Freo fans should feel confident in their man’s ability to hold whichever gun forward he lines up on – McPharlin only conceded five goals to his direct opponent in his 14 home and away season games.
It’s more than likely ‘Buddy’ that he will go to, considering he’s played on the Hawks’ superstar on a number of occasions in the past.
But Roughead, the 2013 Coleman Medallist, can also expect a few tussles with the Freo stalwart deep inside Hawthorn’s forward 50.
While McPharlin’s goals conceded figures are remarkable, he knows all too well a major reason has been the all-team defence implemented by Fremantle under Ross Lyon.
Or ‘our brand of footy’, as the Fremantle players keep reminding us.
“We apply enormous pressure to sides, and we saw that against a quality team in Sydney in the prelim,” McPharlin said.
“If we bring that sort of pressure, we can curtail some of Hawthorn’s scoring ability.”
On Tuesday, Hawks’ midfielder Jordan Lewis told media his side was just as good at applying defensive pressure as Fremantle.
On the flip side, McPharlin said Freo had to take the game up to the league’s highest scorers.
“We're going to have to really attack the game and not be tentative with our ball movement,” he said.
“We’ll try and cut through their defence and cut through their wall.”
As for the mental pressure, McPharlin said it was equal for both sides, despite the Hawks having lost last year’s Grand Final.
“I'm sure we're going to have an immense amount of pressure coming from our own supporter base, they've really stuck with us for so long,” he said.
“It's great for them to see us have this opportunity.
“We're going to feel the pressure, certainly, as will Hawthorn, too.”
Having debuted in 2000 for, ironically, Hawthorn, the All Australian defender said he’d been around long enough to cherish thisopportunity.
“I've been in the league 13 or 14 years, these are pretty hard to get to,” McPharlin said.
“It's a bit surreal at this stage, it almost feels like any other week.
“I'm sure it's going to be a pretty unique experience when we get over to Melbourne, so I'm looking forward to what will be a pretty special moment in our lives.”
