Fifteen minutes into the first quarter this game was as good as over, as the Swans jumped the Dockers with six quick goals and effectively tko’d any hopes of redemption the Dockers had left this season.
For the next three and a half quarters I continued to watch as this game came to its predictable conclusion – Sydney winning by five goals or thereabouts.
At the same time this game was playing on Channel 503 one of the games of the season was unfolding in Adelaide on Channel 504 as the Pies and the Power went toe to toe, as well as the Poms were trying to bowl out the Aussies as they did rain dances in Manchester on Channel 100, and Jonas and Tadej were plundering the hills of France in the final mountain stage of the Tour on Channel 104.
As far as sporting highlights go for a Saturday night, a Round 19 game between the 14th and 15th placed teams on the AFL ladder was probably at the bottom of my wish list, even though I support one of the teams playing.
I spent more time watching the little box in the bottom corner of my screen which was updating the scores from the thriller in the City of Churches rather than the game that was happening in front of me, checking my phone for weather updates from Old Trafford and switching to the coverage of the Tour during quarter breaks.
You Mongrels who didn’t have to watch the Channel 503 sideshow were lucky Mongrels, but such is the plight of the new writer on the scene for The Mongrel Punt, who attempt to cover every game every week without fear or favour (well except for a coffee).
Things to Ponder about the Dockers and the Swans
Fremantle don’t turn up until the Second Quarter
Fremantle effectively gave Sydney a five-goal head-start by not really turning up to the contest until the second quarter, by which stage the game was as good as over. The Dockers are not good enough to give any team a five-goal lead and expect to win – they are not Collingwood, not even close.
Sydney did to Fremantle what many have done this year and won the game in the first quarter, leaving the poor old Dockers to chase their tails for the rest of the game. It is the story of the Dockers’ year.
No team with such a home ground advantage, a solid foundation of loyal fans, and a talented playing list should be in the negative for the win/loss record at home – alas, the Dockers are in the red this year.
Yes, Freo have lost Sean Darcy to injury, but isn’t that why they recruited Luke Jackson from Melbourne to assist/cover Darcy? Caleb Serong and Sean Darcy aside, Jackson seems to epitomise the Dockers this year in that he has been ‘okay’ to ‘good’ but he hasn’t stood up as a match winner when the chips are down. Jackson tried hard and was by no means the Dockers’ worst player, but he didn’t lead the way for Serong, O’Meara, Brayshaw,and the youngsters coming through the midfield with a lot of his tap outs being sharked by the Swans’ on-ball brigade. Around the ground, he only broke even with the inexperienced Hayden McLean.
Jackson will prove to be a good long-term recruit for the Dockers, and I do look forward to the day he learns to tear a game apart, as he displays the same ‘X’ factor as his mentor, the great Max Gawn.
Matt Taberner is the cog missing in the Fremantle forward line and he seems to be the barometer of the Dockers fortunes. Even before he was injured this year, his form (and that of the Dockers) had only been a shadow of what he displayed last year. Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Sam Sturt are very impressive youngsters, and they all had their moments last night, but they need someone like Taberner to stand up and lead the way in the forward line until they all mature a bit.
While Hayward, Papley and Franklin put a knife through the Freo defensive unit, there wasn’t a Docker forward who could take hold of the match in the same manner, even though the supply from up-field from the likes of Frederick, Brayshaw, Serong, O’Meara and Switkoski was consistent and, at times, pinpoint. Apart from Lachie Schultz (four goals), who seems to find an extra leg when plays Sydney, the Fremantle forwards were well held by the Sydney back six.
Fremantle need a forward presence for next year, somebody like Charlie Dixon, who may not necessarily kick many goals, but his sheer presence brings other players into the game. Matt Taberner, are you that player?
Until last night I could not put my finger on why Freo games so bloody tedious and boring to watch this year, but they are playing like they like they are scared of making mistakes, especially early in games. As such, they are forced to play dour catch-up footy without any flair and panache (Michael Frederick being the exception) for the rest of the game.
The Dockers have played seven games since their bye and in that period Richmond, Carlton, the Giants and now Sydney have had them beaten by quarter time.
Sydney’s 2023 Weakness – Allowing late Quarter Goals
In an interview with Horse Longmire at half-time, he rued the wasted opportunities and was disappointed they were not further in front. Putting bad kicking at goal to one side, Sydney’s defensive laziness allowed Freo to kick junk time goals in the first and second quarters. This has been a consistent of Sydney this year and it has cost them dearly in close losses.
Percentage aside, it did not make much difference in this one, but there was a moment early in the last quarter where the Dockers would have thought they were a chance of running over the Swans when they kicked two goals to bring the margin back under four goals. For once, Sydney steadied and maintained control.
The Swans have lost games against the Giants, Power, Tigers and Cats (that draw was a loss) after leading by winning margins and seemingly being in control of the game. It is easy to look at the last quarter fade outs as being the problem (which they are), but in all the above games the Swans allowed junk time goals in the earlier quarters to keep the other team in the hunt. Even in the close wins against the Roos and the Doggies, the modus operandi of the Swans was the same.
Have McDonald, Amartey and McLean taken advantage of Buddy’s last year?
For two or three years now Logan McDonald, Joel Amartey and Hayden McLean have teased Bloods upporters that they are the future of the Swans forward line in a world beyond Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin, but can they be trusted to take the club back up the ladder?
At different stages this year, all three have played good games, or patches of games, where the future without Buddy seems like a happy place. However, even within those games they have lacked consistency. Sydney already has two enigmatic forwards in Tom Paplay and Will Hayward who can turn a game on their boot, but they need one or two of this trio to stand up as the key go-to-forward next year and beyond.
In the third quarter, Buddy Franklin turned back the clock and put on a clinic as he took ownership of the forward line and savaged the poor Fremantle defenders. Buddy’s masterful display of forward craft was beguiling, and I hope his apprentices were looking on and learning.
Logan McDonald had a good game with a couple of goals and 15 possessions and played his role as the second big man to Bud well, and he did assist Papley and Hayward by bringing the ball to ground. There are rumours he may look for a new home next year, but he is a project player Sydney must try and retain. Out of the three project players, Logan McDonald is the most likely to be the number one forward in life after Franklin.
Joel Amartey was caught between playing forward and filling in as the second ruck last night and while he tried hard, I think Sydney need to try and keep him in the one set position for the time being and that may not necessarily be as a forward. It would not surprise me if Horse doesn’t try and introduce him into the backline later this year or over the pre-season.
Hayden McLean, the last man selected for the Grand Final last year, handled himself well in the ruck. While Jackson had the better him at hit-outs, he broke even with Jackson around the ground with possessions and marks. Given he is the third or fourth choice ruckman, his performance last night may see him cement his spot in the team as a forward/ruck or as the first ruck in the next season or two. It would be prudent of Sydney to try and persuade at out of favour Todd Goldstein from North Melbourne up to the Harbour City for a year or two to assist in the development of McLean and possibly Amartey.
Jye Amiss evoking memories of Disco Roach
For a mere second, Jye Amiss lifted the roof of Optus Stadium when he jumped through the middle of a pack and took a true screamer, ala, classic Michael ‘Disco’ Roach style from the 1980’s. It was a good mark, but more importantly, I think all who saw it realised this kid is the real deal.
I have seen a bit of Jye Amiss this year and while he is not top billing just yet, he must have Docker fans licking their lips in anticipation for what the future holds.
I must mention Luke Parker
In 2012, Luke Parker was a youngster who came on as the substitute late in the Grand Final win that year, but he did make his presence felt in that game, and in every game he has played since for the red and the white. He epitomises the Bloods culture. Week after week he is normally in Sydney’s best such is his leadership and consistency and last night was no exception.
Parker’s 31 possession best on ground performance against the Dockers is just something the football have come to expect from him over the years. His consistency and hardness at the game is being passed on to his younger midfielders, especially James Rowbottom and Errol Gulden, who flourished last year and have continued with that form this year.
Parker is a leader without peer at Sydney.
Farewell Nat Fyfe
Along with Matthew Pavlich, Nat Fyfe is one of the two greatest Dockers to have played at the club and while he is injured, I truly hope he gets a farewell game so his adoring fans can say goodbye to him in a fitting and proper way.
You are a Legend of the Dockers and the AFL – chapeau Mr Fyfe.
Upcoming
Fremantle can start experimenting for next year as their season is now done and dusted and their punishment for such a poor season is a trip to the Cattery against a Cats team that will be looking for blood after blowing their top four chances against the Lions.
Remarkably, very remarkably, the Swans are only a game away from being in the eight and have a winnable/losable game against Essendon at Marvel next week, followed by another winnable/losable game against the Giants and so on for the rest of the season. Sydney’s fate this year is still in their own hands.
Ps: I got to watch the last six minutes of the Pies and Power match. If the finish was any indication, then this must have been one of the best matches of the year. Lucky Mongrels who watched it all.
