Fremantle’s pre-season preparation continued to ramp up with the playing group battling it out in another match simulation on Monday.
The hot conditions proved a challenge over the course of the morning, with fatigue setting in late.
The regular midfield mix of Andy Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Matthew Johnson, Neil Erasmus, Jaeger O’Meara and Will Brodie joined Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy in the middle for the majority of the day, but the centre stoppage also saw a range of different customers roll through.
Match Sim report: 16 January
Match Sim report: 20 January
Luke Jackson with a tidy contested clunk! #foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/gdHmHI5vNn
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) January 23, 2023
James Aish, Sam Switkowski and Nathan O’Driscoll all enjoyed minutes in the CBD, with Switkowski’s impact in particular felt immediately.
The small forward got to work right away with a strong tackle on Brayshaw out of the ruck contest, before winning a clearance himself at the next centre stoppage, leading directly to a Josh Treacy set shot goal.
The wing spots also saw heavy rotation through the position with Erasmus, Johnson, O’Driscoll, Liam Henry, Ethan Hughes, Michael Frederick and Travis Colyer all featuring.
Brennan Cox was a standout in defence for Purple providing a lot of intercept and drive off halfback, while Matt Taberner and Alex Pearce enjoyed a fairly even match-up throughout the day.
Taberner booted two goals, his first coming after outmuscling Pearce while his second came off the back of a free kick.
Frederick did his best to create scoring opportunities, with multiple clean entries inside 50 - mainly targeting Sebit Kuek.
Liam Henry started strongly, showing his ability to use clean hands out of the contest to find a teammate in the clear.
Sean Darcy provided the individual highlight of the day, marking on the run on the wing before streaming inside 50 to kick a major.
Check it 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dfg8it2mEd
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) January 23, 2023
Luke Ryan and Nat Fyfe once again matched up on each other for most of the day, with Fyfe almost on the end of a goal after a sequence of overlap run from Michael Walters and Frederic down the wing.
Justin Longmuir urged all his players to remain vocal in the hot conditions, crediting Walters and Pearce for their leadership and direction.
Team Yellow secure the W! 🙌
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) January 23, 2023
Schultz's rundown tackle and goal in the dying seconds clinches the win.#foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/57SGXUovg5
With Team Yellow down marginally to Team Purple, Lachie Schultz stepped up in the dying minute with a brilliant run down tackle in the goal square before slotting a goal to secure the win for Yellow.