SYDNEY has celebrated a night of milestones by thrashing a wasteful Fremantle by 59 points at the SCG on Saturday.
In Nick Smith's 200th game and Josh Kennedy's 200th appearance for the Swans, Lance Franklin joined Tony Lockett in booting 300 goals for two separate clubs, making them the only two players in the game to achieve the feat.
Franklin finished with three goals from 19 disposals and nine marks in the 17.9 (111) to 7.10 (52) victory, but will have some concerns over a second-quarter elbow to the face of Dockers defender Joel Hamling.
SWANS SET WAYWARD DOCKERS STRAIGHT Full match coverage and stats
Franklin picked up the football and ran headlong into a pack of Fremantle players, throwing his left arm up and forwards, his elbow catching Hamling on the chin.
Hamling was checked by medical staff before returning to the ground, but failed concussion testing at half-time and took no further part in the match.
The home side's renowned defence was outstanding with Jake Lloyd and Jarrad McVeigh sharing 72 possessions and 21 marks for the game, and fellow backmen Dane Rampe and Callum Mills were also brilliant.
Sydney coach John Longmire said his backline's offensive efforts were impressive but he was more focused on their ability to limit Fremantle's scoring.
"They all played well, they all contributed and they all did a good job," he said after the match.
"Most importantly, keeping the opposition down to two goals up until half-time was critical and everything else was built on top of that.
"As long as that’s the priority for them as defenders, and that’s the way it should be all over the ground, and they were able to turn defence into attack."
WATCH: Could Buddy be in trouble for this hit on Hamling?
Onballers Lachie Neale and Ed Langdon tried hard for the visitors, while Luke Ryan and Nathan Wilson provided some run from the back half.
Skipper Nat Fyfe had his influence limited by George Hewett during the middle stages of the match but he still finished with 28 possessions.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon was left to lament his side's lack of efficiency going forward, especially in the first quarter when they had some momentum.
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"We were really pleased with our start, we were winning the ball and going in well, but we just didn't hit the scoreboard," Lyon said.
"We struggled to have a physical presence up there for most of the night.
"There were times when we had time and space and we bombed it in, and our decision-making wasn't fantastic, but our players will learn from that."
Fremantle started well and dominated the clearances in the first term thanks to the work of Aaron Sandilands in the ruck, but despite the amount of footy the Dockers won around the contest and pumped forward, Sydney's backs cut off their attacks with ease.
Lloyd, McVeigh and Rampe shared 29 possessions for the quarter and their rebounds helped the Swans boot three goals, while Fremantle hit the post three times and couldn't register a major.
WATCH: Jake Lloyd unloads a big bomb
Hewett was sent to on Fyfe after he had eight possessions in the opening quarter and the midfielder managed to keep the superstar under check, and goals to Lloyd and Josh Kennedy gave them the first five of the match.
A rare error from Lloyd when he missed a target inside his defensive 50 handed the Dockers their first, but the brilliant Michael Walters snap did little to inspire his team.
Isaac Heeney and Franklin joined the goalkickers list to push the margin out to 33 points.
WATCH: Heeney high and mighty
Sydney have had their struggles at home this season - winning just one of their first four matches at the SCG in 2018 – but they refused to let Fremantle back into the contest and four goals to one saw them take a 51-point advantage into three-quarter-time.
To their credit the Dockers fought out the game despite the unassailable lead, but while they booted five goals for the term after managing just two in the first three quarters, the Swans kicked six of their own and cruised to an important win.
SHOWREEL Swans dominate the air
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney: Zak Jones came from the field in the final term after a head knock and didn't return, but the Swans looked to have got through without any major injury worries.
Fremantle: Hamling's concussion will need to be monitored during the week.
NEXT UP
The Swans head north to take on Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday, while the Dockers will welcome the in-form North Melbourne to Optus Stadium on Sunday.
SYDNEY 3.3 7.4 11.6 17.9 (111)
FREMANTLE 0.4 1.7 2.9 7.10 (52)
GOALS
Sydney: Kennedy 3, Franklin 3, Papley 2, McCartin 2, Hayward, Ronke, Lloyd, Heeney, Parker, Sinclair, Hewett
Fremantle: Walters 2, Sandilands 2, Langdon, Ballantyne, Fyfe,
BEST
Sydney: Lloyd, McVeigh, Rampe, Mills, Grundy, Franklin
Fremantle: Neale, Langdon, Ryan, Wilson, Fyfe, Sandilands
INJURIES
Sydney: Jones (head)
Fremantle: Hamling (concussion)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Chamberlain, Wallace
Official crowd: 27,481 at the SCG
