The Sydney Swans continued their winning ways with an absolute thumping of an insipid Fremantle Dockers to the tune of 104 points at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Swans were in peak form and in a tight season where percentage is everything, Sydney’s effort counted big league towards cementing a home final. With a dozen separate goal-scorers, the Swans are performing at the right time of the season. Lance Franklin kicked 4 goals, Luke Parker added 3 with doubles to Sam Reid, Kurt Tippett, Gary Rohan, Will Hayward and Tom Papley. There wasn’t much shown by the Dockers with Cam McCarthy kicking 2 goals and Nat Fyfe getting 28 disposals in an otherwise forgettable night.
Swans defender Lewis Melican Photo: Jodie Newell
Sydney turned on a football clinic as they treated the Fremantle Dockers players as if they were witches hats at training. The Swans jumped out of the blocks quickly and posted eight goals to one in the first quarter and never looked troubled in the first half.
All tied up. A great example of the pressure the Swans put on the Freo team. Photo: Jodie Newell
It was a really poor effort on behalf of Fremantle. They scored only 1 goal for the entire first half of the game and it was one of the most ordinary performances witnessed at the SCG in quite some time. Taking nothing away from the Swans, they maintained their pressure around the contest, their defense gave nothing away to the Fremantle forwards and the Swans offense posted scoreboard pressure when the opportunities arose.
Excellent crowds are turning up to Swans games. 39,281 were there on Saturday. Photo: Jodie Newell
Luke Parker was easily Sydney’s best player. He amassed 29 disposals and kicked three goals. He was ably assisted by Dan Hannebery who also picked up 29 disposals. In the defense Dane Rampe was the pick with 25 disposals and repelled any push forward from Fremantle.
Dane Rampe was the pick of the Sydney defense. Photo: Jodie Newell
The second half was a little better from the Dockers. They kicked 4 more goals and at least tried to lift, but overall it was an insipid performance. Nat Fyfe continued to show the form that won him a Brownlow medal in season 2015. He never gave up and kept running all day.Stephen Hill deserved a mention, as he gained 21 disposals and laid 7 tackles, but he was one of the very few who contributed to the Fremantle effort.
Happy scenes in the race but onfield it was another story for the Fremantle football team & Nat Fyfe. Photo: Jodie Newell
Sydney Coach John Longmire was reasonably pleased with his sides effort despite a minor fade in the third quarter which allowed Fremantle the opportunity to post several goals, but overall he couldn’t complain stating “We finished off incredibly strongly”. Ross Lyon thought Sydney were too good and despite his side’s poor showing he thought his team never stopped trying “We just didn’t totally surrender”. Sydney (12-8) are now 5th on the AFL ladder. They next play Adelaide away on Friday night. The Dockers (8-12) are currently 14th on the table and face Richmond at home next Sunday.
“We just didn’t totally surrender” Fremantle coach Ross Lyon. Photo: Jodie Newell
SYDNEY 8.2 13.6 17.7 22.11 (143)
FREMANTLE 1.1 1.3 4.5 5.9 (39)
GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 4, Parker 3, Reid 2, Rohan 2, Tippett 2, Hayward 2, Papley 2, Heeney, Sinclair, Jack, Jones, McVeigh
Fremantle: McCarthy 2, Taberner, Mundy, DeLuca
BEST
Sydney: Parker, Rampe, Franklin
Fremantle: Fyfe, Hill, Darcy,
INJURIES
Sydney: Nic Newman – knee
Fremantle: –
Reports: –
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Brendan Hosking, Brent Wallace
Official crowd: 39,281 at the SCG
