The 2026 AFL Finals Series continues this Friday night at Optus Stadium as Fremantle take on Geelong in a do-or-die semi-final. Draftstars are offering $70,000 in guaranteed prize money in their main daily fantasy tournament.
Fremantle — the minor premiers who finished the home-and-away season on top of the ladder — suffered one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 finals series last week when Hawthorn beat them at Optus Stadium. Now they face elimination and a heartbreaking end to what has been one of the best seasons in club history. The Dockers will be hurting and motivated to put in the performance of their season in front of their home crowd on Friday night. Geelong arrive off the back of their stunning win over Carlton, which showed exactly what this group is capable. The Cats have made no changes, which tells you everything about their confidence. Fremantle have been forced into adjustments, dropping Nathan O’Driscoll and losing Brandon Walker to injury, with Corey Wagner and Judd McVee the inclusions. The stage is set for one of the great September nights at Optus Stadium.
Draftstars are offering a number of different contests to suit your style, some of these include:
AFL $70,000+ Dockers vs Cats ($15 entry)
AFL $10,000+ Dockers vs Cats High Roller ($150 Entry)
AFL $3,000+ Dockers vs Cats Mini ($2 Entry)
AFL $1,500+ Dockers vs Cats Micro (50c Entry)
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AFL Daily Fantasy Lineup Tips: Semi Final – Fremantle vs Geelong
AFL Fantasy Dockers vs Cats – Where to Attack?
The most important number on this slate is one of the biggest points concessions in the league this season, and it is going to one of the best players in the AFL at this position this week. Geelong have been giving up over 15 points above league average to rucks, the highest in the competition. We all know how good Luke Jackson has been this season so we might have a lock and load play here before we even get to the plays!
The second angle is Geelong’s inside midfield concession. The Cats have been giving up above average points to inside midfielders, which will provide the primary Fremantle midfielders with every opportunity to avenge their first finals performance. The Fremantle midfield has a genuine matchup advantage going into a game where they’ll be fired up with a point to prove.
The critical cautions on this slate are in the wing and half-back corridors for Fremantle. Geelong have been holding teams to over 7 points below average to wings — one of the most restrictive wing matchups in the competition.
On the other side of the ground, Fremantle have been one of the toughest sides to score against. In the second week of the finals, with the Cats coming in as over 10-point underdogs, I wouldn’t be looking to load up on too many positions. The only real avenue to attack is backs against the Dockers. They have been giving up above average points to wings, attacking half backs and designated kickers. If the game goes to script, I would go right stick with Geelong backs with the assumption the ball will be down that way a lot.
Game Script – Fremantle ruck, midfielders and forwards, Geelong backs
AFL Fantasy Dockers vs Cats – Our Value Fantasy Picks
Oisin Mullin ($7,720) is the tagging value dart on this slate and the case is built entirely on role rather than matchup. Mullin has been Geelong's primary defensive midfielder across 2026, attending centre bounces in a tagging capacity rather than as a free-running accumulator, and in this game the assignment is obvious — Andrew Brayshaw or Caleb Serong will have a Geelong shadow. The beauty of a tagger play in daily fantasy is that the tag itself generates the scoring. By design, a tagger follows the most prolific ball winner in the opposition to every single centre bounce, accumulating the contested possessions, tackles and hardball-gets that come from being permanently in the contest. His last three AFL scores of 33, 65 and 81 show genuine variance but the 65 and 81 tell you what the ceiling looks like when the midfield minutes lift. He is attending over 70% of the Cats centre bounces over the last four games, lock and load him as your value play on a slate that is hard to find value.
AFL Fantasy Dockers vs Cats – Our Mid Price Fantasy Picks
Shaun Mannagh ($13,300) is in the hottest form of any Geelong forward with scores of 95, 139 and 100 across his last three for an average of 111.3. That 139 just two weeks ago is a career-best performance and he arrives in September football absolutely firing. The Cats have totally unleashed him in the midfield, attending over 60% of Gelongs centre bounces the last two weeks and he has taken full advantage of this opportunity.
AFL Fantasy Dockers vs Cats – Our Premium Fantasy Picks
Luke Jackson ($16,570) is the premium lock of the semi final and the case has already been made. Geelong are giving up 15.74 points above average to rucks and his three most recent games against Geelong produced 166, 125 and 93. Jackson also scored 105 last week against Hawthorn, confirming he is in form heading into this game. At $16,570 he is first named, every lineup, done.
Andrew Brayshaw ($15,150) is the Fremantle premium midfield co-lock and his form coming into this elimination game is the best of his career. He posted 114 last week and has scores of 114, 93 and 97 in his last three for an average of 101.3. His three most recent games against Geelong have produced 132, 53 and 95 — the 132 is the ceiling confirmation and the 95 the floor reference, with the 53 the outlier you need to acknowledge. Geelong are giving up above average points to inside midfielders and Brayshaw’s contested ball and clearance work at Optus in a must-win game is the highest-ceiling midfield play on the slate outside of Bailey Smith. He is the second name after Jackson for your Freo stacks.
FADE – Caleb Serong ($13,360) has been struggling when tagged all season and I can see Mullin going to him for that reason!
Here is our Suggested Draftstars Lineup for the Dockers vs Cats
Weather Report for Friday
Optus Stadium (Perth) — 15 degrees, clear. Perfect finals conditions under lights. One of the great Friday nights of the 2026 season.
AFL Betting Markets
Odds: Fremantle ($1.55) vs Geelong ($2.45)
Points: 171.5
Line: Fremantle -10.5
Also, be sure to check out our full AFL Finals Preview and Betting Tips. Our experts break down the game and highlight some key bets that you can follow!
