SYDNEY has survived a thriller against Fremantle to win by three points and deliver Dean Cox his first win as senior coach, with key forward Joel Amartey pushing through pain to kick the match-winner at Optus Stadium.
The Dockers came moments away from stealing the result, with the final siren sounding just before forward Jye Amiss marked inside 50, with the Swans hanging on to win 9.14 (68) to 9.11 (65).
It was a tense, high stakes clash as the Swans fought to avoid a 0-3 record and the Dockers pushed to rebound from an embarrassing start to the season, with pressure now transferring to Freo ahead of a must-win Western Derby.
The Swans trailed by two points at the last change and were on the back foot after Amiss converted halfway through the final term. But a dashing goal from defender Riley Bice kept the Swans alive before Amartey returned from a corked leg to give his team the lead.
The key forward out-marked Brennan Cox, delivering in a critical contest that came down to moments after long periods as an arm wrestle.
Tagger James Jordon was outstanding for the Swans, winning 24 disposals and a game-high 10 clearances while making life hard for star Fremantle onballer Caleb Serong (19 and a goal).
Swans midfielder Chad Warner lifted in the final quarter to finish with 10 inside 50s from his 26 disposals, starring against a team that will court him at the end of this season.
The stoppage battle was won by the Swans convincingly (37-25 clearances), despite the decision to substitute ruck Brodie Grundy during the fourth quarter.
Fremantle star Josh Treacy led the way for the Dockers with four goals, while midfielder Jaeger O'Meara kept Isaac Heeney quiet and won a team-high 32 disposals himself.
After a quiet start to the season against Geelong, Treacy was locked in early and booted the first two goals of the game as he attacked the ball in the air and then showed his versatility at ground level.
The Dockers had the game on their terms and doubled the Swans' inside 50s early, with ruck Luke Jackson pushing forward and taking a pack mark to extend their lead before Pat Voss ran onto a spilt ball to kick his first.
After several squandered chances, the Swans completed their first goalless opening quarter against the Dockers since 1997 and found themselves 22 points behind at the first change.
Jordon was critical to the Swans' second-quarter surge, keeping an eye on Serong but also winning five clearances from his nine possessions as the visitors won the stoppage battle and ramped up their pressure.
They started to catch the Dockers' defenders by leading into small pockets of space inside 50 and, after Chad Warner marked and converted, the margin was just four points.
The job for Freo's backline was only going to get tougher too, with small defender Brandon Walker leaving the game with a shoulder injury after an innocuous tackling incident and forcing a reshuffle as Heath Chapman moved onto Tom Papley.
The pressure lifted again in the third as the Swans ramped up their clearance advantage and pinned the ball in their forward half, hitting the lead for the first time since the opening minutes.
Some late misses created an opening for the Dockers, however, who went to the final term with a two-point lead but needing to rectify their midfield issues if they were going to get their first win of the season.
Fremantle got the first goal of the last quarter, but majors from Bice and then Amartey saw the Swans to a thrilling victory.
FREMANTLE 4.3 5.5 8.8 9.11 (65)
SYDNEY 0.5 3.8 7.12 9.14 (68)
GOALS
Fremantle: Treacy 4, Voss, Serong, Jackson, Banfield, Amiss
Sydney: McLean 2, Amartey 2, Ch.Warner, Ladhams, Hayward, Hanily, Bice
BEST
Fremantle: Treacy, O'Meara, O'Driscoll, Clark, Brayshaw, Jackson
Sydney: Jordon, Ch.Warner, McLean, Roberts, Lloyd, Rowbottom
INJURIES
Fremantle: Walker (shoulder)
Sydney: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Josh Draper (replaced Brandon Walker in the second quarter)
Sydney: Angus Sheldrick (replaced Brodie Grundy in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 43,882 at Optus Stadium
