Australian Football

Match Report

The scoreline suggests this match was a close contest, but Sydney were in control for most of the afternoon. The Swans led by 45 points halfway through the third quarter and looked to be heading for a percentage-boosting win, but to Fremantle’s credit they fought hard to reduce the margin to 17 at the final break. Dockers giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands was vital all day and finished with an incredible 55 hit-outs. Mark Seaby, who replaced an injured Shane Mumford, was no match for Sandilands in the ruck. Young Swans forward Sam Reid looked to prove he was worthy of his five-year contract, kicking three goals and proving to be a handful in the air for the Dockers’ defence. The bulk of questions directed to Fremantle coach Ross Lyon after the game didn’t focus on the game just played, but focused on the looming clash with Brisbane in round three. Former Dockers coach Mark Harvey is now an assistant with the Lions and there is still major tension between the two after Lyon took over from Harvey at Fremantle in controversial circumstances late in 2011.

GOALS:

Sydney: Reid, Jetta 3, Goodes 2, McVeigh, O'Keefe, Rohan, Malceski, Roberts-Thomson, McGlynn

Fremantle: Mayne 4, Crowley 2, Anthony, Sandilands, Pearce, Mzungu, Bradley, Johnson

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Sydney: Kennedy, McVeigh, Johnson, Roberts-Thomson, Reid, Bird

Fremantle: Sandilands, Mayne, De Boer, Pearce, Crowley


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Sydney: Jetta, Roberts-Thomson, Kennedy, Malceski, Goodes, McVeigh

Fremantle: Fyfe, Crowley, Mzungu, Barlow, Hill

COACHES COMMENTS
John Longmire(Syd): They're a really good team, they were going to come (back) at some point, but I thought our first half was really good, strong footy. Good teams come and when they came, we would've liked to hold them back a bit earlier, but eventually we were able to hold them out.

Ross Lyon (Fre): I tell you what, I'll think about it (facing Mark Harvey) and get back to you. To be honest, I'm really here to talk about the Swans. We didn't play with the discipline that we'd like today but to the group's credit they stuck at it.

Umpires: Nicholls, Jennings, Mollison