Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Fremantle will play in a grand final for just the second time in their history after an extraordinary preliminary final comeback in a never-say-die 12-point win at the SCG.
The Dockers looked dead-set gone when they trailed by 28 points during the third quarter. They were finished when they handballed backwards five times and went from the wing to the defensive 50 and conceded a goal to Angus Sheldrick.
They looked written off time and time again.
But you don’t win the minor premiership, produce a club record 14 wins in a row and inspire a nation without having courage, character and skill.
They put their heads down and created history. There was no Wharfie Time, at least not officially.
But if there was the scoreboard would have lit up in the final term as they won 12.11 (83) to 10.11 (71), with the three-quarter time comeback from 21 points down marking their biggest such deficit overturned in club history.
It all started with a Hayden Young goal from a set shot while tucked on the boundary line after the three quarter time siren.
Then came a goal to Shai Bolton to start the final quarter. Now they had hope.
And when Pat Voss produced a stunning goal after a powerful fend off, the impossible was possible.
Now there was only nine points the difference. Fremantle edged closer with points. Eight points down. Seven points down. A shot went out of bounds on the full. Still seven points down. But the ball was at the right end.
Bolton was a match winner last week and he kicked the next goal to make it a one point game. What were we watching?
The Swans were nervous. They’d been taking intercept marks in defence all night. But Joel Hamling spoilt instead of marking and the Dockers got the ball to Mason Cox.
He’s won preliminary finals before and he put the Dockers in front. It was extraordinary.
Bolton had six touches in 16 minutes. He was running wild. The inside 50s were 15-3 for the quarter. It was a barrage. Michael Frederick hit the post. Six points up. Handy point.
Josh Treacy should have had a shot for goal after being infringed against by Tom McCartin. But the umpire called play on.
Treacy got another chance moments later and hit Isaiah Dudley on the chest. He didn’t score. Ouch.
It was intense. Andrew Brayshaw laid a huge tackle. Judd McVee produced a massive chase. Treacy slammed the ball forward from a soccer to give the Dockers territory.
That was so damn important. But it was still a one kick game. Could Fremantle find a way to win the game?
Yes they could. Jye Amiss gave it to Murphy Reid, he gave to Dudley, he kicked Fremantle’s fifth goal in a row an they led by 12 points. They were grand final bound..
This never looked possible until it became possible.
Jye Amiss kicked this crucial goal to help give Fremantle life in the third term against Sydney.
Fremantle got the perfect start with early goals to Neil Erasmus and Luke Jackson, but both of those shots came from near the boundary line and the Swans simply refused to let the Dockers have easy access to the corridor from there.
They produced an extraordinary quarter of pressure and speed. Every time the Dockers won the ball, they were under pressure.
Every time a Fremantle midfielder got into space, he looked up and saw Swans in front of him. Sydney just kept taking intercept marks.
Treacy and JAmiss only had one possession each for the quarter. Pat Voss didn’t have a disposal. And every time the Swans had half a chance, they ran like they’d stolen something.
The Swans kicked the next four goals, led by 16 points at quarter time and the scoreboard flattered Fremantle.
Hayden McLean and Jesse Dattoli both hit the post with shots and Luke Ryan was thanking his lucky stars that Campbell’s soccer just metres from goal missed after he didn’t rush a behind.
Justin Longmuir had plenty to address because the Swans had nine scoring shots to Fremantle’s three.
The Dockers created more chances at the start of the second term but they were constantly shooting from the boundary line.
The width of the SCG was far too tempting for Fremantle. They couldn’t resist the space but they couldn’t convert from the angle.
And when the Swans got the ball forward, they kicked it to the top of the square and Logan McDonald received a free kick which turned into an easy goal. Now the Dockers were 21 points down.
Fremantle figured it out when Frederick kicked his first goal from a high fend off. That shot came from directly in front.
You know what happened next though. Sydney got a set shot from wide after Caiden Cleary took an intercept mark from a hacked kick out of the backline, and he put it straight through the middle. Footy can be cruel.
The Dockers reponded through Dudley but the Swans kicked another as Justin McInerney lifted the home crowd in his return from injury.
This didn’t look like Fremantle. Murphy Reid was missing targets and hesitating during contests.
Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy left the ball for each other and nobody flew. Luke Ryan and Jordan Clark left the ball for each other in defence and only narrowly avoided disaster. Voss’ only possession for the first half came with a free kick on the half-time siren and his set shot didn’t make the distance.
Fremantle trailed by 19 points and the SCG felt like a Sydney dance party.
Luck fell Fremantle’s way at the start of the second half. They kicked a goal after Serong wasn’t penalised for holding the ball and then Karl Worner got away with sliding into Papley’s knees.
Those moments were clearly incorrect umpiring decisions but they also showed intent from Fremantle. Now Sydney looked uncertain.
Jackson marked a hack kick out of the backline and slammed through the goal. Now they were only nine points down and it was game on.
But Sydney just returned to what they know best. They ramped up the pressure again.
And then came the Sheldrick goal. It was followed by another goal to McDonald and then one to Charlie Curnow.
It should have been over. But Fremantle said hell no. This was a night they will never forget. What a comeback. What a win.
FREMANTLE 2.1 4.5 7.7 12.11 (83)
SYDNEY 4.5 7.6 10.10 10.11 (71)
GOALS – FREMANTLE: I Dudley 2 L Jackson 2 S Bolton 2 P Voss M Frederick H Young M Cox N Erasmus J Amiss. SYDNEY: L McDonald 3 T Papley B Campbell T Hanily C Curnow A Sheldrick J McInerney C Cleary.
BEST – FREMANTLE: L Jackson C Serong H Young S Bolton A Pearce A Brayshaw. SYDNEY: E Gulden L McDonald J Serong J Lloyd D Rampe T McCartin.
INJURIES – T Papley (leg).
UMPIRES: N Foot B Hosking S Meredith C Fleer. CROWD: 45,129 at the SCG.
