The Sydney Swans went down to Fremantle by 25 points at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night
FREMANTLE has qualified for its first Grand Final with a comprehensive 25-point victory over the reigning premiers the Sydney Swans.
The Dockers produced the most extraordinary display of team pressure to suffocate the Swans and win 14.15 (99) to 11.8 (74) in front of 43,249 fans, the second biggest crowd Fremantle has hosted at Patersons Stadium.
The deficit stood at 54 points midway through the last quarter before the Swans massaged the margin by kicking six of the last seven goals.
Nathan Fyfe and David Mundy were both outstanding contributors for the Dockers, while Michael Walters was electric up forward with three goals and a spectacular mark.
The Swans' All Australian midfielders were shut out of the game. Ryan Crowley dominated Kieren Jack, keeping him to just 11 disposals. Josh Kennedy and Jarrad McVeigh worked hard but could not find the space and time to have a significant influence.
The Dockers set the game up with a devastating opening half.
The home side dominated the opening term but could not capitalise on their multitude of opportunities and inside 50s, kicking 2.9 for the quarter.
The Dockers had 10 more entries and eight more scores but only managed an eight-point lead after missing six of eight set shots.
Meanwhile, the Swans remained in touch courtesy of two brilliant snaps from Lewis Jetta and Harry Cunningham.
But the dam wall broke in the second term and Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich led the charge. He nailed his second goal from a set shot in the opening minutes of the quarter that led to an unbroken five-goal burst to blow the margin out to 31 points at half-time.
The Swans were swamped by an avalanche of Fremantle pressure. They failed to register a possession inside attacking 50 for the first 27 minutes of the second term as they were pinned deeper and deeper in defence.
Their half-time score of 2.2 (14) was the club's lowest score at the main break in a final.
The Swans responded in the third term but, like the Dockers in the first, they couldn't capitalise on their momentum. Jude Bolton kicked a goal with his first kick of his 325th and last match. Gary Rohan was subbed in for Craig Bird and he had an immediate impact with a goal.
But two pieces of individual brilliance from Walters - firstly a quick crumb and snap and then a high-flying mark and goal - kept the Swans at arm's length.
Matt de Boer was subbed out in his 100th match for Lachie Neale, who came on and kicked a goal immediately before Fyfe added his second to extend the margin to 43 points at the last change.
The last term was about injury management for Fremantle. Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson both nursed calf problems throughout and Danyle Pearce copped a late knock.
The Dockers will now prepare for the biggest game in their 19-year history: an inaugural Grand Final appearance, where they will face a Hawks outfit that has clearly been the league's benchmark in 2013.
A late addition to the 2026 squad, signing as a replacement player for the AFLW season. Another QBE Sydney Swans Academy graduate and former AFL National Academy representative, Em featured in eight VFLW games for the Box Hill Hawks last season after spending three years representing the Academy in the Coates Talent League. Emma has a steely mindset and a genuine desire to learn, which will hold her in good stead for 2026. Emma and her family sat down with the Sydney Swans media team for an intimate sit down interview to share just what it means to wear a Sydney Swans Guernsey.
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