The Sydney Swans came away with a massive victory against the Fremantle Dockers on Sunday, who fell well short of celebrating Matthew Pavlich’s 350th game with any kind of win.
» Click here to read our full match report
Final score
Fremantle 7.5.47
Sydney 21.11.137
The Fremantle Dockers will play host to the Sydney Swans this afternoon, as they look to snap a four game losing streak. Join The Roar from 3:20pm (AEST) for all the live highlights and action.
Read more:
» AFL talking points from Round 19
» NRL talking points from the weekend
» The Wrap: Super Rugby semi-finals
Sydney are in the midst of one of the tightest top eight battles in recent memory, with just one game separating the second placed Greater Western Sydney Giants and the eighth placed North Melbourne Kangaroos.
On the other hand Fremantle are three quarters of the way through one of the biggest turnarounds in recent memory, just not the good kind of turnaround.
Minor premiers in 2015, the Dockers have sunk this year, sitting two games off the wooden spoon with just three wins for the season.
Despite their very separate positions on the ladder, Freo have won their last two games against the Swans, although both of those were last year during the Dockers’ run at the top.
Just to add to that record, Freo have also won eight of the last ten against Sydney at home, with the Swans not tasting success at Subiaco since 2010.
Team News
Veteran Matthew Pavlich will play his 350th game in the AFL this week, coming back after being rested last week, Pavlich joins an elite group of just 14 others to have made the 350 mark in AFL history.
Also for Freo, Matt de Boer will get his third run of the season back in the side, as well as Alex Silvagni who gets his first game of 2016. The final inclusion for this week’s side is Darcy Tucker.
Nick Suban, John Griffin, Tendai Mzungu and Connor Blakely have all been omitted to make way for the aforementioned alterations to Ross Lyon’s side.
For the Swans, co-captain Jarrad McVeigh returns from a groin injury, passing his fitness test late in the week.
Toby Nankervis has also been brought into the side, replacing Callum Sinclair who will miss four weeks with a knee injury sustained in the Swans win over Carlton last week.
Jordan Foote is the final change, being dropped for McVeigh just one week after making his AFL debut.
Prediction
Sydney are pressing hard for September in a very tight top eight situation, while the Dockers scramble for pride and look towards next season.
Although at home, it will be very difficult for Freo to wrestle the might of Sydney’s high-scoring forward line.
Swans to win by 42
Don Freo
Guest
I think Zac Clarke, Chris Mayne and Alex Silvagni all boosted their trade value today. The Channel 7 team raved about Naismith but Naismith and Nankervis, combined, could not match Clarke for hitouts or marks. Clarke caned them for disposals. Silvagni totally neutralized Buddy. Mayne's contested marking was excellent.
anon
Guest
What a sad rabble the Dockers are. There is no plan coming out of half back. Either kick long to the boundary or kick backwards and try for a switch that never works. At some point people will have to ask whether Ross Lyon is the best man for the job (or whether he is even up to the task of coaching with a modern game plan). He's clearly lost the confidence of the players.
Connor Bennett
Editor
» Click here to read our AFL talking points from Round 19 » Click here to read our full match report The Roar's AFL MVP votes: 3 - Josh Kennedy - Huge game for Kennedy today, leading the game with a huge 45 disposals as well as three goals to his name. A game high 29 handballs, team high 23 contested possessions, team high 11 clearances and 6 inside 50's to top it off. He was all over the park today. 2 - Dan Hannebery - The 25-year old waltzed through the Freo midfield today, racking up 41 disposals, a game high 12 inside 50's, game high 24 kicks, 18 contested possessions., 10 clearances and even found time to sink a goal. 1 - David Mundy - The best of the losing bunch in a tight battle with Lachie Neale for the final point. A mammoth 44 disposals from Mundy guided Freo through what could be called a disappointing result to say the least. 24 contested possessions, 25 handballs, 19 kicks, 13 clearance and the one goal.
Connor Bennett
Editor
88 points to 27 in the second half for the Swans. A dominant display and a real percentage booster for them as they look to wrestle their way into prime position for the finals.
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME The final siren sounds and the pain ends for Freo who were just completely outclassed and outplayed across the whole park today. 90 points the final margin with the second half being the main chunk of damage for the Swans after a steady opening two quarters from both sides. Fremantle 7.5 (47) Sydney 21.11 (137)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Pavs last goal has all but denied the Swans a 100 point victory today with time running into the final 60 seconds. Fremantle 7.5 (47) Sydney 21.11 (137)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Dockers inside 50 now, a rare occurrence today, but they're opening up the Swans defence here. Sheridan with a chance at goal from 45 metres out, but he's given it off to Pavlich!! GOAL DOCKERS!! Wonderful piece of unselfishness from Sheridan to give that off. Pav gets his second of the quarter, nailing it straight through the middle and the home side have kicked the last two. Fremantle 7.5 (47) Sydney 21.11 (137)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Sydney take control of the pill in midfield, just slowing down the play and putting a stop to the brief Dockers counter attack. Both sides look very tired and probably happy to let the final few minutes just wind down. A couple of out of bounds and the players are beginning to walk everywhere. Fremantle 6.5 (41) Sydney 21.11 (137)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Scrappy contest in front of the Freo goal but they win a penalty and a free ticket out of the danger zone... for the time being. Fremantle 6.5 (41) Sydney 21.11 (137)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL DOCKERS!! Lachie Weller with a nice finish for Freo. A rare mistake up the back for Sydney and they just couldn't hold onto the loose ball. Weller does get his mitts on it, spinning out of one tackle before snapping off the right foot through the centre gate for a six pointer. A consolation goal if you've ever seen one. Fremantle 6.5 (41) Sydney 21.11 (137)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Very nervous ball across the face of goal from the Dockers back line with the Swans forever pressing in defence. Freo just working it from side to side searching for space before heading up the right flank and through the centre. Fremantle 5.5 (35) Sydney 21.11 (137)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL SWANS!! This is just opening for the Dockers (more than it already is). Isaac Heeney is left completely unmarked in front of goal without a defender in sight, kicking home his third of the quarter and fourth of the day. Easy as you like through the centre gate to take the lead over 100!! Fremantle 5.5 (35) Sydney 21.11 (137)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' MICK WALTERS WHAT A MARK!! That's easily the mark of the day, if not the round, if not a MOTY contender. Just flies above the pack, leaping off the shoulders of two defenders before crashing back down to earth with ball in hand. Fremantle 5.5 (35) Sydney 20.11 (131)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Still eight minutes to go here. Franklin picks up the loose ball outside the forward 50, looks around... but he's gone himself and scored!! GOAL SWANS!! Buddy sinks it from nearly 55 metres out there, just taking his time to find options before hitting it big off a one step run one... one step!! Gets the distance easy as well. Fremantle 5.5 (35) Sydney 20.11 (131)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Crozier and Tucker nearly run into each other as the later pumps the ball long inside 50, finding a set of Sydney hands on it's way through to the goals for a behind. Fremantle 5.5 (35) Sydney 19.11 (125)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL DOCKERS!! Freo hit straight back from the Heeney goal and it's 350 man Pavlich who sinks the six points to a standing ovation. Set shot from 40 metres out and a few yards right of centre, he drills it home to add to his already bulging career tally. The crowd are still up and cheering as the play starts back up on the centre bounce. Fremantle 5.3 (33) Sydney 19.11 (125)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL SWANS!! Isaac Heeney scores a near identical goal to his last one just a few minutes ago. Swans run through the midfield, nearly get caught in traffic but Heeney is the beneficiary of the last handball in space, takes a few steps to the edge of the 50 and hammers it home through the centre gate. Fremantle 4.3 (27) Sydney 19.11 (125)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' HUGE HIT!! Zac Dawson has absolutely nailed Lloyd with a very heavy bump. Lloyd is down and not moving. He looks to be concussed as the trainers attend to him. Dawson is on report for that one, collecting the head of Lloyd pretty flush with the shoulder. Fremantle 4.3 (27) Sydney 18.11 (119)
Scott Bennett
Guest
Swanies have a few behinds under the belt wouldn't have happened in the Plugger Lockett days
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL SWANS!! The goals just keep coming for Sydney. Towers wrestle through traffic and gets a hand ball off to Heeney. The later jogs up to the edge of 50 and fires it home with ease in the end from just left of centre. Fremantle 4.3 (27) Sydney 18.11 (119)