Sydney Swans superstar forward Lance Franklin has guided the Swans to a 59-point victory against the Dockers on Saturday night at the SCG, propelling them into the top four and back into Premiership contention.
Sydney jumped Geelong, Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, climbing from ninth to fourth, gaining eight percentage points.
The Swans defenders were superb all night, brilliantly lead by Jake Lloyd with career-high disposals (40 and nine rebound 50s) and Jarrad McVeigh, his highest disposal count since 2015 (31 and eight rebound 50s).
Fremantle, for the second time in a row against the Swans, kicked just one goal in the first half, as the Swans put seven on the board.
Franklin kicked his second goal of the match in the third quarter, to become the second player to kick more than 300 goals at two different clubs (Hawthorn and Sydney) after Tony Lockett (St Kilda and Sydney).
The 31-year-old may come under scrutiny for an accidental high elbow hit on Dockers defender Joel Hamling in the second quarter, forcing him from the ground with concussion.
It took Franklin two quarters to work his way into the match before he looked to be back at his ominous best, kicking a goal and taking five marks in the first half, before exploding to life in the third quarter.
Lance Franklin of the Swans (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Jake Lloyd was superb in his 100th match for the Swans in their eight-point victory against the Hawks at the MCG in Round 8, backing up against the Dockers.
The 24-year-old defender racked up 20 disposals to half-time, finishing the match in fine form with 41 disposals and a game-high 15 marks.
Second gamer Tom McCartin kicked his first senior goal mid-way through the third quarter, from a long shot by Franklin that dropped short near the goal square, before kicking his second late in the game.
Captain Josh Kennedy spent more time forward than normal, hitting the scoreboard with three goals in his 200th match for the Swans and setting up McCartin’s second goal.
Despite Fremantle’s possession and disposal in the first quarter, registering seven clearances and 14 inside 50s, they wasted the ball going forward, twice hitting the post.
Nat Fyfe, Lachie Neale and Nathan Wilson were in great touch early and collected a lot of the ball, but found it harder to as George Hewett and Harry Cunningham applied the clamps.
Swans defenders Jake Lloyd, Dane Rampe, Nick Smith and Heath Grundy collected nine intercept marks between them, with Fremantle failing to kick a goal for the first quarter.
Veteran Jarrad McVeigh was superb with ball in hand, the equal-highest disposal getter with Jake Lloyd with ten possessions, five marks and four rebound 50s.
Swans midfielder Isaac Heeney light up the Sydney sky with a screamer late in the first quarter, riding high over red-hot Dockers midfielder Lachie Neale.
The Swans were off the fast start early in the second quarter, with goals to Lloyd and Kennedy, before Walters mopped up from a Swans turnover – it would more than a quarter before Fremantle would kick their second goal.
It was all the Swans from then on, even with Fremantle playing their spare at the contest, the Swans rotating Jones and McVeigh as their loose in defence.
Fyfe willed himself into the contest and worked hard with Lachie Neale, but goals to Isaac Heeney and the returning superstar forward Lance Franklin, extended the Swans half-time lead to 33 points.
Fremantle’s fantastic Fyfe (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Franklin burst to life early in the third quarter with Hamling off the field, involved in almost every Swans forward thrust, and setting up Tom McCartin’s first goal in AFL football.
Despite Fremantle dominating the hit-outs 37-to-5 and clearances 23-to-12 (10-to-5 centre clearances), the Swans dominated possessions, with 52 more at three quarter time and six more inside 50s.
Walters kicked the third goal of the game for Fremantle just over a minute into the fourth quarter.
Swans midfielder Luke Parker kicked his first of the game and the Swans first of the last quarter, before an exceptional passage of play by McCartin saw his long range effort bounce into the post.
Tom Papley kicked his second before Langdon capitalised on a Swans turnover in defence.
The Swans ran out 59-points winners in the end, winning every quarter, including the last by 6-goals-to-5.
Next up?
The Swans are back on the road next week, travelling north to face the Lions and will look to make it five wins from five away games. The Lions are in good form and have competitive in their last month, despite three narrow losses.
Sydney 3.3 7.4 11.6 17.9 (111)
Fremantle 0.4 1.7 2.9 7.10 (52)
Injuries
Zak Jones suffered concussion in the fourth quarter.
Goals
Franklin 3, Kennedy 3, Papley 2, McCartin 2, Heeney, Sinclair, Hayward, Ronke, Parker, Lloyd, Hewett
Best
Lloyd, Franklin, McVeigh, Heeney, Kennedy, Parker, Cunningham, Mills
Don Freo
Guest
Those who criticize Ballas need to go to live games. The one thing he never does is 'go missing'. He puts on so much referred pressure. Games like last weekend are not an accurate representation. If the ball doesn't get down there, there is not much he can do but go and chase it...which is not what is required.. You complain about forward plans. When the kids went chasing, we lost our structure. That's why we need experience to maintain structure.
13th Man
Guest
Ballantyne is definitely worse than Matera. At least Brandon still gets involved when the ball isn't put on a platter for him. Ballantyne goes missing for long periods
Don Freo
Guest
Young? Matera is older than both Sheridan and Sutcliffe...and no better. Ballas is way better. Ross is OK to keep challenging Matera but, when some boys are back and fit, Brandon will be in trouble.
bryan
Guest
Connolly & Harvey? Were you at the same games as I was? I guess if exciting meant getting belted week after week by such (then) cellar dwellers as Melbourne. I remember after they dumped Connolly, we hoped for better with Harvey, because he "looked the part". After the next couple of games went the way of all the preceding ones one bloke joked:- " Losing is the new winning!" My answer was,"Nah, Harvey is the new Connolly!" Ross got us into a Grand Final, where we were beaten by the Hawks, (with Buddy) by 15 pts. Not bad for dour, defensive football. The next year,, the Swannies ( with Buddy) were massacred by the Hawks ( without Buddy) in the GF.
Jonboy
Guest
Apart from what you said about Cox, the rest is pure rubbish.
Jonboy
Guest
Giro is the obvious choice to replace Ballantyne and we need to give North a crack ideal replacement for Crowden.Don your well known for some very silly statements but to suggest Young and still improving Matera to go before old and slow H.B.is one of your silliest absolute crack up actually. Regardless i know Ross will not drop him that's fine, but it will fast track his return to Melbourne.
Don Freo
Guest
If Ballas made a tackle, he would have been penalised for holding. The opposition needs to have the ball to be tackled and the ball only got to half forward before it was repelled. McCarthy and Ballas were starved by the break down through Matera, Crowden, Cerra and Brayshaw. That happens but it is not a comment on the deep forwards. The only half forward who sustained his effort was Cox and he was instrumental in 3 direct goals and 2 points that should have been goals...plus hitting the post himself and scoring once.
Don Freo
Guest
North is not ready. He has not yet got the tempo of WAFL. You seem to forget what you have already said. Crowden will go out and the obvious replacement is Giro, not North. North is very classy but he needs some games. Matera is the real disappointment. It should be Matera, not Ballas, that makes way for Bennell soon.
Don Freo
Guest
No, it wouldn't. It just means he didn't pick him. He will, though. Giro is a very bright boy. He will stick to plans.
Jonboy
Guest
FREMANTLE did not make one tackle in the forward 50 in the fist half .Ballantyne did not apply one for the game .But two people on this site rave about his forward pressure. Ross being Lyon still excepts mediocrity.
Jonboy
Guest
Finally they are resting Crowden obvious replacement is Tom North although not on fire at Peel but the word is he is showing good signs and is very talented ,strong body .Ross did say he want/s to expose all the list to see what he has. In answer to Don Freo quote- just recently he said North is not ready yet , but he also said Brayshaw,,Cerra and Matera would not play round one they would have to ' earn three stripes at Peel' .
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Giro's almost a lock for this week I reckon. They obviously rate him, having got him into the pre-season games and he has a bit of dash, which Freo can use more of at the moment. Especially if Crowden is going out. His form at Peel should seal the deal, particularly the way he's hit the ground running after the injury interruption.
Jonboy
Guest
I have always admired Giro after his 27 disposals on Saturday. He can give us some real small forward presence that simply has not been there against quality opposition. This kid can play, and if Lyon does not bring him in this week it would make it obvious he want's to go back to Melbourne to coach..
Jonboy
Guest
Thanks for that, good news I did find that West comment hard to believe.
Don Freo
Guest
Remember, the West Australian is an Eagles newspaper. This is probably more reliable on afl.com “But a positive for Dockers fans was Bennell getting through about 70 minutes unscathed and showing some class in his second game since his latest calf setback in February. After spending the entire first quarter on the bench as planned, Bennell finished with eight disposals, six marks and a close-range goal. His aerial work was the highlight, with the former Suns star showing a strong pair of hands.” The other strange thing you have been doing is calling for Giro to play while he has been injured. Only a fortnight ago, I told you he had just started playing again after injury. You reckon I was just making that up. This, in the same article, “..It was Giro’s third game back from a medial strain and the South Australian has improved with every match, pushing his case to become Freo’s sixth debutant in 2018” Now that he has some games, he will get a chance.
Don Freo
Guest
Remember, the West Australian is an Eagles newspaper. This is probably more reliable on afl.com "But a positive for Dockers fans was Bennell getting through about 70 minutes unscathed and showing some class in his second game since his latest calf setback in February. After spending the entire first quarter on the bench as planned, Bennell finished with eight disposals, six marks and a close-range goal. His aerial work was the highlight, with the former Suns star showing a strong pair of hands." The other strange thing you have been doing is calling for Giro to play while he has been injured. Only a fortnight ago, I told you he had just started playing again after injury. You reckon I was just making that up. This, in the same article, "..It was Giro's third game back from a medial strain and the South Australian has improved with every match, pushing his case to become Freo's sixth debutant in 2018" Now that he has some games, he will get a chance.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
You can live (or not) on Carrington street and live (or not) in Fremantle. It goes all the way the through to (and actually starts in) Palmyra.
User
Roar Rookie
Yep its in east freo off canning hwy, past the Leo etc
13th Man
Guest
Up the Sharks!
13th Man
Guest
Yep I see your point Dalgety, we obviously do not have a Kennedy or a Darling or even a Lycett to be honest, but it has to start somewhere and yes i'm not saying it would be in anyway easy for Strnadica or whoever else might come in to take that role up forward but I think we need someone who at least creates a contest. We actually looked our best on Saturday when Sandi played at Full forward. If we want to try that a bit more we at least need another proper ruck/forward instead of forcing Fyfe to do it. I don't mind a bit of height and to be honest i'd be losing a reasonably tall player in Johnson anyway to bring Strnadica in so the actual height of the team doesn't change much and if anything we are slightly quicker not having Johnson anyway.