After The Game With Snaps Truly - First Semi Final 2026 V Geelong

After a week of slurs and insults, none worse than the Whateley slap that Freo’s performance against Hawthorn had caused the public to lose trust in them, I thought to myself, hang on … just a bloody minute.

Maybe a wander down the hall of mirrors might be in order.

I tell ya, the footy industry of today is filled with so many former players and scribes, pumped up with narcissistic self importance you can almost feel the hum of their hubris.

And you can certainly smell it on their breath.

And I reckon none of the big talkers who once wore the jumper; who so readily belittle others who fumble a mark or miss the easy one, were ever subject to such public humiliation.

And they know it.

Sure the coach and the fans might have spat out their anger and disappointment, but Sandy Roberts or Louie the Lip or McAvaney or Cometti would never have so willingly declared open season.

None would have taken such evident delight in the prospect of Freo going out in straight sets.

Bugger them. Enough.

So, how would Alex and the boys respond? From what I heard they stayed tight and close all week and let the words fly past. They knew they had to be better.

And they were.

And it took less than a minute for that fact to be presented to nearly 60 thousand of us. Two goals to Bolton. The first from a Serong dart and the second when he simply exploded from the middle.

We were still wide eyed with wonder when Clark bolted clear and found Voss. He goaled and expressed his delight and evident relief with some incredible hulking.

Although Dangerfield responded immediately, a clever Amiss handball found Freddy who made it four and then Reid delivered to Voss again for a 25 point lead.

Just like that.

Only when Brayshaw gave it to Cox and the crowd began to roar ‘USA, USA …’ did I button my lip.

Much as I like him, I can’t be chanting that when I want to impeach the President.

Oh Snaps. Yeh. I know.

The second quarter opened with a Dudley goal, but Geelong hit back through Oliver Henry who would play the game of his life tonight.

It was goal for goal now. None better of course than 2027 Brownlow Medallist Hayden Young bursting from a clearance, taking a bounce, and setting sail from outside fifty on his superb left foot.

The footy was fierce and sometimes ugly, but the pressure was intense. Freo lead at half time by 21 points.

The third term was one of the most exhilarating I can remember. For a whole lot of reasons.

Geelong were winning more of the ball now and peppering the goals, but not earning much reward.

Then Ollie Dempsey produced a sensational scissor kick in the goal square which was disallowed because it appeared to be touched by the desperateJohnson.

But what was the last touch? His bicep or the Dempsey boot? Bicep or boot, boot or bicep?

Those reviewing could not decide and therefore could not overturn. Chris Scott might have been furious, but a smile arrived on my face.

Because suddenly I was back at Subiaco Oval. The year 2016 and Patrick Dangerfield has just kicked his miraculous team lifting banana.

Remember the one? From outside the boundary. The goal that wasn’t, but was allowed to stand anyway.

I tell ya, ten years is a long time to wait for the square up friends, but sometimes it’s worth biding your time.

Two goals to Henry closed the gap to four points and then Dangerfield gave the Cats the lead. A moment later the largely unseen Jeremy Cameron slammed home another from the square and suddenly all the momentum was with the visitors.

Geelong doing what they do. Methodically reeling in their opponents and running past them.

Except they didn’t.

Not tonight. What followed was just this side and off to the left of unbelievable.

And it was Luke Jackson who ignited the Freo response. He won a free kick and goaled and then the brilliant Serong found the sure hands of Treacy who set off an absolute rocket.

Lead regained.

Just like that.

Jackson then found Voss who extended it and incredibly Jacko goaled again just before the siren. Freo with the last four and 16 points in front at the last change.

We had belief.

Freddy received a beauty from Johnno and calmly slotted the first goal of the final quarter.

But Geelong weren’t quite done yet. Henry kicked his fifth.

Freo answered through Serong, but Mannagh and Shannon Neale goaled and then the Cats scored another from an unlikely source in Tom Stewart.

There was just eight points in it, but Freo were handling the pressure as well as any team could. Bolton who’d started brilliantly, was now finishing just as brilliantly and as the clock ticked down …

WHARFIE TIME ARRIVED.

Bong

Mass hysteria ensued.

Bong

Geelong players fell to the ground as if paralysed.

Bong

Pat Voss earned a free kick in the square.

Bong

He goaled and yes, Freo had not been bounced out in straight sets – they were through to the Preliminary Final against Sydney. And one win away from a place in the Grand Final.

(Note to all in the footy industry, you don’t get to decide when Wharfie Time arrives. It is activated by our hearts and ours alone.)

What a response to a week of relentless pressure.

And what relief we felt on their behalf.

Congratulations Freo.

And whatever happens now, thanks from all of us.

That said, you might also be pleased to hear, me old mate Rob has just bought more purple petunias and reckons they’ll be in flower on Grand Final day.

That’s nice. Isnt it Gerard?

Yours Truly,

Snaps Truly

*By our multi-talented and amazingly insightful footy scribe, SNAPS TRULY. Snaps has seen and done it all. He may or may not have been a fringe player at Fremantle. Don’t miss Snaps’ report after each Freo Dockers match here on the Shipping News throughout the 2026 season.

~ You’ll find more Snaps Truly right here.

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