Pressure test: Where it all went wrong for the Dockers

IF FREMANTLE wants to fulfil its stated aim of being one of the competition's best teams in 2025, it got the best feedback it could have asked for on how its pressure game can help make that happen in the final three weeks of the season. 

The Dockers failed under the pressure of top-four teams Geelong, Greater Western Sydney and Port Adelaide and learned lessons that coach Justin Longmuir hoped would "burn in pre-season" for the talented group.

But there were also shortcomings exposed in the Dockers' own pressure game, with the team ranking bottom two in the competition for overall tackles and recording two of its worst pressure games of the season in the run home. 

Their pressure rating of 167 against the Cats in round 22 was their third worst of the season, while a differential of -22 against the Giants the following week was their second worst result in 2024.  

The group recovered somewhat against Port when their season was on the line but fell away in the second half as the Power took their own game to a new level. 

Falling from third in round 20 to an eventual 10th-place finish, the Dockers' overall pressure during that period was eventually well off top-four trendsetters like the Power and Giants.

The Dockers' pressure issues in the final three weeks started at the contest, where they had been one of the competition's strongest teams through 2024. 

From the moment Essendon came from behind to seal a one-point win in round 21 at a devastating late stoppage, their clearance game did not hold up against the best. Increased attention on star midfielder Caleb Serong in particular had an impact, alongside the absence of No.1 ruckman Sean Darcy.

Patrick Dangerfield (11 clearances) and Tom Green (13) both produced dominant stoppage games, before the Dockers responded against the Power in a more even coalface battle. 

The Dockers' contested strength this season has often accompanied a strong marking game, but that was taken away against Geelong, Greater Western Sydney and Port, with their ball movement suffering. 

They slipped from fourth to 16th in the final three rounds for shifting the ball from half-back to inside 50, and sixth to 14th for overall uncontested marks. The absence of Josh Treacy after a posterior cruciate ligament injury against Essendon proved devastating on the scoreboard.

As did a lack of composure under pressure when opponents turned up the heat. 

"Basic execution in terms of executing with ball in hand didn't stand up against the best sides and we didn't execute under the pressure of the game well enough, tonight and all year," Longmuir said after the Power loss. 

There is room to improve across the Dockers' list when it comes to applying pressure, having ranked 13th across the season. There is a particular need to lift in inside 50, where they ranked 17th. 

Small forward Sam Switkowski remained an elite pressure player this season, while midfielder Andrew Brayshaw was the Dockers' only elite pressure midfielder. Caleb Serong, Matthew Johnson, Jordan Clark and Josh Treacy were the only other Dockers to rank either above average or elite in the indicator in their positions this season. 

The Dockers are now in the process of dissecting their season, analysing the clear feedback they received in the final three weeks, but also across 2024. 

The positives, as highlighted by chief executive Simon Garlick, are that the team spent 18 weeks in the top eight and was in a position deep in the year to "have a crack at a premiership". 

They have a core of professional young players that appear committed to elite standards and who should set the club up to contend for several years if they stay together. 

"We think there's a lot right in our program, but it's critical that our members and supporters understand there is no relaxation in that and we've got to get to work and understand exactly what we need to do to get better," Garlick said. 

"There's some foundations there, but we clearly weren't good enough at this point in time, so we'll look to improve from a list perspective and examine every part of our football operations." 

If the Dockers can capitalise on the talent and driven nature of their list, then they are going to again find themselves competing against the best teams in cut-throat games deep in the season next year. 

Whether it is related to game style or the players' own ability to execute, rounding out their game to handle the high-pressure moments will define their season and will need to be a major focus of the upcoming summer.