Lance Franklin has produced a series of special moments in a likely Western Australia farewell to help Sydney post a 29-point AFL victory over Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Franklin booted 3.1 from 11 disposals and played a hand in two other goals as Sydney kept their finals hopes alive with a 16.9 (105) to 12.4 (76) win in front of 42,433 fans.
The result lifted Sydney from 14th to 12th on the AFL ladder, so last year's grand finalists are now just one win adrift of sixth spot.
Fremantle's finals hopes are now over, though, after they slumped to a sixth loss from their past seven games.
With Franklin expected to retire at season's end, the match was probably the 36-year-old's final AFL appearance in his hometown of Perth.
"I love it. It's where I'm from. You like to play well when you come back home in front of family and friends," Franklin told Fox Sports.
"I'm feeling alright for the oldest guy in the AFL. I'm just enjoying it for what it is."
Fremantle forward Josh Treacy kicked the first goal of the match, but Sydney booted the next six goals to take a 25-point lead into quarter time.
One of those goals was from Tom Papley, who made the most of a clever tap from Franklin to snap truly.
The second quarter was more of an arm wrestle, with Franklin's set-shot goal from near the boundary line helping Sydney extend their lead to 34 points at the long break.
The Dockers launched several comebacks during a pulsating third quarter, but Franklin was there to snuff them out each time.
After Fremantle booted the first two goals of the term, Franklin settled Sydney's nerves with a successful set shot.
A short time later, he took a strong mark to set up Papley for another.
Franklin followed that up with a strong juggling mark while falling to the ground to boot his third. His heroics ensured Sydney went to the final change with a 29-point lead - a margin Fremantle couldn't reel in.
"Every time we would get ourselves back into the game and look a threat, they would just have the class to be able to win a centre bounce and win a couple of contests and connect inside 50," Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said.
"They always just held us at arm's length."
Sydney forward Will Hayward finished with three goals, including two in the opening term, while midfielder Luke Parker was prominent with 31 disposals, nine tackles and eight clearances.
Fremantle big man Luke Jackson, in the absence of injured ruckman Sean Darcy, finished with 14 disposals and 43 hitouts.
Caleb Serong tallied 31 disposals and 10 clearances in his return from suspension, while Lachie Schultz kicked four goals.
After the match, Sydney coach John Longmire revealed Franklin had copped an early knock to his knee.
"He was a bit sore on the bike," Longmire said.
"He was on the Tour de France there for a second and he had the yellow jersey on and away he went just to get it warm.
"He bounced back fine. There were moments tonight he just stood up and did what he had to do. He imposed himself. He's just such a massive competitor."
