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
Sport. AFL. Fremantle Dockers v Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium in Perth. Docker Josh Treacy celebrates kicking a goal.
Sport. AFL. Fremantle Dockers v Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium in Perth. Docker Josh Treacy celebrates kicking a goal. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

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!

End of Q1 SYD 3.6 (24) FRE 0.5 (5)

And breathe..

And absolutely breathless first quarter sees the Swans leading by 19 points after Matthew Johnson’s effort after the siren falls well short.

Fremantle held goalless in a first quarter for the first time this year as the Swans probably should be further in front but missed some chances.

There have been some interesting umpiring calls which have gone down like a bag of sick with the crowd.

Swans do lead the free kick count 8-4 but the Dockers just haven’t been able to handle the Sydney pressure so far.

Papley had six touches three score involvements and a goal in a huge first quarter while James Rowbottom is up to 11 touches.

Swans with the first three

Jye Amiss from the goal sqaure is somehow spoiled and then his penalsied for a holding free before hand.

Swans go end to end with Tom Papley involved once again to add to his mega quarter.

He lowers the eyes to find Rowbottom who goes to Tom Hanily who converts from 40m out.

SYD 3.6 (24) FRE 0.5 (5)

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

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