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Fremantle Dockers vs Sydney Swans Tips - Sydney to chalk up their first win of the season

Adam Cusworth

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Last updated: 21 Mar 2025

Adam Cusworth 21 Mar 2025

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Sydney Swans face Fremantle Dockers after both teams' initial losses in 2025.
Swans aim for victory with recent success at Optus Stadium.
Key players like Caleb Serong and Nick Blakey to influence the match.

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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 10: Nick Blakey of the Swans handballs during the round nine AFL match between Fremantle Dockers and Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium, on May 10, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Fremantle Dockers vs Sydney Swans Preview

The Fremantle Dockers and the Sydney Swans will both be out to open up their accounts in 2025 after dropping their matches to date so far.

The Dockers were no match for Geelong in Round 1, going down in hot conditions by 78 points, while Sydney lost on the same day by four points to Brisbane. The Swans are one of four sides to have played twice, having gone down by 20 points to Hawthorn in the Opening Round.

Now under the coaching of Dean Cox, the Swans enjoy a chance to regroup on the road and face one of 2024’s non-finalists for the first time. They have taken out their past three matches against the Dockers at Optus Stadium.

Cox just needs to find the winning formula up forward after his side went inside 50 on a healthy 59 occasions last week but for just 12 goals.

Fremantle will look to win the clearance battle and were 3rd in this measure in 2024. But Sydney generally defend well and aside from a couple of blowouts late last year against Port Adelaide and Brisbane in the Grand Final, they have been able to restrict opposition scoring.

Given their recent form at the venue, the Swans can come away with a win but we can expect this to be close. Caleb Serong will find plenty of the ball for the Dockers, while Nick Blakey will be influential with his rebound from defensive half.

Fremantle have lost their past five matches, a sequence that stretches back to Round 19 of 2024
The Sydney Swans have won their past three against Fremantle at Optus Stadium
Nick Blakey is the Swans leading disposal winner with 48 from his two matches in 2024
Caleb Serong has averaged over 30 disposals in his past four matches against Sydney

Head to Head

Sydney have won four of the past six matches between the two sides. They include the Round 9 encounter at Optus Stadium last season by 48 points but the Dockers took out the return match at the SCG by a point in Round 16. The Swans have won their past three against Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

Fremantle’s Caleb Serong has averaged over 30 disposals in his pasy four matches against Sydney, while his partner in crime, Andrew Brayshaw, averages a tick over 25. Nick Blakey averages just over 22 disposals in his past four matches against Freo. Will Hayward has booted 10 goals in his past four matches against the Dockers.

Four of the past five matches between the two sides have been decided by margins of 39.5 points or less. Five of the six matches at Optus Stadium have been decided by 39.5 points or less.

Fremantle Dockers Form Analysis

Fremantle have stepped out just once this season, going down to a rampant Geelong in Geelong by 78 points, conceding 55 inside 50s. Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Jaegar O’Meara all had 25 disposals or more but the Dockers had few answers up forward, aside from a four-goal burst by the debutant, Murphy Reid.

The Dockers have now lost their past five home and away matches, a sequence that stretches back to Round 19 of last year. Four of those were by 20 points or less. 17 of the Dockers 23 matches in 2024 resulted in margins of 39.5 per less.

Fremantle Dockers Team News

Fremantle’s gun recruit, Shai Bolton, is in the mix to make his first appearance in the purple after missing with leg soreness last week. Michael Walters and Nat Fyfe are a couple of veterans that are pressing their respective cases for a return

Fremantle Dockers Team List

B: C.Wagner, A.Pearce - C, B.Cox

HB: L.Ryan, B.Walker, J.Clark

C: M.Johnson, J.O’Meara, N.O’Driscoll

HF: J.Sharp, M.Frederick, S.Bolton

F: M.Reid, J.Treacy, J.Amiss

FOLL: L.Jackson, C.Serong, A.Brayshaw

I/C: H.Chapman, B.Banfield, N.Erasmus, P.Voss, J.Draper

EMG: L.Reidy, K.Worner, W.Brodie

In: S.Bolton, N.Erasmus, P.Voss

Out: S.Switkowski (Injured), L.Reidy (Omitted), K.Worner (Omitted)

Sydney Swans Form Analysis

Sydney have lost the first two games of the 2025 home and away season and since Round 16 last season they have won just six of 14. Their two matches this year have come up against likely finalists in Hawthorn and Brisbane, going down by 20 and four points respectively.

The absence of Errol Gulden has hurt in the middle of the ground with only Matt Roberts and Nick Blakey off half-back, able to break the 25+ disposals barrier so far (both had 26 in the Opening Round).

The Swans have averaged just 11.7 goals per game in their last 10 matches and have relied on their midfielders to push forward to kick multiple goals, as was the case last week with Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner booting two each.

Sydney Swans Team News

Lewis Melican will miss and it will be interesting to see if the Swans continue the experiment with Tom McCartin as a forward. Hayden McLean is a possible replacement after a strong VFL performance. Peter Ladhams and Aaron Francis (recovering from concussion) are also tall options, while Joel Hamling, who impressed last week, should retain his spot. Justin McInerney's suspension leaves at least seven of Sydney's best 22 unavailable for the trip to Perth, paving the way for Angus Sheldrick to return. Riley Bice, who impressed as the sub on debut, could start in defense, allowing players like Ollie Florent, Jake Lloyd, and Matt Roberts to spend more time up the field.

Sydney Swans Team List

B: N.Blakey, D.Rampe, J.Hamling

HB: S.Wicks, M.Roberts, R.Bice

C: J.Lloyd, I.Heeney, O.Florent

HF: T.Hanily, W.Hayward, B.Campbell

F: J.Amartey, T.McCartin, T.Papley - C

FOLL: B.Grundy, Ch.Warner, J.Rowbottom

I/C: J.Jordon, P.Ladhams, Co.Warner, A.Sheldrick, H.McLean

EMG: B.Paton, C.Mitchell, J.Buller

In: A.Sheldrick, P.Ladhams, H.McLean

Out: L.Melican (Injured), J.McInerney (Suspension), B.Paton (Omitted)

Verdict

Fremantle v Sydney

Sydney to come away with a win on the road, Nick Blakey to be pivotal from the back half.

Head to Head

Sydney Swans

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