The Fremantle playing group will look to get the most out of their week away from football and spend time with teammates and family but will have an all-important second half of the season at the back of their minds, knowing that a chasing pack is forming behind Freo.
A 13-point win against Hawthorn at Optus Stadium sent Freo into the top two – where there will remain for at least a few hours with Brisbane taking on St Kilda later on Saturday evening.
WHAT A WIN! There's still time to join the Purple Army
Sitting 10-3 at the bye, Walters said the break would be an important time for the players.
“We want to relax and refresh for the back end of the year,” Walters said.
“Also, we need to work on what we need to work on as well. We want to keep our minds in the game because when we come back there’s going to be a lot of teams after us and we know that.
“We just want to go into the bye, relax, spend time together and with our families, a few boys are going back home, which is good too.”
Walters was all praise for Freo’s forwardline, which saw an even spread of multiple goalkickers in Walters, Bailey Banfield, Travis Colyer and Lachie Schultz.
After trailing by 10 points at halftime, Walters’ pair gave Freo the lead in the third term while ticking off the 300-goal milestone for the 31-year-old.
“I didn’t realise it was my 300th! It was good to kick back-to-back goals but also just to get myself on the scoreboard,” Walters said.
“Having an even contribution is what we (the forward line) pride ourselves on.
“Not every week someone is going to kick five or six, it’s based around the forward line pressure and goals stem from that.
“We just want to get out there, play our brand of footy, play our role and multiple goal scorers is better than having one or two. I feel like everyone played their role today and it was a good win.”
Walters has kicked 10 goals from his 11 games so far this season, but with Freo’s forwards delivering across the board, he isn’t concerned about his scoreboard impact as long as he’s delivering in other areas.
“I feel like I’ve been contributing all year and putting on the pressure, but the goals just haven’t been coming,” Walters said.
“That’s part of footy, I’m not going to go out there and dominate games each and every week. I’m going to play my role, put them under pressure and that’s going to hold me in good stead.”
