Danielle Laidley: What Fremantle must to do keep their September dream alive against Gold Coast

The elimination final between Fremantle and Gold Coast is going to be a hell of a fight. It all starts in the midfield but there are some other key areas that will determine who advances to week two of the finals and whose season ends in disappointment. The round 12 clash between the sides was a cracker and saw the Dockers get over the line in a seesawing affair. Fremantle kicked 5.3 to 2.1 in the first quarter. They halted Gold Coast’s ball movement by pressure and tackles. The Suns had 14 defensive chains but didn’t register an inside 50 because Fremantle turned over the ball and scored. Of the Dockers nine defensive-midfield chains, four went inside 50, helped by Jordan Clark playing a belter from half back. TACKLING & PRESSURE This was definitely a focus area for Fremantle with a total of 86 tackles for the game and a more remarkably 20 inside forward 50. The Pat Voss crunching tackle early was one that stood out but there were plenty more in the first quarter and throughout the game. Remember Shai Bolton’s tackle late for a Jye Amiss goal to seal the game. The pressure this weekend its super important because it cuts down Gold Coast’s ball movement and creates turnovers. LIMITING GOLD COAST’S BALL MOVEMENT Winning intercept possessions then forward handballing and slingshoting from defence has been a feature of the Suns game thsi season. Stopping Sam Collins’ intercepting is very important. Voss could be the man for this, first limiting Collins’ marking but also hitting the scoreboard himself when Collins drops off looking to intercept. The next phase is how Fremantle curtailed Daniel Rioli. He is pivotal with double possessions, win the ball, looks for a forward handball, then tries to get it back to penetrate the game. Earlier this year he had 27 disposals, only nine kicks and 18 handballs. He tried to get involved with handballs but couldn’t get free to kick the ball. Fremantle’s pressure meant he was repeatedly buffered and stopped getting the handball back. Only 335 metres gained for the game, of which 178 metres was in the last quarter, and only one score involvement indicates how effective the Dockers were at limiting him. It could be Sam Switkowski who goes to him. He can be razor sharp if he gets space, he’s clean, tackles and has got a super smart football brain. Or could it go to a Michael Frederick, who has pace to burn. Get Rioli clamped, take away their strength. MIDFIELD BATTLE Jarrod Witts has been superb all year and feeds Gold Coast’s midfield – Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell and Touk Miller. The stoppage game is the Suns biggest strength, with the second-best points from differential in the competition. But, do not underestimate Fremantle’s midfielders. They can stop opposition midfielders, being the second highest rated defensive midfield and they work as a collective. Sean Darcy must play 70 per cent in the ruck, this weekend. He must physically maul him, and after that Luke Jackson must run Witts around to fatigue him. This double punch all game will help the Dockers in the clearance game. Jaeger O’Meara didn’t play in round 12 and he will get a role to perhaps halt clearances from Rowell who has the No.1 scoring numbers from the clearance this year. Or maybe Anderson who is a bit like Serong in that when he gets shut down, the suns often lose. Then Serong, Brayshaw, Young, Bolton and Jackson can get to work at stoppages and with post-clearance pressure. CHAOTIC FOOTY Since 2001, just 43 per cent of home and away games where chaotic, according to Champion Data. In finals it jumps to 69 per cent. That’s based on more ground ball than marks. Fremantle happen to be the best team of the top 8 in 2025. What a recipe, we all cant wait.