Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw feels there’s a lot to be positive about in the Fremantle camp as Freo look to bounce back at Sunday’s Western Derby at Optus Stadium.
The 18-year-old was a shining light in Fremantle’s 59-point loss to Hawthorn. In his return from two weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury, the first-year player had 25 disposals, nine contested possessions, four tackles and a goal.
Brayshaw was joined by his teammates at Cottesloe Beach on Tuesday afternoon as the group looked for a change of scenery for their opening training session of the week.
“Every now and again the boys like to change up our first training session of the week,” Brayshaw said ahead of the session.
“Today we’re at Cottesloe Beach. It’s just nice to mix up the week and keep the vibes positive.
“We’re coming up against West Coast this week, obviously they’re in great form at the moment so it’s going to be a challenge but we’ve got to keep working hard and keep bonding for the last month of footy we’ve got together.”
Brayshaw was looking at the big picture and saw no reason to be disheartened after last week’s loss.
“You ask different people they might say different things but as a young bloke myself it’s just about getting experience,” Brayshaw said.
“I came back from an injury and played out the whole game, so for me I’m just glad I got back and am uninjured.
“If you ask different guys, they might review their own game differently but for me, it’s just growing and getting the young boys together.”
With teammate Matt Taberner kicking three goals for Peel in his return from injury in the WAFL on Saturday, Brayshaw said he’d be happy to see the key forward make his return against West Coast.
“It’s been a while now since I’ve played with him and I’ve been watching him rehab really hard,” Brayshaw said.
“I just really want to see him come back and play some good footy, which I know he can do.
“He had a really good game on the weekend. I’d love to see him there and I’d love to have a tall target to hit like him.”
Brayshaw said he and his brother Hamish, who plays for West Coast but is yet to debut, would continue their regular catch-ups despite it being derby week.
“We will be catching up with him probably one night this week but we probably won’t be talking too much footy,” Brayshaw said.
“It won’t affect us at all so that’s fine.”
