Fremantle can take positives from some strong periods of play against Geelong on Sunday at Domain Stadium but need to work on a consistent display, according to defender Garrick Ibbotson.
It was a tough 42-point loss to open the 2017 season - with Fremantle failing to translate opportunity into scoreboard pressure.
Fremantle led the possession count, clearances and inside 50s on the night – yet Geelong went into the half time break with a 39-point advantage.
A late flurry saw Fremantle win the final term, kicking three in a row, including Cam McCarthy and Bradley Hill’s first goals for their new club.
“Geelong played very well. They were able to get some numbers back on us throughout the game,” Ibbotson said.
“We couldn’t quite use the ball properly to score against them.
“There are a few things to learn from, as Geelong were obviously better on the day.”
The opening term played out with two distinct themes. Fremantle started the game with their trademark intensity and pressure in what was shaping up to be a tight contest.
But after taking the lead through an Ed Langdon goal, Geelong lifted and made Freo play for a strong of costly errors – kicking four straight before Nick Suban’s steadier late in the term.
Ibbottson was chief among those firing early for Freo, with eight disposals mid-way through the first quarter.
“I think we started well, the first five or ten minutes were pretty good,” Ibbotson said.
“Geelong were able to work their way back and get on top, by the time we started up and made our way back into the game it was pretty much over.
“We did start reasonably well but we need to be able to do that for more than half of a quarter.”
