<p>It’s a historic night in Perth – no matter how this one plays out – as the Gold Coast Suns run out for the first AFL finals match in the club’s history.</p> <p>But of the four matchups in Week One of the 2025 AFL Finals, the Suns might have pulled the short straw: a cut-throat Elimination Final, away from home, against a red-hot Fremantle side.</p> <p>The Suns only have themselves to blame after blowing a top-four chance late in the season, while the Dockers also flirted with disaster, again finding themselves in need of a result on the final Sunday to lock in a spot in September.&nbsp;</p> <p>This time, though, they delivered when it mattered most and entered September with momentum.&nbsp;</p> <p>Now, they face off in a clash that pits two teams with serious talent but equally serious inconsistencies. Neither side is playing with house money anymore – it's win or go home.</p> <p>Let’s break down the form, matchups, team news, and betting insights ahead of this blockbuster in the west.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Fremantle vs Gold Coast Preview</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The last time these two sides met – back in Round 12 – it was a defining moment for Fremantle.</p> <p>On a rainy Gold Coast afternoon, the Dockers dug deep to pull off an 11-point win in slippery conditions. It kick-started their mid-season surge, one that saw them win 11 of their next 12 games.</p> <p>That day, their stars stood tall. Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw, and Jordan Clark were all superb, while marquee signing Shai Bolton delivered a performance that justified his hefty price tag. The Dockers have built serious belief in their ability to win from behind, and against anyone.</p> <p>Even more impressively, they’ve done it without key personnel. Captain Alex Pearce and midfield dynamo Hayden Young have missed extended periods, but Fremantle’s depth has held firm. They’ve hovered around the edge of flag contention all year – and they’ll feel they’re still a chance.</p> <p>As for Gold Coast, they’ve finally cracked September – but not without some luck. A top-four spot was on the table, but late slip-ups mean they enter their first finals campaign under pressure to prove they belong.</p> <p>Still, there’s a case to be made that the Suns have nothing to lose. The pressure valve is off. Finals footy is already a win for the club, and that mindset could set them free.</p> <p>If the Suns play with confidence – and not fear – they’re a genuine threat.</p> <p>While the half-back flankers on both teams are set to excite, you cannot help but be drawn to the coalface with the battle between the recently named All-Australian duo of Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson going head-to-head with Caleb Serong and Andy Brayshaw.</p> <p>Then there is the additional storyline of the retiring club stalwarts.&nbsp;</p> <p>Fremantle champion and dual Brownlow Medalist, Nat Fyfe, is chasing the one accolade he is yet to tick off in his illustrious career - a Premiership, and is the Dockers' super-sub throughout this finals campaign for as long as it will go.&nbsp;</p> <p>At the Suns, club legend David Swallow has announced that he too will hang up the boots at the end of this season.&nbsp;</p> <p>After 247 AFL Games without a final, the most ever in the history of the game, it was confirmed this week that Swallow would be picked for the game.&nbsp;</p> <p>A nice move from Damien Hardwick and the Suns coaching staff to pick the man who has been at the club from the very beginning to play his and the club's first-ever final.</p> <p>Elsewhere at the selection table, Dockers small forward Sam Switkowski will need to pass a fitness test after hurting his knee in the last game against the Bulldogs, while midfielder Corey Wagner will need to be replaced after suffering a pec injury in the same game.</p> <p>Matt Johnson is the most likely replacement, while wingers Nathan O’Driscoll and Jeremy Sharp are also options.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the Suns, Swallow will come in, and that might be the only change. Although Oscar Adams could be considered if they want to go taller in the back half to combat the Dockers’ tall forward line.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Players To Watch</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Ben King</h3> <p>If the Suns are to cause a massive boilover, they will need Ben King to do something he is yet to do this season.</p> <p>Kick a big bag of goals in a big game.&nbsp;</p> <p>King has kicked 16 goals in 10 games against fellow finalists this season, with no more than two goals a game.&nbsp;</p> <p>77% of his goals this year have come against bottom 10 opponents. Saturday night presents the chance to stamp his authority against a seasoned defence and be the reason his team wins.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jordan Clark</h3> <p>Clark has elevated himself to an All-Australian calibre level player this year and has been one of Fremantle’s most improved players.&nbsp;</p> <p>His dash off half-back drives much of the ball movement, and if given a license to play quickly and attacking footy, he could be one of the biggest weapons on the field in a purple jumper.</p> <p>With rain forecasted, too, his pinpoint kicking will become even more of a commodity, so look for him to be a key distributor. Regardless of what conditions are dished up.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Sam Collins</h3> <p>There’s a little bit extra in this matchup for Sam Collins on Saturday night.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Now one of the premier key defenders in the competition, but remember when Collins was delisted after two seasons at Freo way back when?</p> <p>Now a leader of the Suns and coming off a career-best season, being named in the 44-man All-Australian squad for the second straight year, He would love to have the last laugh against the side that turfed him out without a second look and dump them out of the finals first up.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Fremantle vs Gold Coast Prediction &amp; Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Who Will Win?&nbsp;</h3> <p>Home advantage. A longer break and Finals experience.&nbsp;</p> <p>Everything points towards the Dockers winning here on Saturday night.&nbsp;</p> <p>Wet weather on the forecast does bring the Suns back into the game, though. Led by Anderson and Rowell, the dominance around stoppages, as they have done all season, could be enough to outmuscle the Dockers in the middle of the ground. If they can shut down the slick Dockers ball movement and turn the speed of the game down, it will give them a chance.</p> <p>Both sides have shown a history of wilting under pressure this year, so whoever handles the moment above the shoulders the best will prevail.&nbsp;</p> <p>We’re going with the Dockers because we feel like they are the better team. And, we think previous finals experience has to count for something.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/fremantle-v-gold-coast-suns-9554694">Dockers</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal Prediction</h3> <p>The Dockers aren’t lacking in finals experience, having been there as a group only three years ago, but they will be hoping one of their big off-season recruits, who has been there and done that, will set the tone here.&nbsp;</p> <p>Shai Bolton has endured an up-and-down first season in Purple, but this is the time of year when he was recruited to shine.</p> <p>No better time for that than kicking the first goal of the game.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/fremantle-v-gold-coast-suns-9554694">Shai Bolton</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Most Disposals Prediction</h3> <p>As one of the handful of players with finals experience in the Suns lineup, John Noble’s role in calming his side down is almost as important as his role on the field.&nbsp;</p> <p>On the field, his job as distributor and driver off half back has been paramount and imperative to what the Suns have done this year to get them to this point.&nbsp;</p> <p>With his running mate Dan Rioli back in the side, He’s going to have a big role to play, but we think he’ll be up for it and top the disposal charts.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/fremantle-v-gold-coast-suns-9554694">John Noble 30+ disposals&nbsp;</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Fremantle Dockers vs Gold Coast Suns Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Saturday, September 6, 2025.</p> <p><strong>First Bounce: </strong>7:35pm, AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location: </strong>Optus Stadium, Perth.</p> <p><strong>How to watch:</strong> Channel 7, Fox Footy/Kayo Sports.</p>