Following a disappointing loss to Brisbane in round 21, Sean Darcy said a young Fremantle line-up was eager to bring the fight to West Coast in a 15-point RAC Derby win on Sunday.
In the past four weeks, Fremantle have fielded the AFL’s second-youngest team in rounds 19 and 20, and the youngest in rounds 21 and 22.
Freo have had contrasting results in that time with rousing victories against West Coast and Richmond while being taught a lesson by Sydney and Brisbane.
Fremantle had the lowest tackle counts for the round in their losses to Sydney (36) and Brisbane (35) but were able to stand up in their wins against Richmond (55) and West Coast (62).
Darcy told ABC Grandstand post game that Freo get results when they get the contest right.
“We were just really disappointed in our performance last week against Brisbane,” Darcy said.
“They bullied us around the contest, they were on the front foot.
“All week we were focused - we need to bring our brand, we need to bring our pressure, we need to bring our hunt around the contest. Play on that sort of edge and that (came down to) confidence.
“When we play like that we can perform really well. But if we don't, we play like we did against Brisbane. We were really disappointed in last week.”
Despite lifting their tackle count, West Coast also brought the heat with 71 tackle, nine more than Freo.
In his post-game media conference, Eagles senior coach Adam Simpson =even when a tackle was laid, it was tough to stop the opposition.
"Our inability to stick a tackle really hurt us in the first quarter," Simpson said.
"We have to tip our hat to the pressure they brought. They played to their strengths. They did some things we knew they’d do and we couldn’t stop it."
Darcy said the staying strong in the tackle was a priority for Fremantle.
“All through the year we're trying to learn to test the tackle, commit one bloke and then give it to the running guy on the outside,” Darcy said.
“We feel like if our physicality is up, we're fighting through the tackle, we're trying to test it, we're playing a lot better footy. It was a really big focus this week.”
Darcy was also asked about midfielder Adam Cerra, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
He said that Cerra had been one of Fremantle’s most committed players on the track.
“What I see is, I think he's going to stay in my opinion but that's his decision,” Darcy said.
“He's a really close mate of mine. We have coffees once or twice a week just discussing things and we study together in uni.
“The way it applies at the footy club is first class. He's always dragging everyone to do extra recoveries, extra flex sessions, extra talk sessions.
“The conversations I've had with him and around the club, I'm pretty confident.”
Mundy's messages
AFL moves pre-finals bye
The September scenarios
Gallery: RAC Derby 53
