Fremantle Dockers no match for Sydney Swans as pressure overwhelms Justin Longmuir’s men

Fremantle have been given a lesson in high pressure, top line footy as ladder leaders Sydney produced a master class during their 48-point victory at Optus Stadium.

The Swans won 13.9 (87) to 4.15 (39) on a night where the Dockers paid a high price for inaccuracy ,but this was a win set up by overwhelming pressure.

This was always going to be a big test for the much improved Dockers, especially after learning of former teammate Cam McCarthy’s death on the morning of the match.

They attempted to play with the manic style of handballing they displayed early against the Western Bulldogs. But when the Dockers beat the Dogs, they used handball to get clear of congestion and then find a player in space who could surge the ball forward.

Sydney never allowed that to happen. Instead, the Swans hunted the ball carrier and never allowed Fremantle to get the ball into space.

The way the Swans locked up Nat Fyfe in the first quarter was the perfect example of how they played.

Isaac Heeney, Errol Gulden and James Rowbottom all wrapped up Fyfe in tackles and all won free kicks for holding the ball during an incredible nine-minutes. When Fyfe can’t get clear, you know the pressure is intense.

Fremantle had 61 handballs and 47 kicks for the quarter but plenty of those handpasses were defensive moments to get out of pressure instead of using the ball to set up someone else.

The tackle count was only 17-16 Sydney’s way, but the Swans’ tackling had an extra sting.

Despite the intensity from the Swans, Fremantle only trailed by seven points at quarter time and had their chances to kick goals but booted 1.5.

They needed to start the second quarter well to find some confidence but Sydney refused to give them any space.

Pressure forced Alex Pearce into an error in the opening minute, Chad Warner then showed off his power and sidestep to kick a goal after only 40 seconds.

That started a second term where the Swans kicked six goals to none.

Joel Amartey took a contested mark and kicked truly. A horrible Fyfe kick resulted in a turnover and Pearce then gave away a free kick to Amartey for another goal.

Jordan Clark thought he’d reversed the pressure trend when he caught Justin McInerney in a tackle and the umpire called holding the ball. But Clark kicked the footy straight to Errol Gulden, the Swans charged forward and Warner kicked another.

That was Clark’s first kick for the night. He’d been blanketed by James Jordan and couldn’t get involved to link up off half-back.

Sydney took away all of Fremantle’s strengths and then made them pay on the rebound.

By half-time, they led by 40 points. Fremantle’s horrid goalkicking meant they were further behind than they could have been. And that inaccuracy continued during the third term as they kicked 1.5 and two out of bounds on the full.

The stats indicated that game was relatively even in several key areas. But the game isn’t won by stats.

Bad kicking is bad football, pressure creates diamonds and the Swans are a bloody good team.