Senior coach Ross Lyon has praised the work of key defender Michael Johnson, who has continued to improve in his return from injury.
After a slow start to the season, the 32-year-old has since put up strong performances against North Melbourne and West Coast in the past fortnight.
Johnson’s 15 kicks ran at an efficiency of 86.7 per cent against West Coast, while advancing the ball 573.3 metres – the third most for Fremantle on the night.
Lyon said it was understandable that Johnson needed time to find his form after missing the bulk of the 2016 season.
“I thought he was almost our best player (against West Coast),” Lyon said.
“Michael was judged pretty harshly early in the season, but we understand that (can happen) when you’re older and not playing well.
“But he’s come off significant injuries from the past two years, so you’re seeing him come back to his very best I think.”
Lyon also stood by fellow defender Joel Hamling after his direct opponent Josh Kennedy kicked six goals on the way to winning the Ross Glendinning Medal in Saturday’s Carlton Draught Derby.
“Did (Hamling) struggle? I didn’t think he got much help,” Lyon said.
“(Kennedy’s) a pretty good player when you’ve got him sitting in that paddock all on your own when (Hamling) could have had some support.”
“I thought Joel at times competed really well. Kennedy’s a top flight forward, we know that.”
Lyon added that there is no longer room to rely solely on an individual defender to shut down a key forward in the modern game.
“That’s where (the game has) probably changed. The full backs of the past, (Stephen) Silvagni, (Ashley) McIntosh and those guys - they were pretty good one-on-one and it was quite brutal.
“But now you get team defence support in trying to delay and deny and all of those things, so we don’t judge Joel.
“I think Joel is in pretty good nick.”
