Fremantle ahead Sam Switkowski admits his workforce’s 11-point loss to Adelaide was a well timed reminder that they nonetheless have loads to work on earlier than spherical one.
The Dockers misplaced the 12.5 (77) to 10.6 (66) within the first 4 quarters of the apply sport, which was contested by the primary gamers from every squad.
Fremantle booted 4 of the primary 5 objectives to guide by 18 factors and Matt Taberner was vigorous with two majors within the opening time period.
But from there Adelaide outscored them 11 objectives to 6, together with 5 unanswered majors through the third quarter.
Switkowski mentioned the match was a reminder about how difficult it’s to face a real opposition as a substitute of enjoying intraclub video games.
“It shows you sometimes where your vulnerabilities are when you come up against different opposition,” Switkowski mentioned.
“We know in the game these days, momentum is such a big thing. We’re going to expect there’s going be goal swings each way in most games we’re going to play this year.
“But we had the game on our terms early I thought. Our intensity was really good, we were moving really well and were on top in clearance and stoppage.
“I think that’s the biggest part that fell away – the contest and our stoppage. We started losing those and it becomes very hard to defend behind that when they’re getting a lot of centre clearances.”
Nat Fyfe’s three objectives as a everlasting ahead stood out as a spotlight for the Dockers as he continues to point out how damaging he could be inside 50.
Luke Jackson additionally kicked a aim and the Dockers regarded harmful when he, Fyfe and Taberner have been all inside 50.
Taberner solely performed the primary two quarters earlier than being changed by Jye Amiss.
Switkowski mentioned Fyfe’s sport was one other indication of what he might do for the workforce in 2023.
“He’s been building really nicely over the pre-season,” Switkowski mentioned.
“He looks really good when he’s leading out from full-forward. When we can get good delivery and put it out in space for him, he’s really hard to stop. We’re pleased with his performance.
“He’ll keep building. We back him in. He’s a superstar.”
High profile recruit Izak Rankine kicked three objectives for the Crows in a vigorous efficiency. Darcy Fogarty kicked two objectives, as did Elliot Himmelberg and Shane McAdam. Former captain Rory Sloane made his return from a knee reconstruction and carried out strongly whereas not displaying any indicators that he’d missed nearly 12 months.
The Dockers will shut out their pre-season with a sport in opposition to Port Adelaide at Fremantle Oval on Thursday.
Switkowski mentioned that might be one other essential probability to arrange for spherical one in opposition to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
“You get quite used to versing yourself and playing against your own game style which you know so well so it’s quite predictable,” Switkowski defined.
“We do our opposition analysis so we knew a fair bit about Adelaide coming into it. But they’re still going to throw things that we’re unsure about.
“From a forwards perspective, their high half-backs were really dangerous. They ran off really hard. I know there’s a lot of teams that want to bounce really fast off half-back this year.
“That’s something we’re going to look at as well. How we can stem their influence and hurt them on the way back offensively as well.”
A bunch of massive key Dockers didn’t play together with Luke Ryan, Michael Walters, Michael Frederick, Heath Chapman and Nathan O’Driscoll.
Brennan Cox made his return from a knee an infection through the fourth quarter in a promising signal. Amiss continued enjoying after the primary sport and left the sector after showing to injure his leg, however he returned to the sector moments later.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
