Fremantle has overcame a major scare to beat Sydney by 14 points in their Anzac Day AFL clash at Domain Stadium.
The Dockers were on track for a big victory after opening up a 57-9 lead by halftime in front of 39,009 fans.
But seven unanswered goals from the Swans closed the margin to just three points midway through the final term, ensuring for a frantic finish.
A clutch goal from Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich at the 15-minute mark of the final term settled his team’s nerves.
And the 11.8 (74) to 8.12 (60) victory was complete when an intercept from Garrick Ibbotson set up Chris Mayne for the match-sealing goal with just 58 seconds remaining.
Dockers midfielder Nat Fyfe was influential with 27 possessions, eight clearances, and a goal, with his high-flying mark in the final quarter another highlight.
Pavlich shook off an early head knock to finish with three goals.
Sydney swingman Sam Reid (22 disposals, 11 marks) was influential in his side’s fightback.
Swans forward Lance Franklin booted 2.2 from 15 disposals in an intriguing battle with Luke McPharlin.
Fellow forward Isaac Heeney was subbed off in the third quarter with an ankle injury.
The win was the first time in Fremantle’s history they’ve started the season with four straight wins.
Fremantle kicked 11 unanswered goals to start last week’s western derby, and they produced yet another early dominant display against the Swans.
With Aaron Sandilands controlling the ruck battle and Fyfe tallying clearances at will, Fremantle slammed through the first three goals of the match – and it could have been five if not for two posters.
It took Sydney 22 minutes to register their first score of the night – a goal to Franklin after he took a one-handed contested mark.
But that proved to be a mere blip on Fremantle’s radar, with the lead ballooning to 48 points by half-time.
Fyfe had six clearances by the break, but Fremantle’s midfield went cold in the third term as Sydney made their charge.
The Swans won the inside-50m count 17-4 during the quarter, but their wayward return of 4.5 meant they still trailed by 20 points at the final change.
Substitute Gary Rohan closed that gap to 14 points with a goal on the burst early in the last quarter, and the margin was just three when Kurt Tippett and Jake Lloyd nailed goals.
But a 40m set shot from Pavlich proved to be decisive, with Sydney only able to score three behinds from that point on.
Don Freo
Guest
Oh...good grief!!!!
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Move on Don
Don Freo
Guest
Peter I left this more than 24 hours ago. You revived it. You need to move on. Is your halo slipping or something? Good grief!!! Read other stuff. I'm not interested in every second message filled with you having a cry.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
I've got a life Don. I assume you do to, go and live it. Move on.
Don Freo
Guest
The last comment I made on this thread was yesterday...I see you edited your initial comment, no doubt aware that you are clinging tenaciously to all this, knowing you can always have edited whatever it is you don't want to hear from me. I suspect your revisiting of this indicates you haven't correctly identified who it is that needs to move on. I, on the other hand, have made many comments about football over the course of last night and today. You've been away for a while...but your tone on your return suggests that something has changed.
Natalie Swansfan
Guest
"that they didn’t deserve to win is ludicrous" 13th man, I didn't actually say this. Everyone deserves to win every game. Other wise, what is the point of it all. You don't go out there fighting to lose do you. "Should have won" and "deserved to win" (which I did not write) are two very different things champ.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
It is very much my business because it is my post, and my part of the thread that you chose to comment on. The fact that you can't move on speak wonders.
Don Freo
Guest
If that's the case (that you want to talk footy), stop coming back with this rubbish, like some pontiff. It is presumptuous and it is rude...and it is certainly not talking footy. Finally, it is none of your business and you have the wrong end of the stick. Your comments are more about trying to cultivate a persona of some kind of magnanimous, equivocal guru than anything else...or you would have let it go after reading other comments. Your comments are, however, self-interested.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Don, I am here to talk footy. Any time anyone wants to talk footy, that's what it's all about. I am also not going to stand by and watch someone, emotionally charged, sniper peoples comments, simply because they are not reading what they want to hear.
13th man
Guest
The free kicks were there for sure. The umps were consistent you got free kicks as well, they just happened to be further down the field. I don't care if the umpiring is soft, wrong etc. I only care if it is consistent which it was as you guys got your fair share of soft decisions as well in the second half. As I have said before, it evens out! Yes in that third term the Swans outplayed us, yeah fine. Maybe one goal review should have gone your way but another one should have come our way. The fact is Freo were the better team for the majority of the game and to say that they didn't deserve to win is ludicrous, they were for the most part, the better team! Stop being a sour grape Nat, you lost!
Don Freo
Guest
Here you go, Peter. This is where Eddy invited personal response.
Don Freo
Guest
That bloke looking at Johnson's leg would be the video review umpire, right Peter? Try telling me, Peter, why Sydney fans are talking about this. Why don't they discuss how they got to their half time circumstance? The closest you guys get is "neither side played well". Freo is a side that Sydney Roarers had sliding and too old. There is not one post here remarking on Freo's amazing start to the year despite a really challenging draw. Port, Sydney, Cats in Geelong... Rather, spectators telling other spectators...and a video ump...how to watch TV! Don't expect us to embrace such a lack of grace.
Don Freo
Guest
So Peter. You have returned to the site as some kind of self appointed moral arbiter? We can do without that. You'd be better off disappearing. Nothing worse than someone on a footy site not wanting to talk footy. What a disappointment. I remember enjoyable chats with you last year. Ah well...I don't need some young fella telling me how I should respond to someone who puts me down.. Lift your game.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Don, there is no need to chime in on every single comment like a sniper. If you keep those remarks to those parts of the thread it makes for a more enjoyable read. EddyJ has responded to my post with a fair comment. I've read the whole thread and it would appear you are unhappy with people that don't see things from your perspective. I like reading your posts most of the time but when you get disgruntled, you can take things too far. If I come across holier than thou, apologies. There is no tone in text.
Don Freo
Guest
About as necessary as your 'holier than thou' buy in. If you trace the comments back, you'll see my comments are in response to abuse by Eddy and Rick ( who was moderated). If these guys actually believe that Sydney's loss was more impressive than Freo's win, they can expect a challenge. To respond to such a challenge with personal put downs needs, in itself, to be challenged. They have earned thewrath of my keypad. I'll continue to converse in my usual pro-Freo good humour with those who are not so unpleasant. Let's hope you fall into the right category.
Natalie Swansfan
Guest
That's your reality, not mine. In my opinion, which is a line you like to trot out, I thought the 19-10 free kick count in the first half dramatically shaped the game. When the tide turned in the second half, Freo lost all momentum and my Swannies closed an unthinkable 48 point margin to 3 points.....a couple awful goal reviews ruined their chances of applying even more pressure....scoreboard pressure. I chose not to touch on either sides actual performance (which you might have taken away from my post if you read it properly). Most people on here have done that already.
Natalie Swansfan
Guest
Lovely to meet you Peter, your boys are gorgeous!! If they grow up to be as level headed as you, then you've done a great job.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Why be so antagonistic Don. It's unnecessary. Eddy, if Freo can stay injury free and if Ross can get them playing an even more attacking brand of footy, then we might just see it unfold.
13th Man
Guest
"Sydney massacred Fremantle in the third quarter" Yes true but Freo massacred Swans in the first half! Not much to worry about, just a momentum swing, it happens, if your 1 or 2 % off your game against a good team like Sydney you will get destroyed. Sydney were always going to come, Longmire would've given em a bake at half time and they came out fired up, Freo were a bit lazy but what impressed me was that when challenged in the last term, they stood up and wrestled back momentum and kicked away again! The Freo of old would've let Swans run over them. This is exciting for Freo and i feel they are in a very good place!
13th Man
Guest
And I didn't say that, Tippett's should have been a goal, i am not disputing that. I am disputing the point of view that Natalie has that says Swans were robbed by the umpires and deserved to win the game. Freo played better for longer.