FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon does not often hand out individual praise to his players, but even he could not overlook Nat Fyfe's "special" performance in the Dockers' 44-point win over Geelong at Simonds Stadium.
Fyfe, the early Brownlow medal favourite, was outstanding against the Cats, joining David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Stephen Hill in running riot against an under-strength Geelong lineup.
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"I thought it was a pretty even team performance but I know Nathan played pretty well," Lyon said with a wry smile after the match.
"He was pretty special in the air. I thought the longer it went, the better he got.
"He dominated in the last quarter. They're great signs."
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Despite close attention from Geelong's Cameron Guthrie, Fyfe finished the afternoon with 36 disposals and three goals in another standout display.
Cats coach Chris Scott said Fyfe had just about become the best player in the competition.
"Don't ask me (about Fyfe) ask the guys who play against him," Scott said.
"They rate him pretty highly. They thought he was the best player in the competition last year and based on the last couple of weeks it's hard to argue with."
Mundy racked up a game-high 39 possessions, while Barlow (31 touches and three goals) and Stephen Hill (29 and 10 inside 50s) also got off the chain.
The Dockers' ability to spread from the contest proved too difficult for Geelong to handle, with Fremantle taking full advantage of Jimmy Bartel (concussion), Steven Motlop (club imposed suspension) and Jared Rivers' (knee) absences.
Fremantle won all the key indicators - disposals (409-321), uncontested possessions (264-193) and inside 50s (55-41).
"Our midfield was very strong. The game is won and lost in the midfield, they've had a couple of injuries and suspensions and we took our opportunity there," Lyon said.
"In the end, I think we can describe it as professional. Our ball use and our defence and clearance work was all pretty strong.
"It wasn't perfect, a long way from it, but it was a pretty good brand."
On a sour note, ruckman Zac Clarke will have scans on his left knee after he aggravated a pre-existing posterior issue when he fell awkwardly in the final term.
However, Lyon is optimistic Clarke's injury won't be that bad.
"It was his ankle early and then late it was his knee," Lyon said.
"We scan colds nowadays. They'll scan it. It doesn't seem (that bad) on the surface but you've got to let it cool down.
"But we're expecting he's going to be OK.
"We've got Jon Griffin, Jack Hannath and Michael Apeness at Peel playing some pretty good footy who we'd look at (if Clarke is sidelined)."
Lyon said the Dockers had already moved on to next Sunday's huge derby against fierce hometown rival West Coast.
"They're (derbies) intense games and it doesn't matter where you're placed on the ladder. Particularly for the Dockers, when the Eagles were so strong, we were able to get up and get some victories," Lyon said.
"It's not about ladder position. We'll be squarely focused on it. It's started now with our recovery.
"We really need to come with our effort again and that will give us the best chance."
