Check out Freo’s best performers and the key stats from the team’s 28-point win against Gold Coast at Optus Stadium in round three.
24 – Fyfe Contested possessions
Fyfe’s 24 contested possessions against Gold Coast was his highest total since his Brownlow year. He registered his career high of 26 against Adelaide in round 9, 2015 and collected 25 contested possessions against Geelong in round 2, 2015.
Fyfe also had 25 contested disposals once in Freo’s Grand Final year against Melbourne in round 9, 2013.
9 – Langdon inside 50s
Ed Langdon’s nine inside 50s was the equal most in round three and beat the running midfielder’s career best by four. Langdon’s 21 kicks was also a career-high, while delivering a game-high 578.9 metres gained.
The 22-year-old’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed by the senior coaches, with Ross Lyon and Stewart Dew awarding Langdon six votes in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award.
47 – Crowden pressure acts since debut
Since making his debut in round two, Mitch Crowden leads the team in pressure acts with 47. Champion Data says a pressure act is when a player has applied either closing, corralling, chasing or physical pressure on an opponent with the football.
Fellow first-year player Andrew Brayshaw has also helped Freo up the pressure on opponents. The no.2 draft pick, who made his debut in round one, has the second most pressure acts this season for Fremantle with 62, four behind Nat Fyfe who leads Fremantle with 66.
This year, Fremantle has increased its pressure acts per game from 282.4 in 2017 (16th in competition) to 315.7 in 2018 (fifth in competition)
100 – Luke Ryan disposal efficiency
Luke Ryan was flawless against the Suns, running at 100 per cent disposal efficiency through his 14 kicks and seven handballs.
While 13 other players also ran at 100 per cent efficiency in round three, Ryan was the only player to do so with 20 disposals or more.
44 – Midfield trio’s score involvements
While much is being made of Geelong’s Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood, there is a certain Freo trio that is having more of an impact where it matters – the scoreboard.
Nat Fyfe (12), Lachie Neale (11) and David Mundy (11) all featured in the top-10 for score involvements in round three, with Champion Data crediting a score involvement to any player who is part of an unbroken scoring chain via a disposal, hitout to advantage, kick-in or knock-on.
2 – Goals kicked on Alex Pearce in 2018
Alex Pearce has been in outstanding form since returning from almost two years out of the game through injury, keeping his direct opponents to two goals from three games so far this season.
Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch kicked eight goals against Carlton in round two but he wasn’t allowed the same freedom by Pearce, who held the Sun to just one goal, which resulted from a free kick up the field.
Pearce also kept Charlie Dixon to one goal in round one and kept Joe Daniher goalless in round two.
Heatmap: Stephen Hill heads back
Stephen Hill is spending more time in defence in 2018, with the midfielder making a move to half-back.
In round three, 72 per cent of Hill’s possessions came in Fremantle’s defensive half with 28 per cent in the attacking half.
In 2017, 60 per cent of Hill’s possessions were in the defensive half with 40 per cent in the attacking half.
Stephen Hill's possessions in 2018 (L) vs 2017 (R). Source: Champion Data
