No late alterations have been made by either team ahead of the match.
Fremantle has announced five lineup changes this week. The players entering the squad are Murphy Reid, Jye Amiss, Sam Switkowski, Heath Chapman, and Brandon Walker, while Christopher Scerri, Tobyn Murray, Bailey Banfield, Judd McVee, and Brennan Cox have been omitted.
Hawthorn has made a single substitution, with Jack Ginnivan replacing Jack Dalton.
The teams deserve recognition for their thrilling performances in the wildcard round, but tonight marks a pivotal moment in the finals series.
The outcomes of tonight’s game, along with Saturday’s clash, will significantly influence the trajectory of the finals in September.
A victory for Fremantle this evening would secure them a spot in the preliminary final in a fortnight, whereas a win for Hawthorn would introduce an element of unpredictability.
On Saturday afternoon, the Brisbane Lions will visit the SCG as clear favorites to overcome a depleted Sydney Swans team on their home turf.
Should the Lions succeed, the path to the grand final will likely run through both Perth and Brisbane.
Conversely, if the Swans manage to pull off a victory, it would severely impact the Lions’ aspirations for a three-peat and leave the semifinal teams searching for a route to the final match.
Regardless of how the seedings play out, tonight marks the beginning of an exciting journey. Anticipation is high.
Good evening and welcome to ABC’s live online coverage of the AFL finals series.
It’s a Thursday night event at Perth Stadium as Fremantle aims to launch their finals campaign on a high note against Hawthorn.
This is only the second occasion that Fremantle has claimed the minor premiership—will they capitalize on this opportunity? A win tonight would afford them a week’s rest and a home blockbuster with a chance to secure a spot in the grand final.
Hawthorn, on the other hand, sees this as a significant chance. Can they triumph away from home and take charge of the finals series, igniting dreams of their 14th premiership among Hawks supporters? We will soon find out.
Stay tuned as my colleague and I bring you all the action from tonight’s match.
Fremantle’s finals journey begins with a challenging matchup against Hawthorn in the first qualifying final at Perth Stadium.
Keep up with all the developments through our live blog and stay informed with the latest statistics and our live radio coverage.
