his role, but did not set the world alight.
34. Luke Ryan (Fremantle) - Ball use offensively was average, and positioning and instincts defensively were below his usual par, too. Plodded about, and was not proactive. Will be out make amends next week.
35. Matthew Johnson (Fremantle) - Will be grateful for the opportunity to right the ship next week after a largely ineffective outing, despite some nice numbers on the stat sheet.
36. Judd McVee (Fremantle) - One of a rotating cast who struggled to contain Tom Papley.
37. Corey Wagner (Fremantle) - Got his customary 16, played a role, but hardly in the best few.
38. Neil Erasmus (Fremantle) - Classy finish for the game's first goal, but gave not much else, afterward. Seven turnovers from 17 touches is a poor return, and something Justin Longmuir will not want to see a repeat of next Saturday.
39. Sam Switkowski (Fremantle) - His role is a difficult one, but clearly wanted to extend his career in the final term, after getting more involved.
40. Jye Amiss (Fremantle) - Looked a little big and lumbering for the SCG's smaller confines, particularly early. Was the first of Fremantle's tall targets to goal, early in the third.
41. Josh Treacy (Fremantle) - Great chase on Gulden to cause the first major was the first half's only highlight. Just three touches in the first half, and eight for the match. Primed to go bigger next week.
42. Patrick Voss (Fremantle) - The Prancing Pony was seemingly stable-tied in the first term. 0 touches. First touch came courtesy of a free kick in the final seconds of the first half. Redeemed himself and then some with a massive goal to cut the margin to nine in the last.
43. Mason Cox (Fremantle) - Lumbering and awkward early, as is his wont. His goal to put the side back in front was enormous, and reminiscent of his preliminary final moments of years gone by. Needed a response, too, after Jack Riewoldt labelled him as a “ragdoll” in commentary, and Hayden McLean dominated him in the second ruck battle.
44. Billy Cootee (Sydney) - A passenger, mostly, but his laser to Curnow in the third was telling. One of many names asked to play a role prematurely.
45. Tom Hanily (Sydney) - Handy major in the first, but was hardly sighted afterward.
46. Jesse Dattoli (Sydney) - Lowest possession tally of any player on the ground, in a thankless role. Had some defensive moments when his side were on top, however.