Dockers not thinking of AFL derby final

The prospect of an AFL western derby final may be looming large, but Fremantle midfielder David Mundy says it’s far too early to start thinking about that just yet.

Unless West Coast can upset Hawthorn or Essendon shocks Collingwood this weekend, the Eagles will finish in fifth spot on the table.

If that happens – and Fremantle finish in eighth spot – it would set up a history-making western derby final.

Fremantle, who take on lowly Melbourne in Perth on Saturday night, currently sit in seventh spot on the table, and can finish as high as sixth or as low as eighth depending on a myriad of other results.

The Dockers would fancy their chances in a derby final after their 65-point demolition of West Coast just over three weeks ago.

But Mundy said Gold Coast’s upset victory over Carlton over the weekend was a timely reminder that nothing should be taken as a given in AFL ranks.

“I think if you look too far ahead or take too many factors like that into it you can really lose focus,” Mundy told reporters on Monday.

“You only have to look at the weekend with Carlton going down to the Suns. We don’t want something like that on the eve of the finals.

“We’re just looking for another really strong performance this weekend and we’ll go from there.

“To lock the finals away is a great result.

“We’ll be focusing on Melbourne really heavily this week.”

Fremantle are one of the form teams of the competition after winning seven of their past eight games.

Ross Lyon’s charges are expected to encounter few problems against the struggling Demons, but the size of the victory could prove to be just as important as the four points.

For Fremantle to finish sixth and earn a home final, they need to make sure their win over Melbourne will cover any percentage gain North Melbourne receives for beating Greater Western Sydney.

They also need Sydney to beat sixth-placed Geelong by enough for the Dockers to overtake the Cats on percentage.

West Coast veteran Adam Selwood said a derby final against Fremantle wouldn’t take on any extra significance.

“They’re just another team in the way of us winning a premiership. I guess it would be good for WA footy, but for me Fremantle’s just Fremantle,” Selwood said.

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