RECAP: Chad Warner returns to Perth as Fremantle Dockers host Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium
Fremantle host a desperate Sydney searching for their first win of the season, while the Dockers hope to bounce back from a disappointing season-opening loss.
The Swans are 0-2 after back-to-back home defeats to flag contenders Hawthorn and reigning premiers Brisbane, and won’t want to head into their round three bye winless.
In their first home game for 2025, Fremantle need to make a statement after a 78-point demolition by Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Star recruit Shai Bolton will make his club debut, while midfielder Neil Erasmus and tall forward Pat Voss have been recalled. Ruckman Liam Reidy and defender Karl Worner have been dropped, while Sam Switkowki (groin) is injured.
Top draftee Murphy Reid will also play his first game at Optus Stadium, after a show-stopping four-goal blitz against the Cats.
For Sydney, all eyes will be on superstar midfielder Chad Warner, as speculation continues over his future.
Follow all the action in our live blog.
Crowd count
Not even train delays, a Sunday afternoon timeslot and scorching heat could keep Fremantle fans from their club’s first home game of the season.
The official crowd count: 43 882.
THREE QUARTER TIME
We’re set for a thrilling finish at Optus Stadium, with Fremantle leading Sydney by just two points!
Who wins this one?
Aaaaaand...
Fremantle re-take the lead just two minutes later, as Bailey Banfield converts a superb set shot from just inside 50.
Swans in front
It’s the 24-minute mark of the third quarter and Sydney hit the front for the first time.
Tom Hanily is all my himself in the forward 50, with no Dockers defenders in sight.
He takes the easiest uncontested mark and converts. Swans by four.
Warning signs
Another goal for the Swans off the boot of Hayden McLean and they’re just one kick off the lead.
Sydney are dominating the clearance count, despite Luke Jackson keeping Brodie Grundy honest in the ruck.
But three straight behinds to follow the McLean goal has let Fremantle off in a big way.
Guess who?
Josh Treacy kicks another goal to break Sydney’s run - he’s got four already.
He kicked just one against Geelong last week but is having a massive impact for the Dockers today.
Swans surging
Sydney are not sitting down in this contest and have kicked the last two goals to trim the margin to just four points.
Hayden McLean kicked the first and Will Hayward the second.
Three for Josh T
Fremantle get the opening goal of the third term as Josh Treacy kicks his third.
The Dockers push their lead back out to 16 points.
HALF TIME
Fremantle lead by nine points at half time, after Sydney kicked three goals to their one to trim the margin back.
Jake Lloyd is still the leading ball-winner on the ground with 18 disposals, while Jaeger O’Meara, James Jordan and Nathan O’Driscoll have 17 each.
The Swans now lead the inside 50 count but only just, 29-28, but are dominated the clearances 22-13.
That is despite Luke Jackson and Brodie Grundy splitting the hit-outs with 14 each.
Trading blows
Chad Warner kicked Sydney’s third unanswered goals to trim the margin to just four points before Caleb Serong got a quick response.
Serong hasn’t been given an inch by James Jordon. The tagger has an equal game-high 17 disposals to Serong’s 10.
