FREMANTLE key forward Jye Amiss says he never lost belief in his goalkicking and knew his accuracy would return with some minor routine tweaks, with the young star bouncing back to form as the Dockers build for a finals charge. 

Amiss has earned a reputation as a deadeye set shot kick, earning the nickname 'Nev' at Fremantle ('Nev' Amiss = never miss).

But his accuracy has gone missing at stages this season and he entered the round 16 clash with Sydney after a fortnight that returned 1.4, with his only goal coming from open play.

The 20-year-old emerged in the opening minute against the Swans, however, to mark on the lead and convert confidently from just inside 50, approaching his run-up with some added momentum and flushing his kick in a significant moment for the 196cm forward and his team.

Amiss said he had adjusted his routine "a little bit, but not much" and continued to hone his craft at training, knowing that the hard work would eventually pay off if he persisted. 

"There's been ups and downs this year, but I haven't got to myself about it. If you look at the big picture, my record before this season has been really good and that's what I've sort of focused on," Amiss told AFL.com.au this week.

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"It's only this little patch that I've had to tinker a little bit, but I always just come back to my routine and trust myself.

"I'm doing the reps during the week, and I know that you don't just lose your capacity to kick goals and kick straight, so I knew it was going to come back."

Amiss kicked goals at important stages against the Swans, adding a second from a difficult angle on the eve of half-time and a third halfway through the third quarter as the Swans had built momentum and kicked back-to-back goals.

The third-year tall was realistic that there would be games where he doesn't kick as accurately, but said having a goalkicking routine since he was a state 12s player with WA had always held him in good stead and he would keep working closely with a tight group of coaches.  

"It's changed a little bit since then, but I think it's more the mindset of having a routine when you're a younger player that has really helped me throughout my career," Amiss said. 

"You can get direction from a lot of people outside the footy club, but you need to know where you get your feedback from and I've got a certain few here that I talk to about it.

"Whether it's Jaymie Graham or Justin (Longmuir), we talk about valuing the right things and we talk a lot about actually getting the opportunity inside 50 to have the shot at goal.

"They've been really pleased with the way I've been playing and just knowing where to get my feedback from is the main one." 

Jye Amiss celebrates a goal during the round 16 match between Sydney and Fremantle at the SCG on June 29, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

An underrated aspect of Amiss' season has been his forward pressure, with the athletic tall using his powerful traits to chase and harass defenders at a higher level alongside fellow tall forwards Josh Treacy and Luke Jackson. 

Having another aspect of his game to focus on and contribute through had been important, Amiss said, as the Dockers build their game off team defence and pressuring the ball. 

"We pride ourselves a lot on smothers and a smother can turn into a turnover that turns into a goal," Amiss said. 

"If we can turn it over closer to goal and put manic pressure on teams, then we can force turnovers and hopefully score the other way, so our team defence comes first and that's where these actions like smothers and spoils come into it."

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Saturday night's clash against Richmond could include a re-match with key defender Ben Miller, who was fined but avoided suspension in the teams' round eight game for an ugly off-the-ball incident with Amiss. 

Longmuir was furious after that MCG clash, which the Dockers won by 54 points, declaring his young spearhead had been "manhandled" when Miller dropped a knee into the 20-year-old's neck while he was on the ground. 

Ben Miller and Jye Amiss wrestle during the R8 match between Richmond and Fremantle at the MCG on May 5, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

While his coach highlighted a lack of support from umpires early in the season, Amiss said he was not concerned about the physical attention from key defenders as he quickly builds his own frame and physical traits. 

"Obviously I'm still a young player and learning my craft and my body is still developing, so it's really exciting," he said. 

"I've got some bigger, better defenders this year compared to last year, but you want to play on the best.

"I'll just play the way I play and if [decisions] fall my way, they do. If they don't, the umpires out there are doing their job and yeah, play on."