Fremantle midfielder Hayley Miller believes a slow start against Melbourne has ultimately cost Freo a top two spot on the ladder, defeated by five points at Fremantle Oval on Sunday.

The Demons kicked four unanswered goals up until half-time, with a Gabby O’Sullivan major kicking Freo's first in the third term.

Miller collected 13 disposals to go along with seven tackles, three marks and 76 AFL Fantasy points to finish amongst Freo’s best in the clash.

The explosive midfielder said Freo left themselves with too much to do in the second half.

“You can’t go out and start the way we did and expect to peg it back,” Miller said.

“Trent was surprisingly positive with the three quarters that we did play well, but if you let teams get that far ahead at quarter time you are making it hard for yourself.

“To Melbourne’s credit, they ran all day and their link up play was amazing… they came out and played a really strong brand of footy.”

The loss sees Fremantle’s round nine clash with North Melbourne at Arden Street become a must win game for Freo to stay in touch with the top four ahead of a tightly contested finals series.

Miller gave her thoughts on some of the better performers against the Demons including Roxy Roux (two goals, five tackles), O’Sullivan (10 disposals, six tackles and one goal) and Laura Pugh (11 disposals, five tackles).

ROXY ROUX
“It’s always good having Roxy come through the middle with some really strong ruck taps,” Miller said.

“To get on the end of a couple goals and then let her opponent know about it, that’s what we love from our young kids.

“(We like) to get them up and about and get them involved in the game.”

GABBY O’SULLIVAN
“It’s always good when it’s your birthday isn’t it? You get a little extra kick in your step,” Miller said.

“She’s always solid down there for us her leading up at the footy…and for her to do that week in and week out is very impressive.”

LAURA PUGH
“Pughy is really consistent each week and often one that doesn’t get a lot of credit for what she is doing,” Miller said.

“I think she had ten disposals in the first quarter last week.

“She is pretty reliable; she is not the quickest, but she sort of makes time slow down…and she gets it on our terms from the backline.”

BIANCA WEBB
“Webby coming in and playing her first game as an inside midfielder…I thought she really took it to them today,” Miller said.

“Usually, Webby doesn’t get her opportunity as an inside midfielder, she has usually come in and played a role on the wing.

“She was given a role on Karen Paxman to try and nullify her after half time and to her credit I thought she held her own in there.”

ON THE ROUND 9 CLASH WITH NORTH MELBOURNE
“That now becomes even bigger of a game as it was before,” Miller said.

“North will be really hungry because I think they are the only team who can actually be knocked out of the finals so they will go into that game as though it is an absolute must win.

“We want to verse teams who are really hungry to win, we want to beat teams like that because we know what we are capable of.”