It took Fremantle time to adjust to wintery conditions at Domain Stadium on Sunday afternoon, according to midfielder Lachie Neale.
 
Constant rain plagued most of the match against Brisbane, which was an arm wrestle to three quarter time.
 
Fremantle found its wet weather feet in the final term, booting seven goals.
 
Neale said the side did not adjust to the treacherous conditions earlier in the game.
 
“It was pretty greasy once again, we’ve had a few of those,” he said.
 
“I think in the first three quarters we tried to overuse the ball a bit and try to get out with the handball too much.
 
“Our kick to handball ratio was one to one.
 
“We didn’t play to the conditions as well as we’d like.
 
“In the last quarter our ball movement got going.”

Defence standing up without Johnson
 
Fremantle started the final term in a blitz, winning several centre clearances in a row and kicking four goals in five minutes.
 
Brisbane won the clearance count 50 to 52 and Neale said it was a tough slog all game.
 
“In the last quarter we broke even,” he said.
 
“They have some really quality mids in (Dayne) Beams, (Jack) Redden and (Alan) Christensen, we knew we were in for a tough day.
 
“We got to work and evened up in the end.”