Fremantle Senior Coach Justin Longmuir said the team got back to their brand of footy in the 24-point win over the Bulldogs in Saturday night's Len Hall Tribute Game.

The Fremantle midfield was pivotal in the Club’s win, winning the clearance battle 47-30 as they propelled the team forward for 52 inside 50’s (the most for the Club this season).

“Our intensity in the contest early, our clearance work was strong all day, we competed well in aerial contests, and I thought we played as a team with the right mindset,” Longmuir said post-match.

Caleb Serong and Nat Fyfe were instrumental in the middle, with Serong breaking the Club’s all-time clearances record (previously 14) with 17 clearances, while the dual Brownlow Medallist wound back the clock with his 37 disposals. 

“We wanted to make rounds one to five our footy,” Longmuir said.

“Apart from last week, which was clearly disappointing our players were laser focused from pretty much the review and owned our part. We wanted to make sure that wasn’t our footy. 

“After all our performances this year we’ve really owned it and not blamed anything else.”

Fremantle had their backs against the wall early after losing key defender Joshua Draper in the second quarter to an injury, leaving an undersized backline to battle with the tall timber of the Bulldogs.

Bailey Banfield was one of the magnets Longmuir pushed into defence to aid the likes of Heath Chapman, Alex Pearce and Luke Ryan, with Banfield eventually pushing forward and kicking the sealer late in the fourth. 

“To stand up under pressure and deliver when we needed it was great,” Longmuir said. 

“He’s been thrown around a bit this year in different roles. That’s twice now he’s had to go back to fill in for periods of the game. 

“He’s played on the wing which is unusual for him up until this year.
 
“He’s been able to play those roles really well and do whatever the team needs.

“It’s good for him to get a bit of reward.”