A final quarter surge by GWS in a 12-point win over Fremantle wasn’t due to a lack of effort on Freo’s part, according to young utility Darcy Tucker.
Freo led by 15-points at three quarter time but the Giants came out firing with their top-four spot on the line - kicking the opening four goals of the quarter and winning the clearances 11–0 in that period.
“For the first three quarters we stayed with them but we let them get away in the final term,” Darcy said.
“I think there was a bit of stoppage work and centre bounce work where they got away.
“I thought our effort was good all day, which I thought was really pleasing from the boys.
“They’re a talented team, they’re on of the best in the competition so for us to go with them the whole way right to the end, it was great to see.”
Darcy said this week’s final term differed to that of a week prior, when Hawthorn kicked six goals to two in the fourth quarter.
“Last week (against Hawthorn) we gave away four or five goals in the last 10 minutes of the game.
“It was really pleasing to see that we didn’t give up, we still fought back and didn’t just throw in the towel.
“We’re a young side and sometimes young teams and can do that, and we’ve done that before, but I thought we really fought right to the final siren, which was great.”
The game was one of Tucker’s best from his 26-game career, with a career-high 23 disposals and 582.2 metres gained.
Tucker was moved solely to a wingman role after spending part of his time forward in recent weeks, and delivered Freo plenty of run with 16 kicks and running at 87 per cent disposal efficiency.
“It’s good to get on the outside and that’s one of my focuses, to relaly get the ball and use my kicking,” Tucker said.
“I think I did that a little bit today which was good and I’ll look to go one better and improve again next week.”
