Fremantle forward Michael Frederick has revealed the message from Justin Longmuir at half-time that inspired the Dockers to a 38-point win over Melbourne.
Fremantle’s clash with the Demons was one of a number of mouth-watering games in Round 11, and the game surpassed the hype as the purple wave enveloped Simon Goodwin’s men at the MCG.
However, it wasn’t always destined that way, Fremantle kicking just 1.6 in the first quarter before finding themselves five goals down in the second term.
Frederick, who finished with two goals and a game-high 11 score involvements, said the Dockers were just as disappointed as fans with their first half.
“Going into half-time, we were pretty disappointed, but it was more just a ten-minute period of footy that let us down,” the livewire told SEN WA Breakfast.
“We just knew we were sort of playing into their hands a little bit, we got the message to try and start shifting the ball out to the open side and opening up space through the corridor and going a bit more direct.
“I guess we did that and we got on the scoreboard pretty early, that’s been a bit of a thing in the past, our third quarters haven’t been too great, but it was good to get the first couple goals of the third quarter.
“Then at three-quarter time, just reiterating and knowing we have to get it done in the contest, and we did, just kept going all the way through to the final siren.”
The changes clearly worked. With an even inside 50 count (53-51 favouring Fremantle), their efficiency of 50.9 per cent inside their forward 50 clearly overshadowing Melbourne’s 43.1 per cent as they booted home 12 second-half goals.
The Dockers’ win keeps them in the top-four for another week ahead of another blockbuster against Brisbane this weekend.