This board didn't look like an 18 turn colony emptying board to me, but maybe I just underestimate FG.
FG+Apprentice is huge. I'd argue that you should definitely pick up Platinums on this kind of board in general, though. They're worth more than even activated FG, after all. Anyway, it looks like you both had the same basic idea, but he played it much worse - using Apprentice on his FGs for a small draw, rather than sacrificing more expensive cards (including other Apprentices) to line up the FGs.
Also, you both ignored Ambassador and I think it's got to be really strong here, since you're both pursuing a strategy that involves lining things up which is much easier in a clean deck than a junked-up one - plus Apprentice doesn't get any benefit from trashing a Copper. Swindler is a nice attack as well (FG->Estate really hurts, as does Apprentice->Duchy) but you don't have any villages here and are aiming to draw really big hands with Apprentice eventually, so I think you basically have to just take one Amb and later on one Trade Route and go from there.
Also, maybe it's just me, but it feels like he got really lucky with Menagerie and it should have been more decisively in your favour...
