Success or failure? We want a definitive answer when evaluating how our teams fared.

However, put bluntly, the Fremantle Dockers’ 2025 season was a failure.

Their finals loss to Gold Coast stung. But what about the rest of the Dockers season?Credit: AFL Photos

Ultimately, along with the 16 other sides who don’t lift the premiership cup, they’ve fallen short of what they set out to achieve.

But it’s very rarely that black-and-white.

The Dockers’ return to finals – their first September campaign since 2022 – was a huge tick. Crucial road victories and their record against fellow finalists was another.

Sixteen wins, Fremantle’s equal second-best return in a home and away season, points to further development.

This all while week-in, week-out fielding a side regularly in the bottom four for age and games experience.

But the bitter end, losing a home........

© The Sydney Morning Herald