Fremantle players would have felt like it was Groundhog Day on Friday morning when they headed to Perth airport - but at least there was a happy ending.
The Dockers' preparations for Saturday's AFL qualifying final against the Swans at ANZ Stadium were thrown into disarray on Thursday after their 4pm flight to Sydney was cancelled.
Fremantle players spent two hours on the tarmac before being told to disembark after one of the plane's three critical computers failed.
The team's flight was rescheduled for 10am on Friday morning, ruining Fremantle's plans to arrive in Sydney two days before the game.
Players were in good spirits as they arrived at Perth airport on Friday morning, and their flight took off at 9.58am - two minutes earlier than expected.
Football operations manager Chris Bond said it was business as usual despite Thursday's flight drama.
"Once they realised the details of what happened, they grabbed their bags, got a good night's sleep, had a home-cooked meal, and were back here this morning," Bond said before boarding the rescheduled flight.
"We don't think it will affect (our preparations) at all.
"There'll be good recovery when we get off the plane, and also again tonight.
"We'll go have a look at the ground tomorrow morning for the usual walk and stretch.
"It's against the norm of what we do, but that won't be an excuse from our end.
"Tomorrow afternoon we'll be ready to go no matter what the situation."
Fremantle held their main training session in Perth on Thursday morning, but the flight drama forced them to move their walk-through session at ANZ Stadium from Friday to Saturday.
Bond said the sports science team, led by Jason Weber, had spoken to the players about what they needed to do in order to get themselves primed for game day.
"A lot of it is about hydration," Bond said.
"They're a very professional, experienced group. We've been doing this a long time.
"We've got a history of playing some big games interstate. We've got no doubt the boys are fully prepared.
"They'll be hydrated, they'll be well fed, so that won't be a problem."
