Carlton scrape into the top eight after Freo were denied finals spot by the Power

Blue skies for Power

Put simply, Fremantle squandered their last hope of making the finals with a 20-point loss to Port Adelaide at Perth Stadium, the result meaning the Power host a qualifying final against Geelong, while Carlton have won a late - and dramatic - finals reprieve. A month ago, the Dockers had every opportunity to finish with the double chance, but four straight defeats by a combined 41 points put paid to that. Instead, they have an early holiday, leaving WA football supporters with little to be enthused about in September. Trailing by nine points at the final break, the Dockers fell apart in the final term, their leaders, including Caleb Serong and Michael Walters, unable to will their team to victory.

Powerful stance

Power star Ollie Wines said team management had kept the result of the Saints and Blues clash from the Power players, ensuring their focus was solely on events at Perth Stadium. The move worked superbly, the Power locked in in the final term, to post one of the club’s best wins under Ken Hinkley. They were brilliantly led by Wines, Zak Butters, Logan Evans and skipper Connor Rozee, while Willie Rioli was a match-winner in the final term. However, Jason Horne-Francis was arguably best afield, the robust midfielder one of only four players this season to average at least 20 disposals, 10 contested possessions and a goal. “He [Horne-Francis] is a special human, not just a footballer. I look forward to seeing what he can do in September,” Wines told Fox Footy. The absence of the suspended Dan Houston will hurt, but this may be Hinkley’s best chance yet of securing an elusive flag. With at least two home finals, there are few excuses.