“We’re not worrying too much about what happened on the weekend. It is a pre-season cup game so we’re not stressing too much.” Daniel Gilmore said today.
“The positive to come out of the weekend is we can now go and play full season rules.
“We’re feeling very fit and as I’ve said we can now go into the next two practice games practicing the normal rules and the NAB Cup rules go out the window now.
“We can get on with our structures and the way we want to play,” Daniel said.
One area Daniel said the team discussed in their match review was their questionable decision making during the second and third quarters yesterday and how it led to substandard skill execution. Daniel said Senior Coach Mark Harvey stressed the importance of ensuring quality disposal when under pressure and that it would be something the team would focus on further in preparation for the season proper.
Despite falling less than three goals short of victory over Adelaide the coaching staff was heartened with how the team ran the game out. Fremantle kicked the final four goals of the match against a three goal breeze and maintained an intensity from start to finish, particularly in their forward half, that saw Crows Senior Coach Neil Craig praise Fremantle’s efforts.
“Their pressure was exactly what we’ve needed,” Craig said.
“It wasn’t NAB Cup pressure, it was better than that and that’s why it was such a good game for us.”
This Saturday night’s NAB Challenge clash against North Melbourne at Subiaco Oval will allow the coaching staff to continue their player rotations to expose more of the playing group to match time as well as roles in different positions.
Much like the 16 players who were used through the midfield against West Coast in the opening NAB Cup fixture, Mark Harvey again trialled various players in the centre as well as other unfamiliar positions at the weekend to see who will be able to fill utility roles during the 2008 season. These ongoing rotations and experimentations will continue against the Kangaroos this Saturday, as will the selection rotations that will see some players from Sunday’s match rested to allow players who missed the Crow’s clash room to come into the side. This rotation system has been employed to ensure the existing high fitness levels within the playing group are maintained and improved upon in match scenarios, not just training scenarios.
Tickets for Saturday night’s match are now on sale through Ticketmaster. Fremantle members receive free entry to the match (subject to capacity).
Bouncedown is scheduled for 6:40pm WDST.
