3 minute read
After copping hammerings from Hawthorn and West Coast, the Dockers are aiming to get back on the AFL winner's list against third-placed Adelaide.
Fremantle will be aiming to put a week of heavy criticism behind them when they take on AFL high flyers Adelaide at Patersons Stadium on Saturday.
Dockers' coach Ross Lyon has copped a battering in AFL circles over the past fortnight, with his defensive game plan raising the ire of fans and past players alike.
Carlton legend Mark Maclure accused Lyon of destroying the game, while Kevin Bartlett labelled the team unwatchable in the wake of last week's 48-point loss to West Coast.
The Dockers entered their forward 50m zone just seven times in the second half against the Eagles, and Lyon concedes his midfield group need to drastically improve if they are to match it with the best teams in the competition.
"We're really confident we can play football like we did early in the year and remedy that and really aim to get the four points," Lyon said ahead of the clash with Adelaide.
"We certainly walked out of the review crystal clear on the areas we needed to fix.
"We certainly slaughtered the ball.
"Did we have the forward structure in front of the ball that we wanted? No, but that's easily remedied."
Although Fremantle's midfield group have been soundly beaten over the past fortnight, skipper Matthew Pavlich expects to play predominantly in the forward line.
"I think it'll stay the same as it has been for the majority of this year and that means in periods I'll play in the midfield," Pavlich said.
"But we need to develop class young players and we have that on our list. We just need to continue to back them in and give them confidence."
While the Dockers have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week, Adelaide will also be out to prove a point after being over-run by Collingwood in the final quarter last Saturday.
The third-placed Crows are still well-positioned at 7-2, and have been further boosted by the return of Taylor Walker from suspension.
Fremantle handed a surprise recall to forward Jack Anthony, while 18-year-old midfielder Hayden Crozier was named for his debut.
