The challenge of facing the increasingly impressive GWS Giants was always going to be a difficult one, but Danyle Pearce said Freo put their best foot forward with their intensity and pressure around the ball on Saturday night.
 
While GWS won the tackle count 79 to 75, Freo’s pressure was a constant presence and forced a usually crisp Giants side to have only seven players above 80 per cent disposal efficiency.

Ross Lyon post-match Q & A: Round 7 v GWS
 
Pearce said disrupting the Giants run and ball skills were priorities for Freo heading into the game.
 
“We spoke about that (during the week),” Pearce said
 
“We wanted to make it as tough for them as possible.
 
“They’re a tremendously fast side and they love to get it out the back and run onto it.”

Giants edge out Freo
 
Fremantle successfully quelled much of GWS’s run and carry in the 18-point loss, the Giants took only six bounces against Freo, a far cry from their average of 16 a game so far in 2016.
 
Pearce said adversity was commonplace in the AFL and was proud of how Freo responded when challenged by the Giants.
 
“Ebbs and flows happen all the time during a game,” he said.
 
“They really came out and got us around the stoppages.
 
“When they throw a punch, we just had to make sure we responded.” 

Voting now open for Freo Fans' MVP
 
Pearce said the team would take positives out of a spirited performance against GWS and use the game to build towards their round eight clash with Hawthorn in Tasmania.
 
“Now we just have to make sure we prepare and get our bodies right to play four quarters against Hawthorn.”