Forward Shane Yarran said he was excited by the challenges he faced on debut in Fremantle’s four goal loss to Gold Coast
The 27-year-old was promising inside 50, slotting two goals to go with 10 possessions and four marks, but acknowledged the intensity was a significant step up from WAFL level.
“It’s something you can prepare for only so much,” he said.
“You don’t really know until you go out there and you experience it.”
“It was really tough but it was really exciting and I enjoyed every bit of it.
“Mum and dad came across with my partner and my daughter so that was really exciting to have them see me play my first game.”
Talking points from Gold Coast loss
The agile forward, who was selected with pick 61 in last year’s AFL National Draft, also noted his teammates’ efforts to involve him in the contest.
“With the team, I think a lot of the boys wanted to try and get around it, and make sure I got my first goal,” he said.
After a promising first half, Fremantle faded in the third term and entered the final change with a 13-point deficit.
And despite rallying late in the final term, Ross Lyon’s men fell 24-points short at Metricon Stadium.
Yarran said the team was let down by a lack of composure and small skill errors.
“I think a bit of composure with our ball use at times wasn’t great,” he said.
“It was just the small things with the entries coming in forward.”
“There was a lot of positives to take out of it, but we’ve just got to work on it.”