Fremantle defeat Sydney, qualify for 2013 Australian Football League Grand Final
Monday, September 23, 2013
The Fremantle Dockers defeated the Sydney Swans 99 to 74 this past Saturday in their Australian Football League preliminary final at Patersons Stadium, Perth, Western Australia. Fremantle will play the Hawthorn Hawks in their first Grand Final appearance in their 19 year history.
The 25 point win over the reigning premiers, Sydney, came as a result of an early push by the Dockers, who led by 39 points at half-time. The Swans came to the game missing several key players, including Adam Goodes, who is recovering from a knee injury.
Top goal kickers for Fremantle were Michael Walters, Matthew Pavlich, Nick Suban and Nathan Fyfe, while Sydney's Gary Rohan and Harry Cunningham were their only dual goal scorers.
Fremantle led by 43 points at three quarter time in front of a crowd of over 43,000, securing a place in the Grand Final despite six late goals from a resurgent Sydney. They are now scheduled to play Hawthorn, who beat Geelong 102 to 97 to qualify for the Grand Final this coming Saturday.
Sources
- Brad Elborough. "Fremantle Dockers beat Sydney Swans to win berth in AFL grand final" — WA today, September 21 2013
- Braden Quartermaine. "Fremantle demolish reigning premiers Sydney Swans to reach their maiden grand final" — Fox Sports, September 21 2013
- Mark Robinson. "Hawthorn win through to the AFL grand final in a classic triumph over Geelong at the MCG" — Fox Sports, September 20 2013
- Neil Cordy. "Sydney Champion Adam Goodes will return for Saturday nights semi final" — Herald Sun, September 8 2013