It was hardly elegant as Sydney willed their way out of their alarming early season slump, headed by four second-half goals to Lance Franklin, and season-best performances by Rhyce Shaw and Dane Rampe among a healthy list of contributors.

There were jitters. Sydney led by 35 at one stage in the third term but the Dockers got back to within 15 points in the final period, as Matthew Pavlich, in his 150th match as Fremantle captain, kicked his fourth goal. But the Swans, buoyed by a remarkable 102 tackles to the Dockers’ 66, held on to topple last year’s grand finalists.

“There were some players who got back to some good form tonight and they did it through effort,” Longmire said.

“It wasn’t silky all the time but the effort was there, which we couldn’t fault.

“We had 100 tackles, we had 30-odd more ground balls, our effort and intensity was outstanding. When we get it right, we play good footy. We need to make sure we continue with that intensity and effort every week.”

Fremantle looked more polished early and held a one-point advantage at the first quarter. But what the Swans lacked in execution they compensated for with endeavour, producing a three-goals-to-nil second quarter to conjure a half-time lead of 5.7.37 to 2.4.16.

Franklin’s first goal in a fortnight put Sydney out by 27 early in the third quarter and the $10million man’s two further goals for the term put them in a commanding position before Pavlich led a resurgence to leave the gap at 22 points at the last rest. The Dockers won the final term, but Sydney had worked too hard to let this one slip.

“There were a number of passages of play where we’d make mistakes. There’s no doubt about that,” Longmire said. “But we just kept going and kept on working through it. If there was one player there who made a mistake, there was another one there to clean it up.”

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said his group had “come here to bank four points”, but Sydney's “desire, on the evidence, was stronger than ours”.

"All credit to the opposition, they should feel better about themselves and we've been reminded of what's required to consistently win games of football," Lyon said.

Longmire had rung the changes, bringing in Craig Bird to provide steel, Brandon Jack to provide pace and debutant midfielder Jake Lloyd, as substitute, to provide incentive. The Dockers gained Chris Mayne back from injury and Nat Fyfe from suspension.

Sydney’s zeal was written in their defence early on but their execution remained off. Bronx cheers greeted Franklin’s first few possessions, each of which ended with ineffective disposals. At the start of the second term, Franklin hit the post after working to create a clean shot from 20 metres.

But, like the team, he stuck to the task and, in the third, the Swans’ consistency grew, skill errors reduced and effort was resolute. Franklin unleashed with three, adding to goals by Ben McGlynn – who finished with 12 tackles and two goals – Luke Parker and a great solo effort by Jack. Fremantle stayed in touch with a pair to Tendai Mzungu and David Mundy, in a 30-second burst, as well as two goals to Michael Johnson and two from Pavlich.

Jack was substituted for Lloyd for the final term and one of his first acts was to assist Franklin for his fourth. Lewis Jetta added another, but the Dockers nailed three on the trot to set up a tight finish.

“What’s happened in the first few games has happened and we can’t do much about it,” Longmire said. “What we can do is play the sort of footy we know we can play. One effort doesn’t count. We need to turn up next week. That’s what good teams do.”