If Fremantle are to compete against the top-of-the-table Geelong on Saturday at Optus Stadium, they need to improve their competitiveness in the midfield, according to senior coach Ross Lyon.
Fremantle were outmatched by the Western Bulldogs in round 19, with the Dogs winning the clearances 35-32 and contested ball 139-117, despite losing the hitouts 14-56.
Lyon said that Fremantle need to return to their form at the start of the season, where they were one of the AFL’s leading contested footy teams.
“We were a strong contested and ground ball team and we would like to get back to that,” Lyon said.
“Geelong are a great roll off defence, we’re going to have to make them defend and try and handle that as well as we can.
“Last week it started at the source, that’s the foundation of your game, and then you can build outside of that.”
Geelong have spent the week in Perth as they prepare for the clash, heading west instead of travelling back to Victoria after their 27-point win against Sydney at the SCG.
Lyon said that he was expecting to face a galvanised Geelong as a result.
“I know they request the (back-to-back) interstate trips so they can reduce their travel,” Lyon said.
“It’s a good concept. I think we’ve explored it as a club but I think there are some difficulties with the two teams (in WA) and (balancing the) home fixture.
“I think it’s a good thing to come together and when you’re on the top of the ladder, it’s a nice connection piece to build for the finals, so I can understand the concept.”
Lyon spoke glowingly of young defender Jason Carter, who will make his debut for Fremantle in the clash.
The 19-year-old hails from Wyndham and is a product of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy.
“It’s great to have a debutant, Jason Carter out of the NGA, he’s a Kimberley boy and (fellow Kimberley product) Joel Hamling presented his jumper,” Lyon said.
“It’s so difficult to get to the AFL from the Kimberley but it’s great that the pathway is opening up.
“It’s a great story, he went and worked with Aaron Sandilands at (Sandilands’ landscaping company) Gecko Contracting, he’s got a real work ethic that he harnessed and applied that to his footy.
“We see strongly the connection off field with what he’s doing on-field and in training. That just reaffirms that we can build people off the field professionally and it really helps their football as well.”
