After The Game With Snaps Truly - Rd 16 2026 V Gold Coast

Boy, did Gold Coast miss David Swallow on Sunday afternoon.

Can you hear my sly sardonic laugh?

Ha, ha, ha.

There it is again.

Bloody David Swallow, I still struggle to make sense of the catastrophic last moments of the 2025 Elimination Final that Freo had all but won, before they … suddenly didn’t.

No matter. That was then and this was now, and how times have changed. Admittedly, Damien Harwick’s side was missing ten players from last year’s encounter, but frankly, so careless was his list management, even more would go missing on this wintry afternoon at Optus.

Fremantle opened brightly. None more so than Michael Frederick, either dancing across the turf to find space and opportunity or marking strongly in a pack. He kicked the first three goals for the home side in an exhilarating display.

Freo had all the footy and when Luke Jackson took a big clunk up forward, the little kid behind us with the gappy grin shouted ‘You’ve got this Unicorn!’

And she was right. He did and would have for most of the day.

Freo in total control as the rain began to fall. 26 points up at the break.

Let me state emphatically that Brennan Cox is not a serial killer; but I do like the fact that now he’s shaved his head, he looks a bit like one.

Ben King did manage to break free from his terrifying clutches to give Gold Coast their first goal early in the second quarter, but it was to be the rarest of escapes.

The visitors would manage just three for the entire match and were quite unable to get through or break down a supremely well organised Fremantle backline. Led today, quite superbly, by the aformentioned axe wielding maniac Mr Cox.

The rest of the quarter was pretty forgettable. One thing did strike me though. Freo players, not surprisingly are now looking to give the ball to Murphy Reid at every opportunity. Why wouldn’t they, such is the excellence of his decision making and distribution.

However, I just don’t think he’s up for a handball receive when on the bench or queuing for a hotdog. I quietly sent the message up to the box and am told JL had the necessary word.

And indeed Freo’s footy improved again after half time.

Chains of linking handballs – some including Murphy Reid, some not – were delivered to Luke Jackson’s sure hands and moments later Pat Voss was the beneficiary too. They both goaled.

Another intercept and Michael Frederick bobbed up again. He needed just six kicks for the afternoon to produce a career equalling four goals for the day.

And then came the moment to stand and applaud.

The Big Swag, finally back where he belongs, won a free kick and goaled. The boys did indeed get around him and so they and we should. I know the comment section of any Facebook post is the place idiots go to holiday and hope goes to die, but he has copped some fan disrespect. Sean ‘s contribution to the Fremantle Football Club has been a great one, whether he gets to build a bigger story yet or not.

Fremantle dominating totally now, headed for home 40 points in front.

And frankly that was just about it.

Gold Coast were playing so poorly, the Freo players just talked and played cards amongs themselves for much of the last quarter. Fans too were looking for other things to do. And bugger me if a Mexican wave didn’t start.

When was the last time that ‘Hey guys, let’s make our own fun’ phenomenon swept around the stadium on game day? A sign of happy relaxed times indeed.

When the previously unsighted Jye Amiss took a strong mark and sent the ball into space, but presumably through the goals – no one really knew or cared at this point – Freo were home by 51 points.

Another emphatic performance.

And with little else to think about, my mind did again drift back to that Elimination Final and yes, I though again of David Swallow and yes, I did utter a sly sardonic laugh.

Ha, ha, ha.

Just like that.

And I began to imagine what Damien Hardwick was making of all this. And with a delicious curl of the lip I began to wonder, given how the Gold Coast season has collapsed, might today indeed be the day the miserable sod might literally explode.

And what might that look like? Would it be neatly contained with just a small puff of smoke, or would it require a mop and bucket?

You might have guessed, I’m not much of a fan. I can only imagine soon enough he will be a guest on Karl Stefanovic’s new podcast. ‘I’m a miserable grievance filled middle aged man.’

And with that I headed for the exit. Filled to the gunnels I was, with delicious hubris and spite filled revenge.

Oh how I laughed.

Ha, ha, ha.

Just like that.

Yours truly,

Snaps Truly

*By our multi-talented and amazingly insightful footy scribe, SNAPS TRULY. Snaps has seen and done it all. He may or may not have been a fringe player at Fremantle. Don’t miss Snaps’ report after each Freo Dockers match here on the Shipping News throughout the 2026 season.

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