AFL round 9: Fremantle vs Sydney Swans: Eliza Reilly analyses Dockers’ loss on night of mourning for Cam McCarthy

But when the Dockers look back on this game later in the season, it’ll either be an explainable blip or an indication of Fremantle’s true standing in the top eight race.

When a Western Australian team finds form, the only clubs that should be beating them on their home turf is top four teams. We knew that Sydney was there or thereabouts heading into Friday night. But if the Dockers wanted to make a statement of their finals intentions, they would’ve made it a 50/50 game.

Funnily enough, most of the major indicators were pointing that way. Both teams finished with 28 clearances. Inside 50s were close enough to even. As was contested possession.

But when it came to the only statistic that counts, the scoreboard, Fremantle couldn’t compete with the slick Swans.

Logan McDonald, the man Fremantle was preparing to make a play for six months ago, kicked the first goal of the night. It was a remarkable strike, barely taking possession of the ball before releasing it goalward. And based on that, we should’ve known how the night was going to unfold for Sydney.

McDonald set up the next one, giving the Dockers recruiting department a bit to think about. But he was one of many.

Sydney finished the game with 13.9 (87) from 22 scoring shots. Fremantle had 19 but it yielded 4.15 (39). There was a further handful that landed out on the full. There’s your difference. It’s also the Dockers’ most inaccurate performance in their 30-year history.

Eleven of Fremantle’s Friday night line-up were at the club while McCarthy was a Docker, many of whom paid tribute to him today. Asked what toll the pre-game emotions took, former Docker Matthew Pavlich commented that the players might have been too amped up to execute.

What we can’t question is the Dockers’ effort.

Fremantle tried everything but little worked. The Dockers spent plenty of petrol tickets competing. But that effort was misguided.

Each miss, a few of which came within 30 metres of goal, was deflating. And the Dockers failed to bring the pressure in the first half, allowing Sydney to slam home six straight goals in the second terms.

Will Hayward kicked four. Chad Warner kicked two from the midfield. And Joel Amartey started soaring, worrying the likes of Alex Pearce and Luke Ryan who uncharacteristically quiet in the first half. Isaac Heeney was pretty handy too, finishing with a team-high 28 disposals, 13 contested possessions and eight clearances.

Fremantle’s first goal was kicked by Brandon Walker, a defender. The Dockers second didn’t come until halfway through the third term.

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It wasn’t just Sydney’s offence that did the job. James Jordon, fresh off limiting Lachie Whitfield to one uncontested mark last week, went to Jordan Clark and limited his impact at halfback.

Caleb Serong fought hard, going on with it after 25 disposals in the first half. Jeremy Sharp worked hard on a wing and was rewarded with two goals in the final term. Andrew Brayshaw was busy around clearances.

Ultimately, an emotional night ended in defeat. But at the end of the day, it’s only footy.