Without playing a game, rookie forward Josh Treacy has already become a fan favourite at Fremantle after impressing this pre-season with his contested marking and attack of the footy.
 
After kicking three goals in Fremantle’s intraclub game a fortnight ago, the 194cm big man backed it up with two fourth-quarter goals in Saturday’s hitout against West Coast.
 
After kicking his second at the locked-out Lathlain Park, a teammate’s shout of “COHUNA!” was audible throughout the ground.
 
In an interview with Adam Papalia for 6PR’s Twilight Zone, midfielder Andrew Brayshaw explained the nickname.
 
“The country town that he comes from in Victoria is Cohuna, or maybe he was just outside, but everyone calls him the big Cohuna which is pretty funny,” Brayshaw told 6PR.

Treacy, who was selected at no.7 in the 2020 NAB AFL Rookie Draft, was one of the young players that impressed Brayshaw most in the 47-point win against the Eagles.
 
“It’s really good fun to see a lot of young guys out there with a smile on their face and working really hard as a team,” Brayshaw said.
 
“I’ve seen blokes work really hard, especially these young guys coming out and playing and performing their role.
 
“To see Youngy (Hayden Young), Caleb Serong and Josh Treacy all have really strong performances, it’s just a credit to the work they’ve put in this pre-season.
 
“I think you saw a glimpse (of Treacy’s ability) in that last quarter. He’s got really powerful mits. He leads and reads the ball really well with a lethal drop punt.
 
“I think you’re going to see a lot of striding out of the cage, taking big pack marks like he did in the last quarter and going back and slotting them.”

Treacy’s output was just two of the 16 goals Fremantle kicked on the day and Brayshaw hoped it was a sign that Freo were improving their mid-forward connection.
 
“I think we showed a few times, especially in that last quarter, that our connection piece is really strong,” Brayshaw said.
 
“We’ve been putting a fair bit of work into it at our centre quarter bounces, our stoppages and our ball movement.
 
“I think in the first quarter, we were playing into (West Coast’s) hands a bit and they took a fair few intercepts but then we started to really lead up at the kicker and started to reward those leads.
 
“It’s a lot easier when we can find that mark inside 50 and I think that’s something we adapted to in the second half.”

• Young: We want to practice winning
• Justin Longmuir Q&A following scratch match
• Talking points: Freo scratch match v West Coast