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AFL live scores: Fremantle Dockers take on Sydney Swans in blockbuster top-of-the-table clash

Mid-season clashes don’t get bigger than this as ladder-leading Fremantle host second-placed Sydney in front of a sellout Optus Stadium. Who could land a pre-finals blow? Follow all the action live!

Headshot of Jake Santa Maria
Jake Santa Maria
The West Australian
Tom Papley of the Swans celebrates a goal.
Tom Papley of the Swans celebrates a goal. Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Mid-season clashes don’t get bigger than this as ladder-leading Fremantle host second-placed Sydney in front of a sellout Optus Stadium.

The Dockers are hoping to rebound from a shock loss to GWS but will be without Hayden Young and Sean Darcy, who is being managed, with Mason Cox to return.

Sydney are hoping to get back on even keel with Fremantle and potentially take top spot, currently sitting four points and percentage behind them.

Follow all the action live!

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Jake Santa Maria is reporting live.

Umpires gift Swans a goal

Swans pressure rating is at 235 and the Dockers are not far behind with Sydney already up to 20 tackles.

Chad Warner misses a snap from 25m and Luke Ryan lets him know about it.

But he’s apparently too overzealous giving Warner a head rub which you can’t do as Curnow gets a free kick on the goal line.

He doesn’t miss from there.

SYD 2.6 (18) FRE 0.5 (5)

Bolton misses another

O’Meara stands up in the tackle and feeds it out to Murphy Reid who nails the kick inside to hit up Bolton on the lead.

Reid’s kick was brilliant but Bolton’s is not as he misses far right as it sneaks through for a behind.

Kane Cornes beleives the taping on his hand is effecting his ball drop.

He’s only kicked one goal since round 11.

Curnow misses a chance

Swans have burned a few chances here kicking 1.4 from their six inside 50s as the Dockers just can’t transition the ball out of defence.

A rare forway forward sees Amiss burn his man and pass off to Bolton but he misses on the run left.

SYD 1.4 (10) FRE 0.2 (2)

Swans start hot

Voss with a horror turn over at half back as he misses the kick off a free as the Swans hit up Chad Warner who juggles the mark.

Boos rings out as he lines up from 48m and misses right.

Still Swans getting the better of the opening exchanges with 81 per cent of the ball in their forward half.

Voss gets stuck into Blakey

He gives away a free kick after flattening the Swan off the ball.

Swans go up the wing, and Alex Pearce’s intercept mark is spoiled and it falls to Heeney who weights a kick perfectly out the back to Tom Papley who’s back for his first game in six weeks.

He converts an early goal from close range.

SYD 1.1 (7) FRE 0.0 (0)

Here we go

James Jordon starts on Serong.

Swans get the opening clearance and Jake Lloyd has a snap but it falls short and its rushed behind by Alex Pearce.

Dockers Starlight game

Tonight will mark the 24th annual Starlight Purple Haze Game, which raises funds for the Starlight Children’s Foundation.’

Since its inception in 2003, the special event has raised more than $3.6 million for the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

This year fans can make a pledge of any dollar amount for each goal Fremantle kicks during the game.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Fans show support for their team and Starlight Foundation during the 2026 AFL Round 18 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium on July 9, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Fans show support for their team and Starlight Foundation during the 2026 AFL Round 18 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium on July 9, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

A budding bromance

BT getting a sneak peak at Pat Voss

Longmuir explains Darcy call

“Sean’s just got a bit of a bung knee, so we don’t want to stress it out,” he says on 7.

Darcy has only been back for two games but short six and five day breaks see the Dockers be uber cautious with the ruck.

He also reveals Corey Wagner picked up a calf injury at main training, which scuppered his chances of a recall.

Justin Longmuir wants his midfield to lift

“It was probably our worst performance for two or three years [last week], it’s what happens when you don’t play to our system and for each other,” he says.

“I’ve got plans for both Heeney and Warner, Matthew Johnson has done that role for us in the past so he’s a chance.

“Our contest work has been a little bit off, which is usually a strength for us, so our mids need to get going.”

“We won’t be holding anything back tonight; Brennan Cox has been playing on the key closer to goal; if he drifts higher, he’ll hand over to Pearcy.”

“Our contest work needs to get back to what it was two or three weeks ago, effort and putting pressure on; that’s where our game starts.

“It’s always important you want to perform in these games, and clearly Sydney are nipping at our heels, and we want to be at our best.”

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