SWANS v DOCKERS - MATCH REPORT
Cliff Hammond 27 July 2003

After a seesawing battle, the Sydney Swans won a 14 point victory - 17.9 (111) to 14.13 (97) - over the Fremantle Dockers in front of a crowd of 30,228 at the SCG on Sunday. Barry Hall and Brett Kirk kicked three goals each for Sydney - the Swans finishing with 11 individual goalkickers.

Jarrad Sunqvist was a late inclusion for the Swans, replacing Lewis Roberts-Thomson. The Swans then suffered what might have been a crippling blow early in the first quarter, when Jason Ball received a severe shoulder injury. With LRT out, this meant that Adam Goodes would need to carry the ruck burden for the whole game.

Then in the second quarter, Daryn Cresswell sustained a broken nose in an accidental clash with Goodes, and was forced from the field. The game was in the balance, but the Swans looked like playing out the match without two of it's most experienced players.

But amazingly, the irrepressible Cressa was back on the field within minutes despite the blood trickling from his nose, and joyfully celebrated his 200th AFL goal before half-time. Cresswell went on to be Sydney's best midfielder with 25 possessions.

After suffering the ignominy of being dropped to the WAFL for two matches, Trent Croad bounced back to be the Docker's best. He and Paul Medhurst kicked three goals each for Fremantle. Justin Longmuir became just the third Docker to kick 100 career goals for the club.

Michael O?Loughlin had 20 possessions, including 10 marks, to push Cresswell for the best-on-ground performance. Barry Hall's goals all came late in the game, but he presented well all day, and did a fair amount of forward rucking to give Goodes the occasional breather.

Brett Kirk continued his superb run, taking the scalp of Dockers' skipper Peter Bell, and kicking three vital goals.

This was a top performance by the Swans to hold out a very determined and talented Fremantle team that is going to wreak a lot of havoc in this year's finals series.

However, if Jason Ball's injury is long-term, and with back-up ruckmen Doyle, LRT and Mieklejohn also currently injured, coach Paul Roos is going to have major problems providing ruck support to Adam Goodes for the remainder of the season.