Fremantle ahead Sam Switkowski admits his staff’s 11-point loss to Adelaide was a well timed reminder that they nonetheless have a lot 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 principle gamers from every squad.
Fremantle booted 4 of the primary 5 targets to steer by 18 factors and Matt Taberner was vigorous with two majors within the opening time period.
However from there Adelaide outscored them 11 targets 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 exhibits you typically the place your vulnerabilities are whenever you come up in opposition to totally different opposition,” Switkowski mentioned.
“We all know within the sport nowadays, momentum is such a giant factor. We will anticipate there’s going to be objective swings every means in most video games we will play this 12 months.
“However we had the sport on our phrases early I assumed. Our depth was actually good, we had been transferring very well and had been on prime in clearance and stoppage.
“I believe that is the largest half that fell away – the competition and our stoppage. We began dropping these and it turns into very laborious to defend behind that after they’re getting loads of heart clearances.”
Nat Fyfe’s three targets 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 objective and the Dockers regarded harmful when he, Fyfe and Taberner had 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 may do for the staff in 2023.
“He is been constructing actually properly over the pre-season,” Switkowski mentioned.
“He appears to be like actually good when he is main out from full-forward. After we can get supply and put it out in area for him, he is actually laborious to cease. We’re happy along with his efficiency.
“He’ll preserve constructing. We again him in. He is a famous person.”
Excessive profile recruit Izak Rankine kicked three targets for the Crows in a vigorous efficiency. Darcy Fogarty kicked two targets, 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 virtually 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 organize for spherical one in opposition to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
“You get fairly used to versing your self and enjoying in opposition to your personal sport model which you already know so effectively so it is fairly predictable,” Switkowski defined.
“We do our opposition evaluation so we knew a good bit about Adelaide coming into it. However they’re nonetheless going to throw issues that we’re uncertain about.
“From a forwards perspective, their excessive half-backs had been actually harmful. They ran off actually laborious. I do know there’s loads of groups that wish to bounce actually quick off half-back this 12 months.
“That is one thing we will have a look at as effectively. How we are able to stem their affect and damage them on the best way again offensively as effectively.”
A bunch of massive key Dockers did not 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 principle sport and left the sector after showing to injure his leg, however he returned to the sector moments later.
