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Craig O'DonoghueSports Journalist

Craig O'Donoghue is part of The West Australian's sports writing team. He joined The West Australian in 2000 and spent 2013-14 working in the Melbourne bureau. He now focuses on AFL and basketball.

Email Craig O'DonoghueX @Craig_ODonoghue
Fremantle lost the grand final.

AFLVideoPremiumA convenient excuse: Wharfie Time critics cop a lashing

A leading sports psychologist has declared Wharfie Time will only be problem in the future if people view it as a negative and made it clear the Dockers can still benefit by playing it during games next year.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle lost the grand final.

AFLVideoPremiumGrieve the loss, then get out of the country: Sports Pysch

Fremantle have been through emotional turmoil in recent days following their grand final loss to Brisbane but a prominent sports psychologist believes there is clear way forward for the players.

Craig O'Donoghue

Matthew Johnson feels the pain of defeat.

AFLVideoPremiumWill live with it forever: Matthew Johnson’s raw admission

The pain of Fremantle’s grand final loss to Brisbane is still raw, but midfielder Matthew Johnson knows it will never go away and he’ll spend his life wondering what might have been.

Craig O'Donoghue

Four minutes turned the grand final.

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exclusive
AFLVideoPremium
exclusive
The inside story on four minutes of grand final mayhem

How did Fremantle lose the grand final when they led by 17 points with just over four minutes left? We asked players and coaches what they saw and what they did during an extraordinary finish.

Craig O'Donoghue

The Lions changed their plans when Alex Pearce got injured.

AFLVideoPremiumWhat Lions forwards planned after Alex Pearce’s injury

Fremantle captain Alex Pearce’s Achilles injury transformed the grand final because it left the Dockers vulnerable in defence, and Lions star Logan Morris said the key forwards quickly came up with a new plan.

Craig O'Donoghue

Corey Wagner with his son after the game.

AFLVideoPremiumDidn’t handle the massive moments: Dockers’ frank admission

Fremantle are reeling following their grand final loss to Brisbane and Corey Wagner knows they will forever look back on the last four minutes with a horrible sense of regret.

Craig O'Donoghue

Ryan Lester forced Josh Treacy to make an error.

AFLVideoPremiumTackle hero: What Lester thought as Treacy charged at goal

Josh Treacy was perfectly placed to slam through a goal and lift Fremantle closer to a premiership until Ryan Lester turned himself into a Brisbane hero. Here’s what Lester decided when Treacy won the ball.

Craig O'Donoghue

Devastated Fremantle players and staff were in tears in the bowels of the MCG.

AFLPremiumTears flow as Dockers’ premiership dream ripped away

Devastated Fremantle players and staff were in tears in the bowels of the MCG as they struggled to come to terms with how they lost an AFL grand final despite being 17 points up with four minutes remaining.

Craig O'Donoghue

Sam Switkowski has played his last game.

AFLPremiumFooty can can be cruel like that: Switta’s painful farewell

The grand final was always going to be Sam Switkowki’s last AFL game because he’d already announced his retirement, so imagine how he was feeling knowing that he’ll never get a chance to seek redemption.

Craig O'Donoghue

Dockers players look on after their defeat.

AFLVideoHEARTBREAKER: Dockers go down in agonising fashion

It’s total and utter heartbreak for Fremantle, who tossed away a 17-point lead with just four minutes remaining to lose in unbelievable fashion.

Craig O'Donoghue

Nat Fyfe

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AFLVideo
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Fyfe to do pre-game lap of honour at grand final

Fremantle fans will get to see Nat Fyfe up close at the MCG on grand final day with the Dockers hero preparing to take part in a lap of honour before his team chases premiership glory.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle are one win away from glory.

opinion
opinion
AFLVideoPremium
opinion
Immortality awaits, but don’t forget those who remain human

Fremantle are one win away from creating history and erasing decades of pain. But we should never forget what the former players, and those who missed out this year, have done along the way.

Craig O'Donoghue