Sydney coach Dean Cox has been praised for a classy act in the immediate aftermath of the Swans’ heartbreaking loss to Fremantle.

The Swans were overran by a rampaging Dockers, who kicked the final six goals to seal a famous 12-point win in a pulsating preliminary final.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Dean Cox shows class with post-match gesture

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Despite dealing the shattering nature of the loss, Cox showed his class by entering the Fremantle rooms and congratulating the players and coaches on the victory.

Channel 7’s cameras picked up the moment, which was immediately highlighted by the commentary team.

Dockers players could be seen giving Cox a thumbs up in appreciate, while assistant coach Jaymie Graham and Cox shared a handshake and hug.

Graham and Cox were teammates at the Eagles in the early 2000s.

“Our cameras, they do not miss a beat here. They caught this very special moment. Dean Cox went in before his presser to the Fremantle rooms. That’s respect, isn’t it?” Abbey Holmes said on Seven.

AFL great Dale Thomas added: “That’s class. That’s what that is.”

“A lot is said about how you act, probably more so in defeat than when you do win. And the way he’s handled himself the past few weeks and especially tonight. Well done to Dean Cox, a great leader.”

While Sydney’s season came to a disappointing end, Cox was still full of pride with how it played out.

The Swans’ finals campaign was derailed by the Pullman Hotel scandal that saw Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon suspended for the rest of the season.

They also lost captain Callum Mills to a devastating ACL tear in the qualifying final win over Brisbane.

“I’m extremely proud and that’s what I said to the staff and the players after the game,” he said.

“To put on a performance like that after the North game and the Brisbane win and then to go again, I’m just extremely proud of everyone uniting, galvanising and coming together to try and get our season to the last game.

“And we fell short.”

Cox said it looked like his team just ran out juice at the end, but was full of praise for Fremantle for their comeback.

“It looked a little bit like that. I think to Freo’s credit, they ramped up towards the back end of the third,” he said.

“They kicked a goal on three-quarter time and then the start of the last. Certainly around the contest. And they played a front half game.

“We were we were in a really, really good position for three and a bit quarters. And to their credit, this time of the year, you can’t give a team any momentum. And and they took it.”