FREMANTLE will assemble its best available team to tackle West Coast in next Saturday's Marsh Community Series clash after opening its pre-season with a confidence-building win against Carlton.
The Dockers unveiled a new-look midfield and a modern game-style at Mandurah's David Grays Arena on Saturday, with recruits Blake Acres and James Aish shining in the impressive 47-point win.
Coach Justin Longmuir played down the significance of the pre-season performance, which was achieved without stars Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters and a backline that has been hit hard by injuries to key players.
Ruckman Sean Darcy was also managed and didn't play in the second half, with Stephen Hill set to return against the Eagles as the team builds towards the round one clash against Essendon at Marvel Stadium on March 21.
"Like I said to the players after the game, it's all about taking a step forward for round one and that's all it was," Longmuir said after the win.
DOCKERS DO THE JOB Full match coverage and stats
"I thought we took a step forward fitness-wise (and) I thought we looked a bit sharper with the footy today. It was a good result.
"I liked our structure in offence, I thought our defenders got in the shape we're after, and our players just backed themselves with the footy.
"It's clearly one game, and we're not going to get too far ahead of ourselves, but I liked what we dished up."
Longmuir said his midfield recruits were "really solid", with Acres (31 possessions, six clearances and six inside 50s) locking down one wing ahead of round one.
The coach said Aish (24 and six clearances) would need to fill a number of roles for the Dockers after moving to half-back in the final quarter.
PRE-SEASON FIXTURE Check out your team's Marsh Community Series games
"I hate to do it to him, but he's going to have to be one of those guys who plays multiple roles for us because he's added the midfield role to his game over the pre-season," Longmuir said.
"I thought he was really safe for us when he had to go back. He's a calm head … he was able to settle the guys."
Longmuir said Darcy had no injury concerns out of the match and had his minutes managed after missing the Dockers' intraclub with a shoulder issue. He said the No.1 ruckman would play a full game against the Eagles.
Rory Lobb stepped into the ruck in the second half and was arguably the Dockers' best, benefiting from an early start to his pre-season and taking 13 marks.
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Draftee Caleb Serong built into the game with an impressive third quarter, and Longmuir said prized youngster Hayden Young was a chance to join him against the Eagles after having his training loads managed in recent weeks.
Carlton assistant coach Brent Stanton said the performance was not disappointing for the Blues, who will be strengthened by the return of Patrick Cripps and forward Eddie Betts against Brisbane.
"We got a lot of good learnings out of this game. There's no doubt they (Fremantle) came with a real hunger and desperation and that just showed out in the first quarter and we played catch-up," Stanton said.
"The group we've got at the moment, they are going to have to learn to ride the up and downs.
"Fremantle just showed us how to play. They were a lot stronger around the ball."
Stanton said recruit Jack Martin was a standout for the Blues with his "intensity at the ball and hardness" before being managed in the second half with a focus on building to round one.
The 25-year-old will play close to a full game against Brisbane next week.
Stanton said co-captain Sam Docherty was also progressing towards the season opener against Richmond on March 19 after a solid performance across half-back.
"He's going to keep building like any other player, but two years out of the game, we know where he sits and where we want to get him to by round one," he said.
