AFL finals: Recap Fremantle Dockers’ preliminary final win over Sydney at SCG

A glimpse of the real Dockers has shone through after forcing a forward-half turnover.

After winning the ball back they produced a slick chain of handballs involving Bolton and Serong before finding Amiss on the lead.

The forward was on an acute angle and misses his second set shot of the quarter to the right.

SYD 30, FRE 15

The Dockers have a few issues and they are ones that have plagued them at times in 2026.

Mostly, it’s their inside 50s that are hurting. They are only three behind but have six less scoring shots.

They are not even kicking at the right targets at the moment.

Gulden has had a bit of the footy for the Swans but the Dockers have done well to make sure no one is getting away from them early.

Young and Brayshaw are racking up numbers and Serong is the only player on the field with multiple clearances.

The Swans have plans for the Dockers are they are working a treat at the moment.

They have blocked the corridor completley and the Dockers are not finding up the line targets.

It does not help that Murphy Reid is going at zero by foot. And the Dockers now have a 6-6-6 warning.

SYD 27, FRE 13

The Dockers’ inside 50s have been awful.

They are sending the ball in long but the small ground means the Swans don’t have to close space so they are always close to the pack.

At the other end, the Swans are changing the angles and Logan McDonald gets his first.

SYD 20, FRE 13

Papley gets his hands on the footy inside 50 and he has a major.

Both teams are looking to play an attacking brand and we are getting a very early shootout.

McVee is looking nervy off halfback but Clark is the opposite.

The Dockers need to escape through him each time.

However, they need to find a way to quiet Papley as they give him a free kick at stoppage and he gives the Swans the lead despite missing to the right.

SYD 14, FRE 13

Jackson slots a second and gives it to the Swans fans.

He then finds a few players to tell about his goal as the Freo chants ring around the SCG.

The Dockers fans have travelled in force!

SYD 1, FRE 13

Erasmus has given the Dockers first blood.

The visitor’s pressure has started well and it boxes the Swans in.

Erasmus gets a shot from the boundary and bends it through off the left to perfection.

SYD 0, FRE 7

Jackson down to Serong and the Dockers are away first.

The ball doesn’t find a target but comes back out to where Clark was waiting.

Papley was putting some body into him before the bounce and the long shot would have been the perfect response but he missed.

SYD 0, FRE 1

Rampe wins the toss but the Dockers won’t care which end they kick to.

A fast start is a must here. The Swans got a hold of the Lions early and never let go in the qualifying final.

The players are lined up for the anthems and then we will get the preliminary final underway!