Sydney have confirmed their home AFLW elimination final against the Western Bulldogs after overcoming Wharfie Time and a horror injury to beat Fremantle by one point.
Play was held up for 10 minutes in the first quarter on Sunday at Cockburn before Swans ruck Caitlin Reid was stretchered from the field. She was felled by a clash of heads with Fremantle’s Hayley Miller.
After Sydney rallied in the second half and took the lead, Miller snapped a goal to bring the Dockers to within one point and Wharfie Time was sounded, with less than 90 seconds on the clock.
But just as the crowd activation backfired horribly in the AFL grand final loss to Brisbane, the Dockers could not score again.
Chloe Molloy took a game-saving mark with 15 seconds left and the Swans won 5.7 (37) to 5.6 (36), denying Dockers star Ash Brazill a farewell win.
Molloy kicked four goals to break the AFLW goalkicking record with 28, two up on Hawthorn’s Aine McDonagh and Geelong forward Jackie Perry. Sydney racked up nine wins, a club record.
“It’s a good catapult … into the finals, close wins like that,” Molloy told Fox Footy.
“It always brings out a bit extra energy, especially when you hear Wharfie Time.”
Geelong will host Melbourne, followed by reigning premiers North Melbourne against Carlton in a qualifying-final double header next Saturday afternoon at Ikon Park.
Sydney expect to pack out Henson Park on Sunday against the Bulldogs, before Gold Coast host Hawthorn in the other elimination final.
AAP
