Time to attack, says Harvey
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey says there is no better occasion on which to play attacking football than on Anzac Day
Coach Mark Harvey said wavering confidence and indecisive disposal had been problems for Fremantle in its winless start to the season, but on Saturday night the side would attack.
"We can talk and train as hard as we want, but it'll be that two hours on Saturday night, on a day to remember, that we need to remember," Harvey said from Fremantle Oval on Wednesday.
"What better day to play attacking football?"
Harvey said Fremantle would try to avoid the Swans' stoppage-heavy game.
The Swans ground out an impressive win over Carlton in round four, conceding just nine goals, while their losses to St Kilda and Brisbane were also low-scoring matches.
Fremantle managed just 4.4 against the Saints on Saturday, with its highest score – 13.16 (94) – coming in round one against the Western Bulldogs.
"[The Swans] like the scrum-stoppage situation, so we'll hopefully not find ourselves in that situation," Harvey said.
"(But) that all depends on our ability to be able to maintain possession in that attacking fashion that we're looking for.
"They're a really well-drilled side that loves scrapping. If you get caught up in that scrap then that can be to the detriment of what you want to do."
Saturday night's clash will be the 14th annual Len Hall game. The match is named in honour of WA's last Gallipoli veteran, Len Hall, and celebrates the Anzac spirit.
Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin, whose great-grandfather was one of the original diggers to land at Gallipoli, said the players would draw on the emotion of the day when they take on the Swans.
"Certainly in our game it's not fighting war, but I guess a lot of parallels can be drawn," he said.
"You sort of feel united in your effort.
"In regards to the football season, we certainly want to bounce back from our performance last week and we'll be drawing on some of that inspiration to tackle the Sydney Swans on Saturday night."
Defender Greg Broughton, who missed the St Kilda clash with an ankle injury, will have a fitness test before the Len Hall game.
Young ruckman Zac Clarke, who was drafted with pick No. 37 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft, and rookie elevation Matt de Boer are in line to debut this week.