A spirited Sydney have been defeated by the Fremantle Dockers by 14 points at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was a heated contest between two teams that started the round occupying the bottom two spots on the ladder, both teams exchanging blows throughout the match until the Dockers skipped away to a 6.6 (42) to 4.4 (28).

The Swans matched the Dockers through the first half and led on several occasions as they searched for their first victory, but were unable to take advantage of kicking with the breeze in the third term.

Young guns Sofia Hurley (15 disposals, one goal) and Montana Ham (13, one goal) were again among the best for the Swans and kicked their opening two goals to spark the strong home crowd that had gathered in Sydney's inner-west.

Ham, the Swans' prized No.1 draft pick, had to be helped from the field in the first term after landing heavily in a tackle but returned to boot her first AFLW goal and kick off jubilant celebrations.

Swans duo Bella Smith and Paige Sheppard battled hard for the Swans, while Brooke Lochland added her usual spark with 12 disposals and a goal. Rebecca Privitelli was the other Swan to hit the scoreboard.

Swans head coach Scott Gowans missed the match due to illness with senior assistant Baker Denneman taking the reins for the day and said post match the side executed the game plan well, bringing plenty of pressure and strength around the contest but had lapses in concentration in the third quarter which ended up being costly.

"We thought we would be ok outside the contest and they would beat us in the contest but it was actually the opposite," Denneman said.

"We were really good around the contest, the clearances were higher than them but they got us outside the contest, they worked a bit harder and changed the ball going forward a bit better.

"Lapses in concentration and the ability to stay focussed for four quarters is something that we we will continue to work on."

The Swans will end their first season away next week in Geelong on Saturday evening.

SYDNEY            2.0     2.1     4.3     4.4    (28)   
FREMANTLE      2.0     3.2     5.4     6.6    (42)

GOALS
Sydney: Ham, Hurley, Privitelli, Lochland
Fremantle: Webb 2, Miller, Antonio, Gore, East

BEST 
Sydney: Ham, Smith, Hurley, Szigeti
Fremantle: Miller, Bowers, Webb, Runnalls

INJURIES 
Sydney: Nil
Fremantle: Miller (hip)