Isaac Heeney stars with five goals as Sydney Swans defeat Fremantle Dockers in David Mundy’s 350th game

Sydney ruined Matthew Pavlich’s 350th game and repeated the dose to douse David Mundy’s celebrations on Sunday, as the Swans continued their heroic run since being trapped outside of their home State.

And just like he did five years ago, Isaac Heeney the lead party-pooper as he starred with five goals and a spectacular mark of the year contender in Sydney’s 40-point win, 14.14 (98) to 8.10 (58), on the Gold Coast.

Fremantle finished with 20 men after losing Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters and Alex Pearce to injury on a dirty day that delivered a serious hit to their finals chances.

Rising stars Andrew Brayshaw (34 disposals) and Adam Cerra (30) posted career-high numbers and Cerra added two consolation goals to his day’s work.

But Cerra’s twin last-quarter breakthroughs were the Dockers’ only goals since the 11-minute mark of the second term.

Fremantle led by 17 points at that point, before Heeney sparked the Swans as they got the next eight goals.

Heeney’s stunning sit on the head of Luke Ryan added to this season’s catalogue of screamers, while Tom Papley punished Griffin Logue’s turnover as Sydney grabbed the lead at the major break.

The Swans killed off the contest with five goals to none in the third term against the undermanned Dockers.

Fremantle were leading the clearance battle 19-13 at half-time, including a decisive 9-4 edge out of the centre, before Sydney broke even in both counts in the second half.

The late withdrawal of Josh Treacy due to illness compounded the absence of Rory Lobb, and the smalls couldn’t get it done for the Dockers either as Sydney laid 28 forward-50 tackles to two.

Veteran pair Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker were also excellent for the Swans, who recorded a fourth-straight win to guarantee their return to the finals.

Camera Icon GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – JULY 25: Isaac Heeney of the Swans celebrates his goal during the round 19 AFL match between Sydney Swans and Fremantle Dockers at Metricon Stadium on July 25, 2021 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images via AFL Photos) Credit: Kelly Defina/via AFL Photos

UNLUCKY FYFE

Fyfe knew he was taking a risk by carrying a loose right shoulder into the game, but he never could have predicted the circumstances in which it would dislocate again.

Reaching for a ball on the ground, he was kicked in the right hand by Swan Sam Wicks, who tried to soccer the ball, with enough force to pull his shoulder out late in the second term.

Fyfe knew it wasn’t his day when Wicks fell and ended up sitting on his head. The skipper, a strong contributor with 15 disposals and five clearances to that point, went straight to the rooms and was subbed out of the game at half-time for Connor Blakely.

The Dockers lost a second big name early in the third term when Walters was put out of the game with a hamstring injury and Pearce failed to finish the match.

ANGRY BUDDY

Sydney superstar Lance Franklin’s bid to get to the magical 1000-goal mark this season might hit a road bump thanks to the match review panel.

The key forward looks well-placed to avoid suspension for his heavy collision with defender Nathan Wilson in the opening term, but a swinging elbow to Ryan’s head in the second quarter might be a different matter.

A frustrated Franklin had been tackled over the boundary line by Ryan and appeared to switch the ball from his left hand into his right, freeing up his left arm before swinging it back into Ryan’s face.

Both the Wilson and Ryan incidents prompted furious remonstrations from nearby Fremantle players.

Former Hawthorn hard man Dermott Brereton said Franklin had to cop a suspension.

“Lance doesn’t have any bigger fan than me, but he’s in real trouble for that,” Brereton said.

“That’s considered, it’s landed. Just because the boy (Ryan) keeps playing on, doesn’t mean he didn’t elbow him in the face with a considered action. He’s in real strife.”

Former North Melbourne defender David King said it was time the match review system stopped hitting Franklin with “a wet lettuce leaf” following multiple fines.

“Minimum a week. It’s probably two,” King said.

Franklin is sitting on 983 goals following two on Sunday, with four rounds and a finals series to come.

Camera Icon GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – JULY 25: Adam Cerra of the Dockers is tackled by Lance Franklin of the Swans during the round 19 AFL match between Sydney Swans and Fremantle Dockers at Metricon Stadium on July 25, 2021 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images via AFL Photos) Credit: Kelly Defina/via AFL Photos

MILESTONE MAN

Mundy was carried off by Fyfe – perched on his good shoulder – after his 350th game, but it was the Fremantle veteran who was asked to do much of the heavy lifting in the midfield after the losses of Fyfe and Walters.

Mundy got the party started early, kicking a beautiful long goal as the Dockers won the first five centre clearances. The goal was typical Mundy, shrugging a tackle and finding the time to compose himself when it looked like there wasn’t any before landing a bomb from just outside the 50m arc.

Mundy’s influence was limited after that, finishing with 17 disposals and three clearances to go with his goal.