League Leaders Sydney Fall to Fremantle in Classic Match

The Fremantle Dockers went into the SCG as heavy underdogs against the league leaders and home side Swans. They held Sydney in check for much of the match and did just enough to come away with a victory, by way of a 99-98 final score.  

Dockers Come Out Swinging in Sydney 

The Fremantle Dockers have been a solid team the whole AFL season. They have been a staple of the top-eight and cannot be written off against any opponent. However, coming up against the one loss Sydney Swans at the Sydney Cricket Ground, they were heavy underdogs.  
 
The Dockers quickly illustrated that they were ready to seize the moment as they came out attacking the Swans from the start.  
 
Just one minute in Jye Amiss gave Fremantle a 6-0 lead from a set shot. Not long after, it was another major for Fremantle as this time Sam Sturt was the man to send the Sherrin through.  
 
A James Rowbottom behind got the Swans on the board but Fremantle didn’t let up as Luke Jackson put through another goal to give them an 18-1 lead. Jackson then found a behind to stretch the lead further.  
 
Sydney mounted a mid-quarter comeback as Hayden McLean and Sam Wicks both scored goals accompanied by a pair of behinds for the Swans. 
 
Fremantle dealt with the pushback brilliantly ending the half with four unanswered goals, countered only by a pair of behinds for Sydney. The Dockers held a commanding 44-17 lead. 
 
The second quarter was a much slower, low scoring affair. The two sides battled in the midfield with both defensive lines holding sturdy. 10 minutes in, Caleb Serong found the quarters first goal for Fremantle.  
 
The Swans quickly answered with a pair of their own to get within 20 points. After the two sides traded a few behinds, Jye Amiss found his second goal of the match in the last minutes of the half to give Fremantle a 59-32 lead.  

Swans Mount Second Half Comeback 

The match opened up in the third quarter with goals coming often for each side. It was Sydney who started off on the front foot with a behind followed by a goal from Tom Papley. 
 
This was quickly countered by Sam Sturt who found his third of the match and not long after Jaeger O’Meara put through one of his own. Hayden McLean scored his second of the match next for the Swans. 
 
Then, between the 15 and 27 minute marks in the quarter, the two sides went back and forth with three goals apiece in what was thrilling action.  
 
Sydney ended the quarter on the front foot however, putting through two more goals and two behinds to move within 12. 
 
A behind and a Michael Frederick goal for Fremantle stretched the lead to 19 after the opening 10 minutes of the frame.  
 
Then came the Swans. Will Hayward blasted home his third of the match followed shortly by Nick Blakey finding his first to cut the lead to seven.  
 
After a Dockers behind followed by a pair for Sydney, they were just one major behind. With just over five minutes to play, Logan McDonald found the equalizer.  
 
Fremantle would take the lead back off a pair of behinds. Sydney scored a behind of their own to get within one and had an opportunity to tie or win the game with no time remaining on the clock.  
 
It was McDonald with the chance as he marked just inside the 50m line with 20 seconds to play. By the time he kicked, the clock read zero. He put his boot through the ball but was unable to muscle it far enough as it fell short and wide as Fremantle took the win 99-98.  

It was a massive win for Fremantle at the SCG over the weekend against flag favourites Sydney. The Dockers played the best game of their season to end the Swans 10 match winning streak and move themselves into the top three on the ladder.