A resurgent Sydney bounced back to form and Lance Franklin made a significant contribution as the Swans scored a 17-point win over Fremantle at the SCG.
The Swans held off a late rally from the visitors on Saturday to record a 13.14 (92) to 11.9 (75) win, just their second in five AFL games.
Fremantle enjoyed a massive 66-18 advantage in hitouts, but lost for the second time in five fixtures.
Franklin, who has endured a tough start with the Swans, looked as if he might be in for another frustrating day after he tallied just one behind in the first half.
However, the star forward converted three set-shot opportunities in the third quarter and another one in the fourth.
A tight first quarter produced just two goals to each side, with Sydney ending the term one point up.
The Swans kicked 3.6 to 0.2 in the second quarter to increase their lead to 21 points, with the Dockers registering a paltry 2.4 for the half in dry conditions.
Fremantle activated their sub at halftime, bringing on Nick Suban for Matt Taberner.
The game underwent a remarkable transformation in the third quarter, with both teams slamming six goals.
Goals little more than 30 seconds apart from Tendai Mzungu and David Mundy had the Dockers within 16 points.
Sydney kicked the next three goals, two of them to Franklin, to lead by 35 before successive majors to Matthew Pavlich got Freo within 22 at the final change.
Franklin’s fourth goal, set up by debutant Jake Lloyd, and one to Lewis Jetta, enabled Sydney to establish a seemingly unassailable 34-point lead.
However, Fremantle then produced a late surge reminiscent of the corresponding fixture in 2013 when they rallied from 27 down in the final quarter to draw.
The Dockers piled on three quick goals through Matt de Boer, Hayden Ballantyne and Pavlich to slash the deficit to 15.
Pavlich kicked four goals and Ballantyne and Johnson two each, while Ben McGlynn booted two majors for the Swans.
Sydney’s Josh Kennedy tallied 38 touches, 25 of them handballs and Nathan Fyfe was Freo’s top possession getter with 32.
