Fremantle Topple Adelaide in Round 23, Keep Top Spot Firmly in Sight
Fremantle beat Adelaide 12.12 (84) to 10.8 (68) at Optus Stadium on Friday night, round 23, holding their place at the top of the AFL ladder with the finals two weeks away (ESPN).
The Dockers went in as heavy betting favourites, priced at $1.28 with a 90 per cent result probability, and they delivered on that expectation — though Adelaide made them earn it late (Fox Sports).
Late in the final term, J. Treacy kicked a goal and H. Young slotted a behind to push the margin out to 16 points, the 84-68 scoreline that held to the final siren (ESPN).
Fremantle came into the clash as the AFL's ladder-leader, and the ABC described the fixture as a potential dress rehearsal for a finals meeting between the two sides (ABC News). The first bounce was scheduled for 8:10pm AEST on 14 August 2026, a Friday night blockbuster broadcast live on Channel 7 Adelaide and Fox Footy (Adelaide Football Club; Adelaide Football Club).
The history between these two sides at this venue runs deep. Fremantle has now won three straight against Adelaide at Perth Stadium dating back to 2024. In their earlier meeting this season, round 4 at Adelaide Oval, Fremantle escaped with a two-point win — 11.12 (78) to 11.10 (76) — with forward Jy Amiss kicking four goals (ABC News). The Crows' last win in the matchup came in round 4 of 2023, when they piled on 17.9 (111) to Fremantle's 10.12 (72) at Adelaide Oval (ABC News).
Friday night also marked a milestone for Fremantle defender Luke Ryan, who played his 200th AFL game. Ryan was drafted by the Dockers with pick 66 in 2016, at the age of 20 — a late selection that has produced one of the club's most reliable backmen (ABC News).
There was a thread of shared history running through the night, too. Tony Modra, the goal-kicking phenomenon who booted 440 goals in 118 games for Adelaide between 1992 and 1998, finished his career at Fremantle, kicking 148 goals in 47 games across 1999 to 2001 before retiring. Few players have worn both guernseys with such impact (ABC News).
For Fremantle, the form line is strong. In round 19 they beat Port Adelaide 15.13 (103) to 11.9 (75), a 28-point win that underlined their credentials as the team to catch at the top (ABC News). Adelaide, meanwhile, have shown they can match it with anyone on their day — in round 8 they beat Port Adelaide by a single point in the Showdown, the fierce local derby between the two South Australian clubs (ABC News).
With one round left in the home-and-away season, Fremantle's grip on top spot is firming. If these two sides meet again in September, the Dockers will take confidence from a 16-point win on their home deck — but the Crows have shown enough across the season to suggest a finals rematch would be no formality.
