Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw reflects on Dockers’ failure to make finals after heartbreaking loss to Port Adelaide

The Dockers had everything to play for against Port Adelaide on Sunday after St Kilda beat Carlton earlier on Sunday to reignite Fremantle’s finals hopes. But the Dockers were unable to make the most of their chances and had to settle for a second consecutive season as September spectators after a 20-point loss.

Brayshaw said it was devastating to let a golden opportunity slip, lamenting Fremantle’s polish when the game was on the line.

“We’re heartbroken,” the co-vice-captain said.

“I can’t question the effort of the playing group and the whole club to be honest. We were all in. But we just came up short.

“We want to win a flag and that’s obviously not happening this year. It leaves a really sour taste in our mouths but I think that’s going to drive us in the next six months to get better.

“Hopefully next year, we’ll be able to hang in there and finish high up on the ladder. I think we’ve got the list and the staff that can do it. We’ve just got to keep growing.”

The Dockers looked destined to finish the season in the top four a month ago when they sat third on the ladder in round 20. But four straight losses to Essendon, Geelong, GWS and Port Adelaide cost Fremantle a top eight spot.

Brayshaw conceded that this year was a missed opportunity. But it wasn’t a wasted season.

At their best, the Dockers were able to beat 2023 runners-up Brisbane in round 1, the Western Bulldogs at home in round 7, they smashed the Demons by 92 points in round 12 in what was one of Justin Longmuir’s best wins as coach and they also inflicted Sydney’s first loss of the season in round 16.

Add in competitive losses to finals-bound teams Hawthorn, Geelong, GWS, Port and Carlton and Brayshaw is confident that the best is yet to come for Fremantle.

“As devastating as it is, when we were playing our best footy for four quarters, we could take it up to anyone in the competition,” he said.

“When we were all connected and working together, it was exciting and fun.

“We need to be able to find that more consistently and if we can, which I believe we can, we’ll be a hard team to beat.

“We’ve learnt a few really tough lessons and probably the last four games, we’ve been right in it but haven’t been able to finish. Those are lessons that we’re going to learn and we’re only going to get better from.

“I look around at a lot of my teammates and they’re young, still developing and they’re trying to get better every day. The playing group will continue to grow.”

Brayshaw also revealed that the parochial purple army alerted the Dockers to St Kilda’s last-gasp victory over Carlton, keeping Fremantle’s finals hopes alive.

Most players and staff opted not to watch the two earlier games on Sunday, preferring to focus on the task at hand. But a large roar rung out around Optus Stadium as Caleb Serong was delivering his pre-game captain’s address.

“Usually whatever games are on beforehand, we have them on in the rooms,” Brayshaw said.

“But we didn’t today.

“We were trying to lock in on our process. But we heard the crowd go crazy and figured out that we were a chance.

“Only a few people are allowed to have their phones and someone said ‘Boys we’re a f**king chance’ so JL (Longmuir) came out and said ‘Nothing changes. We need to bring our best footy for four quarters.’ We tried to do that.

“It’s been such a unique experience. Usually by this time of the season, you know whether you’re in or out of finals. To wait until literally when you run out to know if you’re a sniff, it was another challenge and growth experience.

“It made it exciting. We loved having something to play for today.”

Brayshaw doesn’t believe that the added pressure of the situation impacted the players.

“We got off to a really good start,” he said.

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“We had something to play for other than pride.

“From the first bounce, we were physical and desperate. I can’t question the intent and decisiveness of the guys. But a good team like Port makes you pay.

“I don’t think it weighed on the playing group at all. This group played in an elimination final a couple years ago. It was essentially another one of those.”