Finals will come early this weekend, with a sudden death clash between Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs.

I guess we’ve known for a while that this match in round 24 was going to have some significance. Exactly how much significance is evident now.

We find ourselves with both clubs sweating on the results of the double — the round 24 clash between Port Adelaide and Gold Coast, where both sets of supporters will be barracking loudly for Port in Ken Hinkley’s last game. And then the round 0 match between the Suns and Essendon. Yes, that round 0 game which will now totally compromise Gold Coast’s ability to make the finals.

It’s a recipe for disaster because as much as the Suns are aiming for the top eight, they won’t want any injuries or, heaven forbid, anyone to enter concussion protocols.

Currently ninth on percentage, two losses for Gold Coast would see Fremantle and the Dogs play finals.

But that’s a long shot. And why they’re both playing for a win on Sunday.

Both the Dockers and the Bulldogs have been in very good to excellent form. Of their past five matches each, they have both only lost to the Brisbane Lions.

The last time they met was a long time ago, in round 4, where Fremantle dominated the second quarter with seven goals and held on to win by 16 points.

Both sides have similar strengths, but I feel like the depth of one line in particular will be the difference between winning and losing this game.

In the past four matches the Bulldogs have managed to kick in excess of 100 points in each game, whereas the Dockers have scored over 100 just once, but were close on two other occasions.

So they are both strong forward.

The backlines of each club can be fragile, but I lean towards Freo’s Alex Pearce controlling that line. Both forward lines can kick goals, but who does Pearce pick up, Sam Darcy or Aaron Naughton? Probably Darcy. But the Dogs have turned their fortunes around because both forwards thrive off each other’s work.

So that brings us to the midfield.

It’s almost inconceivable how Fremantle buckled under Brisbane’s game plan last week. Though what did come to the fore was Brisbane’s depth of midfield, even without Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale. Once that midfield got on top it opened up the Dockers’ defence and allowed the Lions some easy scoring.

The Dogs on the other hand lost narrowly to Brisbane. In reality however, Brisbane had 26 shots to 16, which meant it was just bad kicking that kept the Dogs in the game.

The Bulldogs have been very clinical in their recent wins and have a high percentage to back that up.

On the other side of the coin, Fremantle have had to fight back from behind in almost every recent game, which can zap the team’s energy.

In round 22 the Dockers beat Port after coming from behind at three-quarter-time. In round 21 they trailed Carlton but had a big last quarter to win well. They beat West Coast easily in round 20 and fought back magnificently against Collingwood at the MCG in round 19 to win by a point.

This is all very commendable, but at some stage your luck runs out. The more you are behind the harder it is to get in front.

Fremantle will have to start well against the Dogs.

The Bulldogs are a free-flowing high-scoring side. Teams that have success against the Dogs have limited their midfielders’ possessions. Marcus Bontempelli, Ed Richards and Tom Liberatore are their main three.

The Dockers have been cleaned up when their mids, Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong, have been held. If Hayden Young comes back into the side it will generate more problems for the Dogs and more strike power for Freo, which is badly needed. However, he is the first to admit that his body isn’t holding up as well as it should, which makes it a risk.

So therefore, I have to lean towards the Bulldogs on their home ground, and with the way they are currently playing, particularly their midfield.

Fremantle’s hope is that they can close the game down. The Dockers shouldn’t try to go head-to-head and goal-for-goal with the Dogs, otherwise they’ll become disconnected to the game.

They need to play their own way. It’s a final to make the finals after all and only the best team will get there.