SYDNEY is back in the top-four hunt after breaching Fremantle's Optus Stadium fortress, kicking away to win a gruelling armwrestle in the west by 17 points on Saturday night. 

After falling 23 points behind in the first half, the Swans adjusted and picked apart the Dockers' famed defence, winning 11.16 (82) to 9.11 (65) and putting them in a position to pounce on a double finals chance. 

DOCKERS v SWANS Full match coverage and stats

The win was built on a patient game style that frustrated the Dockers and took the ball out of their hands in the second half, with the Swans racking up a massive 127 uncontested marks to the Dockers' 70.   

While Fremantle was able to grab the lead early in the final term, it conceded five of the last six goals to lose just its third game at home this season and end the night with its top-four spot vulnerable. 

Lance Franklin was the superstar attraction in his return to WA, but it was another local product who stole the show, with Chad Warner continuing his rapid emergence as a star of the competition with a best-afield performance. 

The powerful onballer finished with a career-best 35 disposals, seven clearances, six inside 50s and a goal.  

He was supported in the midfield by strong bodies Callum Mills (26 and nine tackles) and Luke Parker (24 and five inside 50s), while Ollie Florent (21 and 11 marks) was tireless. 

It was the Swans' classy smalls who finished the job, however, with Tom Papley and Errol Gulden booting two goals each at crucial times.

'SLOW TO ADJUST' Dockers in top-four dogfight, Swans not getting carried away

Griffin Logue was the Dockers' only clear winner, holding Franklin to one goal and just seven disposals. 

It was a game of two clear halves, with the Swans scrambling early and conceding the clearances from the outset. They allowed the Dockers to play the game in their half and bring their army of pressure forwards into the game. 

Big man Rory Lobb got the scoreboard ticking, however, recovering from a heavy tackle that jolted his right shoulder and snapping a clever goal in the next passage. 

Franklin gave away a 50m penalty for not adhering to the stand rule, paving the way for David Mundy to convert a set shot, and when Bailey Banfield kicked his first the Dockers were racing away. 

The Swans' recovery in general play came in the second term, with Warner lifting in the middle with nine disposals and four clearances for the quarter.  

Inaccuracy held the visitors back, however, kicking 2.7 from 18 inside 50s, while the Dockers made the most of their more limited opportunities and built a 23-point lead. 

Some ill-discipline from defender Jordan Clark in the final seconds led to a free kick in the centre square, however, and opened the door for Franklin to mark and kick his first goal after the siren, cutting the margin to 15 at the main break.  

Warner's immense influence continued in the third, spearheading a run of three unanswered goals for the Swans - including a brilliant snap in traffic from the 31-gamer – as the game turned in their favour.  

Sydney controlled possession, amassing 49 uncontested marks to 17 for the quarter and frustrating the Dockers with their patient ball use, taking a three-point lead at the final break and kicking away late.

Gulden's brilliant snap from the pocket in the final term followed by Papley's second goal as time-on approached put the Swans in position to win their third game this season against teams currently in the top four.   

Patient Swans get crucial points  
The switch in game styles after half-time was telling on Saturday night, with the Swans taking 88 of their 127 uncontested marks after the main break. Jake Lloyd (13), Robbie Fox (12), Dane Rampe (11), Ollie Florent (11) and Luke Parker (10) were all heavily involved in the patient play and took advantage of the pockets of space their opponents gave them. Fremantle didn't adjust quickly enough and the result will be seen as a clue to how teams can break down their defensive structure, with the Swans regularly pinning the ball in their front half and ending the match with 54-44 advantage in forward entries.   

Cancelled out in nine seconds 
Lachie Schultz looked like he had kicked the Dockers 23 points clear at the main break, converting a clever snap with nine seconds to play. But moments after his kick sailed through, teammate Jordan Clark ran into the back of Swan Ryan Clarke, leading to a Swans' free kick at the next centre bounce. Callum Mills pumped the ball inside 50, and Lance Franklin did the rest, marking and converting his set shot from 50m after the siren. It felt significant, with a scuffle following and the Swans heading to the rooms on a positive note, and the contest changed significantly in the second half. 

Logue takes the points in Buddy's return
Lance Franklin's stellar record at Optus Stadium, with bags of eight and six from his only two games, made him the centrepiece of this game in his return to WA. But in a rematch against Griffin Logue, he was outpointed and struggled to get involved in the game. Even when space was cleared out for the champion forward, Logue held his own and only conceded in the final seconds of the first half when he slipped at the crucial moment. It didn't matter in the end, with Franklin's teammates able to get the job done.    

FREMANTLE        3.3   6.5   6.9   9.11 (65) 
SYDNEY                  1.1   3.8   6.12   11.16 (82) 

GOALS 
Fremantle: Schultz 2, Banfield 2, Taberner 2, Lobb, Mundy, Walters 
Sydney: Amartey 2, Gulden 2, Papley 2, Franklin, Hayward, Heeney, Stephens, Warner  

BEST 
Fremantle: Logue, Ryan, Darcy, Brodie, Mundy 
Sydney: Warner, Gulden, Papley, Parker, Florent, Mills, Lloyd

INJURIES 
Fremantle: Lobb (shoulder) 
Sydney: Amartey (shoulder)   

SUBSTITUTES 
Fremantle: Ethan Hughes (unused)
Sydney: Harry Cunningham (unused)