Fremantle v Brisbane: first flag meets the reigning premiers in 2026 AFL grand final
Fremantle will play Brisbane for the 2026 AFL premiership at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday 26 September.
The first ball-up is at 2.30pm AEST. That is 12.30pm in Perth and 2pm in Adelaide, according to the AFL's grand final ticketing guide. Gates open at 9.30am.
The stakes are simple. Fremantle is chasing the club's first flag since joining the league in 1995, in only its second grand final appearance Guardian. Brisbane are the reigning premiers, into a fourth straight grand final after winning the last two.
Neither side took the easy road. Fremantle lost its qualifying final to Hawthorn, then stayed alive with a win over Geelong in the semi-final and a win over Sydney in the preliminary final. A preliminary final is the last step before the decider. Win, and you play for the cup.
Brisbane came through the other side of the draw. The Lions beat Adelaide in their semi-final, then beat Hawthorn 20.11 (131) to 19.8 (122) in a twilight preliminary final to book their spot ABC. In footy notation, that reads as goals, behinds and total points.
This will be the first final ever between the two clubs. They did meet in round 12 this season, when Fremantle beat Brisbane by 25 points at the Gabba in Brisbane.
What makes this stand out is the contrast. Brisbane knows this week cold. Fremantle is playing for history. Expect Brisbane to own the middle early, where the ruck contest — the tap duel between the tallest players after each stoppage — sets the tone. Expect Fremantle to run. Space is everything at the MCG.
For fans, this means a full house and a long day. The MCG holds just over 100,000, and last year's grand final between Brisbane and Geelong drew a record 100,022. The half-time break runs longer than a normal home-and-away game to allow for the grand final sprint and AusKick demonstrations for junior players.
You can watch live in Australia on Channel Seven and 7Plus, including through the 7Plus app. A full replay will be available on Kayo after the final siren. Fans outside Australia can watch through the Watch AFL website and app.
There are two watch points before the bounce. Brisbane star Lachie Neale was handed a one-match ban that would rule him out of the decider, with the club planning to challenge the suspension ABC. Fremantle has named life member Shaun McManus as its cup presenter if the Dockers win, while Brisbane had yet to name its presenter as of 21 September ABC.
One game. One cup. Everything on the line.
