Game Day Round 2 2025: Fremantle Dockers Vs. Sydney Swans

[mattis117]

Round 2 2025: Fremantle Dockers Vs. Sydney Swans

Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth

Time: 3.10pm WST


Both clubs enter this match up desperate for a win, with the loser facing an uphill battle for the remainder of the season. The Cats have shown a blueprint that works against the Dockers – frontal pressure resulting in backwards handballing. The talent is there, but this team needs a plan to deal with pressure. Perfectionism isn’t going to cut it. Questions must be raised along all lines. Do the mids not trust the forwards to compete? Why is this team so reluctant to kick long when the pressure is dialed up?

One data point is insufficient to draw conclusions but there are worrying signs for a few players. Amiss, Ryan, Walker, and Cox in particular, where are these guys at? Where is the ferocity to win?

Both teams enter this game under strength. Fremantle will remain without Darcy, Young, and Fyfe, but could regain Walters and Bolton. A change of strategy is a must as well, eight defenders simply did not work. Make the hard call to put a line through certain players. The following changes are possible:

Out: Reidy, Banfield, Worner, Switkowski

In: Voss, Bolton, Walters, Erasmus

Even with those ins, Fremantle are still without two of their most important players in Darcy and Young, with both expected to return between Rounds 3 and 5.

The Swans have availability problems of their own, and could be missing Guldon, Mills, McDonald, McInerny, Adams, and Cunningham. Interestingly, Joel Hamling may make the trip west to play against his old side, which if anything, shows the significant key position issues confronting Dean Cox.

Last Time They Met





Fremantle hold on in thriller thanks to Logan McDonald spraying his shot wide.



Summary

This is likely to be another close game, with the result depending on which team is cleaner and more efficient with their chances.

Fremantle wins by less than a goal.

 

[MadMundy]

This feels exactly like the type of game where we'll drag our arses over the line for a win.

 

[democritus]

Melican under an injury cloud too for the swans. I think we likely see McCartin back and McLean in to support Amartey and chop out Grundy in the ruck.

 

[Tonga Bob]

Looks like another warm day on Sunday. Maybe that training in 40 degrees thing will pay off the second time around.

 

[MadMundy]

Hopefully we get a few decent names back this week, even just a Bolton and Walters inclusion would give me something to get excited about. Chapman needs to come into the main squad though.

I'd drop Reidy for Voss too, but I doubt it will even happen at this point.

 

[Joao]

Hopefully we get a few decent names back this week, even just a Bolton and Walters inclusion would give me something to get excited about. Chapman needs to come into the main squad though.

I'd drop Reidy for Voss too, but I doubt it will even happen at this point.

Don't get your hopes up on Bolton. Listen to what JL said last week. They planted the seed for him to miss this week as well. We're not known for getting blokes back early (compared to what we report), almost always late.

 

[MadMundy]

Don't get your hopes up on Bolton. Listen to what JL said last week. They planted the seed for him to miss this week as well. We're not known for getting blokes back early (compared to what we report), almost always late.

You're probably right, but I will remain hopeful that it was only precautionary to keep him out last week.

 

[Alfonz]

Fox is another out for Sydney. Solid player and one of their best in last year's grand final.

I don't think we will see Bolton. I wouldn't be surprised if he is still several weeks away.

My main concern is we only have 2 main midfielders, and if Jordon does a number on Serong like he did with Neale, then where do we go from there?

 

[go_the_dockers]

At least Sydney is having their own injury \ suspension crisis.

Should be an even contest (similar number, quality players out) even if Bolton is not back.









For a team already down on troops, Melican and McInerney’s omissions will make it more than a third of the Swans’ best 23 on the sidelines for their trip to Perth – Errol Gulden (ankle), Callum Mills (foot), Harry Cunningham (foot), Logan McDonald (ankle), Robbie Fox (calf) and Taylor Adams (hamstring).
DEFENSIVE STRUCTURES
When Melican left the field on Saturday afternoon, Cox’s first decision was to swing McCartin back to defence. Obviously there’s less choice when an injury happens in-game, but it showed that the new coach is willing to be flexible.
“He knows the defensive systems, he knows the craft,” Cox said post-game of McCartin. “It’ll be horses for courses as we go throughout the year.
With a limited squad to choose from, these are Cox’s alternate options to take on the Dockers.
After Joel Hamling and Riley Bice’s impressive club debuts, they could become permanent parts of the back six. It leaves them quite small with Hamling, Nick Blakey and Dane Rampe as their main tall options against a forward line that will include Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Luke Jackson.
If Cox wanted to bring in a different player, Aaron Francis looms as the one lever he could pull. The 27-year-old is coming out of concussion protocols and could be available to play, but again, it would be a risk for his first game of the season. Will Edwards and Patrick Snell are also some weeks away from pushing for an AFL debut.
Unfortunately, the biggest factor for Cox could be the Swans’ 0-2 start to the season. It places the clash against Fremantle, a side that just lost by 78 points on the road, in must-win territory.
If that is the case, Sydney’s defence would look infinitely better if it was McCartin lining up at fullback. Melican has clearly been their number-one defender in recent weeks, and McCartin is the only player that can match both his athleticism and defensive nous.
The Swans only conceded an average of 76.9 points per game during the 2024 home-and-away season. This year, they’re averaging 91 points per game – with both of those matches coming at home. They need to find a way to get their defence right if they want to start winning games.


TIME TO PULL THE PIN?
Even beyond the unavailabilities, it’s clear the Swans’ forward line has not looked as dangerous across the first two weeks of the season.
Sydney had the number one attack in the competition last season but has only amassed scores of 76 and 82 so far.
In those matches, they’ve struggled to have a commanding presence inside 50. They only had 40 inside 50 entries against Hawthorn for five marks, while they improved against the Lions to get nine marks inside 50 from 59 entries.
McCartin started strongly against the Lions. He got his hands on the ball early and took several impressive marks. But his kicking has been well below par.
His two goals this season have been from the top of the goalsquare, while one of his few opportunities against Brisbane he put out on the full.
It’s important to note that the Swans haven’t given McCartin, or Joel Amartey, the best service. They barely touched the ball against Hawthorn and have operated at no better than 50% efficiency inside 50 across both matches.
But while moving McCartin back would strengthen their defence, it also gives Cox a chance to try something different forward of the ball.
Firstly, Hayden McLean is closing in on a return. He played all four quarters of a VFL match last week and his marking and accuracy in front of goal would be a huge boost against the Dockers.
However, if McLean still isn’t quite ready, Cox has two other options in both Peter Ladhams and Jack Buller. Ladhams is desperate to prove his worth at AFL level, while Buller is looking to build after a fairly strong pre-season. Many judges at the Swans, and some of their defenders, believe the 23-year-old is the toughest one-on-one opponent at the club.
The Dockers conceded 17 marks inside 50 against the Cats in round one – showcasing they’re clearly susceptible to leaving space in defence.
It has to be a priority for Cox to find the best balance both behind and ahead of the ball on Sunday afternoon, because that’s where the game will be won or lost.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Fox is another out for Sydney. Solid player and one of their best in last year's grand final.

I don't think we will see Bolton. I wouldn't be surprised if he is still several weeks away.

My main concern is we only have 2 main midfielders, and if Jordon does a number on Serong like he did with Neale, then where do we go from there?

Or Serong goes forward, and he does a number on Brayshaw

Bloody hell we are thin through the midfield, we really need to add Erasmus to the side and then get a lift from O'Driscoll, Johnson, O'Meara and co.

 

[Tonga Bob]

Don't get your hopes up on Bolton.

I don't think we will see Bolton.

You're probably right,

LID'S OFF BABY!!!!!

 

[Joao]

LID'S OFF BABY!!!!!

Club still has 2 days to withrdaw him, I'm not getting excited until he gets through the pre-game warmup.

 

[Tonga Bob]

Club still has 2 days to withrdaw him, I'm not getting excited until he gets through the pre-game warmup.

shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up

 

[freo84]

Club still has 2 days to withrdaw him, I'm not getting excited until he gets through the pre-game warmup.

Man, we've all got the Bennell / Morabito PTSD..

Watch him be the sub

 

[Mesc]

Club still has 2 days to withrdaw him, I'm not getting excited until he gets through the pre-game warmup.

 

[Tonga Bob]

Plus Ras gets his chance.

 

[Mesc]

Man, we've all got the Bennell / Morabito PTSD..

Watch him be the sub

 

[Mesc]

In all seriousness the team needs a spark. The new fellah and Bolton is just what the doctor ordered .

 

[Shoeless Joe]

I hope Jai watches that 2024 game highlights
We haven't seen him smile in a long time

We have now lost 5 games in a row...Really...really need to win this one to get our confidence back

 

[Tonga Bob]

 

[Joao]

Like the changes.

 

[Andy Brennan]

HOPEFULLY WE LOSE BY 20 GOALS AND JL GETS SACKED

 

[Ghost Pig]

HOPEFULLY WE LOSE BY 20 GOALS AND JL GETS SACKED

for those that can't read between the decades of pain I google translated that to "HOPEFULLY WE WIN BY ANYTHING AND GO ON TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED FOR THE REST OF ALL OF OUR LIVES"

 

[Hamann188]

for those that can't read between the decades of pain I google translated that to "HOPEFULLY WE WIN BY ANYTHING AND GO ON TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED FOR THE REST OF ALL OF OUR LIVES"

I feel like it may have been in response to Brodie not getting selected B22.

But your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Andy Brennan]

I feel like it may have been in response to Brodie not getting selected B22.

But your guess is as good as mine.

More like Freo can't hurt me if I expect nothing!

Watch later games from 2022. Teams worked out Brodie's spots and started intercepting his hand balls. Brodie - effective handball to the outside of a contest = not a good player. And he hasn't seemed to work very hard at peel to improve anything so... Enjoy being the king of Mandurah I guess