Dockers and Hawks seal their spots in grand final

PERTH: The Fremantle Dockers took advantage of a preliminary final at their home ground in Western Australia to dominate defending champions Sydney and beat the Swans 14.15 (99) to 11.8 (74) on Saturday and advance to their first AFL grand final.

The Dockers, playing before a capacity crowd of more than 43,000 at Perth’s Subiaco Oval, led by 43 points after three quarters, then held off a brief Swans comeback attempt midway through the final period.

On Friday, Hawthorn, who finished in first place in the regular season, overcame a late 20-point deficit to end an 11-game losing streak against Geelong and beat the Cats 14.18 (102) to 15.7 (97).

Hawthorn will play Fremantle on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The final will match the AFL’s highest scorers — Hawthorn with 2523 points scored during the regular sea- son — and Fremantle, who had the best defence, conceding just 1518 points.

‘‘We’re going to ask some serious questions of the Hawthorn Football Club,’’ Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said after the win over Sydney. ‘‘And they’re going to ask some serious questions of us.’’

Sydney coach John Longmire said he liked Fremantle’s chances in the decider, which will likely attract about 100,000 fans to the MCG.

‘‘They have got nearly all their best players available and they’re playing with a fierce want and will to win,’’ Longmire said. ‘‘It stands up in big games. They have got some real topend talent and they’re putting enormous defensive pressure on.’’

Hawthorn initially has some concerns over the fitness of star forward Lance Franklin but he insisted he would be ready to play.