Pressure forward Sam Switkowski is confident the Club’s midfield group has no need for him on a regular basis after he spent time in the middle late in the game during Friday’s thrilling draw with Collingwood.
Switkowski attended five out of eight centre bounces during the fourth quarter against Collingwood, with the pressure forward bringing his dynamic pace and burst from stoppage to Fremantle’s arsenal as they clawed back a 25-point deficit to draw the game.
“I love getting in there, but I think it’s been a result of our midfield doing quite well this year (that he hasn’t been required to play midfield minutes),” Switkowski said during his Monday afternoon press conference.
“Overall, for the season our clearances work and contested possession in there has been really strong and we have a good depth of midfielders.”
Fremantle currently sits second in the AFL for total clearances (429) just behind Brisbane who lead with 432.
“It’s meant that I’ve played a little bit more forward also with Lachie (Schultz) leaving last year and a few other roles down there changing it’s been more important for me to be down forward,” Switkowski said.
“Our midfielders are doing quite a good job this year and if they keep holding up their end then I’ll keep focusing on my forward craft and putting scores on the board.
Physically exhausted towards the end of Friday night's thriller, Caleb Serong vomited multiple times between stoppages 🤮#foreverfreo
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) May 27, 2024
Switkowski was stern in his belief that recent criticism of dual Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe was merely outside external noise.
“We know Nat (Fyfe) is so good with the crash and bash stuff and his contested work has been really strong all year,” Switkowski said.
“We see the work he’s doing behind the scenes at training, in the stoppage when he’s blocking for his teammates, and when he’s putting his head over the footy.
"I think his form has been building over the course of the year as well and I don’t really expect that form to be absolutely linear and him to just keep on dominating every week."
A win over Melbourne in Alice Springs on Sunday will see Fremantle embed themselves in the top eight before the Club’s round 13 bye.
