The Dockers were 6-0 and favourites to win the flag in 2020 when the season had to be called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 campaign proved to be the peak point of Fremantle's premiership window at the time, with the Dockers losing in week one of the finals in 2021 and falling to Adelaide by 14 points in a preliminary final in 2022, before missing the finals altogether the past two seasons.
Second-year coach Lisa Webb has helped guide Fremantle back to the finals this season, with only percentage preventing the Dockers from snaring fourth spot.
Winning the flag from fifth spot this year will be a tricky task for the Dockers.
The club's fans - and some of the players - can't help but think what could have been in 2020.
"It was the one that kind of got away," Fremantle veteran Philipa Seth said ahead of her 50-game milestone on Saturday.Â
"Deep in the heart, it kind of burns a little bit.
"But that was in a time where there was so much more going on in the world, and the AFL did need to make that call (to shut down the season) for the greater good of society.
"I could understand why they made that call, even if it at the time hurt a little bit.
"But it's been a few years since then. Completely different team, completely different structure.
"So I don't think we look back at that too often given that the game has changed a lot during that time and we've had to adjust to it."
Two years in the finals wilderness has made Fremantle even hungrier for success.
"We're excited to be back there again under a completely new team," Seth said.
"I'm pretty sure half the team haven't experienced finals before, so it's really exciting for them."
Essendon's AFL team haven't won a final since 2004, and the women's team - now in their third season - lost their only final last year when they went down to Geelong in an elimination final.
The club's hopes of busting the finals hoodoo suffered a huge blow when star forward Bonnie Toogood was ruled out of the AFLW finals series due to an ankle injury.
And with ruck Steph Wales rupturing her ACL a fortnight ago, Essendon are without two of their most important players.
Fremantle ruck Mim Strom is almost certain to win an All-Australian berth this season, and she is being tipped to dominate against fringe Essendon ruck Matilda Dyke.
The Dockers have also been boosted by the return of star defender Ash Brazill from an ankle injury.
