Fremantle’s bid to be daring with the ball has rotated their season in dramatic trend after a flat begin to 2023.
The Dockers went into their mid-season bye at 6-5 following four-straight victories, three of them coming in opposition to top-four groups from final yr.
Hopes of backing up final yr’s drought-breaking finals look seemed shot when Fremantle have been belted by the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions in consecutive weeks.
But a snug win over rebuilding Hawthorn at house was adopted by monumental wins in opposition to Sydney (away), Geelong and Melbourne (away).
Forward Lachie Schultz mentioned the Dockers wouldn’t be reverting again to the conservative method they took early within the season.
“I think we’re just playing with a lot more dare, a lot more freedom,” Schultz advised AAP after the spherical 11 win in opposition to the Demons.
“Having this play to win mindset, and the confidence that comes from that, just boys taking the game on and trusting themselves with the ball in hand.
“We’re pulling off kicks that we would not have gone for at first of the yr and trusting our legs to only run and carry and assault the sport.
“It’s just obviously put us so far ahead of where we were and we’ll keep playing like that because we know it’s working and we’re just going to keep growing our individual games and as a team and see how far we can go.”
Fremantle can be with out towering ruckman Sean Darcy for Saturday evening’s conflict with Richmond at Optus Stadium.
But the Dockers know star recruit Luke Jackson is coming off a confidence-boosting efficiency within the last-start win in opposition to the Dees.
When Darcy was injured halfway by way of the match, Jackson stepped up with among the best performances of his 63-game profession in opposition to the membership he helped win a drought-breaking premiership for.
“He’s such a special player,” Schultz mentioned of Jackson.
“He’s obviously got the world at his feet, it could be absolutely anything for this club and it’s just so exciting with where he can go from here.
“To play like that in opposition to his outdated mob (in Melbourne), it is simply extra particular for him.
“If someone like me was playing against my old club I’d be nervous going into game but he just thrived on it.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
