The Fremantle Dockers are preparing for a team cut from the same cloth, as they prepare to face North Melbourne this Sunday, according to midfield coach Marc Webb. 

Freo and the Kangaroos were statistically similar in many areas in 2015, most notably contested possessions and tackling, and it’s something that Webb has acknowledged will be an important factor on Sunday. 

“It’s an area every team wants to be high in, and there’s no doubt that they have some really strong, inside mids,” Webb said.

“Getting first hands and trying hard to strip them and making sure we’re clean around the stoppages is going to go a long way.

“We’ve worked really hard on our stoppages this week and are going to come prepared.”

Lyon ready for North Melbourne

While Webb would have preferred to have Aaron Sandilands available for the North Melbourne clash, he was adamant that the absence of the two-time Doig Medallist wouldn’t change Freo’s mentality heading into the game. 

“It’s always a challenge (no Sandilands),” he admitted. 

“The mindset is that as midfielders, we have to hunt the ball well, work hard, tackle, pressure and that doesn’t change depending on who the ruckman is. 

“We’re here to play hard, contested football, dictate terms around the clearances and help out our forwards and backs.

“Our mentality hasn’t changed.”