Charlie Curnow fires five goals as Swans fall to Dockers

**Charlie Curnow** kicked five goals on 9 July 2026, briefly reclaiming the Coleman Medal lead, but Sydney Swans still fell 38 points to Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium.

The Swans entered the match as league leaders, yet found themselves 0‑11 after the first quarter. Sydney’s defence held firm, limiting the Dockers to a single behind. By halftime the scoreboard read 33‑11 in favour of Sydney, a 22‑point gap that looked comfortable.

Curnow broke the deadlock early in the third quarter, snapping a 49‑second goal from Jordan Clark. He then rattled off three more goals, two from the boundary, pushing Sydney back into contention. His fifth strike arrived early in the final term, momentarily restoring a lead before Fremantle surged with seven unanswered goals.

Curnow’s five‑goal haul lifted him back to the top of the Coleman Medal tally, overtaking the Dockers’ own Josh Treacy who had four goals. The swing demonstrates how a single performance can reshape the season’s leading goalkicker race, especially with only a handful of rounds remaining.

Fremantle’s 111‑73 victory moved them to 15‑2, two wins clear of the Swans, who slipped to 13‑4. The win also snapped Fremantle’s 14‑game streak after a loss to GWS the previous week, re‑establishing them as the team to beat in the final stretch.

Alex Pearce’s intercept marks in the second half earned loud cheers, while Shai Bolton added two goals and 23 disposals. Caleb Serong and Murphy Reid each recorded 28 disposals, driving the Dockers’ midfield dominance. A bizarre incident saw Luke Ryan rub opponent Chad Warner’s hair after a missed set‑shot, prompting a free kick that Curnow converted.

With the Coleman Medal race tightening, Curnow will need another multi‑goal effort in the coming weeks. Sydney’s next fixture pits them against a mid‑table side, offering a chance to rebuild momentum and protect the lead he briefly seized.

Coach Justin Longmuir will likely keep the high‑pressing structure that produced 100 points across the final two quarters. Maintaining defensive pressure while feeding the forward line could see the Dockers stretch their lead to the top of the ladder for the remainder of the season.