Andrew Brayshaw has hailed the transformation of Fremantle’s midfield group throughout the first seven rounds of season 2024, calling the group more ‘balanced’ after a dominating display over the Bulldogs on the weekend. 

Fremantle’s midfield core won the clearance (47-30) and contested possession (136-124) battle over the Bulldogs in the Club’s 24-point win on Saturday night.

“Caleb (Serong) probably did a lot of our heavy lifting last year inside and Fyfey (Nat Fyfe) has balanced that out a fair bit,” Brayshaw said to the media Monday afternoon. 

“Youngy (Hayden Young) coming into the midfield full time this year has been able to do that as well. 

“Both of those guys crack in really hard but then also have a really good defensive role from there.

“The ability of Hayden and Fyfey to run that defensive pattern allows people like Caleb, myself and Matt Johnson to get forward hard and really try and test out the opposition midfielders.

“I think we have a really good balance in there now.”

Dual Brownlow Medallist Fyfe (37 and 7) and Doig Medallist Serong (37 and 17) combined for 74 disposals and 24 clearances in a game that saw Fremantle post their highest score since round two.

It is the first time since round 17 of 2021 that Fyfe has had more than 30 disposals.

Brayshaw himself lead the game with 11 score involvements, highlighting the impact the new look midfield has had on his game this year. 

“On the weekend Youngy’s defensive role allowed me to do that,” Brayshaw said.

“It gives me a bit of breathing room being able to go on the outside a little bit. It’s nice.”

Midway through the final quarter only six points separated the two teams before three goals (Bailey Banfield two, Michael Walters one) in quick concessions iced the game.

Brayshaw said the players had taken learnings from the close losses to Carlton and Port Adelaide earlier in the year.

“Even though they were losses (Carlton and Port) we learnt a lot out of those games,” Brayshaw said.

 “Going into that last quarter we knew we’d been in that position before and knew what we needed to get right.

“A lot of that comes down to contest as well as composure with ball in hand and I think we were able to execute that.

“It’s an ongoing learning process, but putting yourself in that position where you are a kick or two in it whether we are up or down is a really good position to be in.

“We were able to execute on the weekend and hopefully we can keep putting ourselves in those positions.”

Fremantle will now face Richmond in a round eight clash at the MCG this Sunday.