Freo's running style faces test
Defender Michael Johnson expects Fremantle's more attacking style to face a sterner test when they take on the rising Gold Coast at Patersons Stadium tomorrow week.
Johnson broke free many times during the Dockers' 70-point mauling of Collingwood in Melbourne last Friday night, gathering 23 disposals off the half-back line.
The 29-year-old helped starve Magpies spearhead Travis Cloke of the ball and was regularly the first link in the Fremantle chain as they went end to end several times and scored heavily.
"I do like to play that role for the team," Johnson said.
"If I'm the unlucky one who gets a bit of attention, then it's up to someone else to stand up and play that role."
Johnson said the players would benefit from this weekend off ahead of their twilight clash with the Suns.
He said the Suns represented a strong challenge but had confidence in the way the Dockers had used the ball in their season opener.
"Especially playing on the big stage on a Friday night against a quality team, to move the ball the way that we did and the way that we have been training over the pre-season gives us momentum going into the next game and the next few games," Johnson said.
"We know that next week might be a bit harder.
"I am sure Gold Coast would have sat back and watched that Friday night game and taken a bit out of it.
"We'll still go into the game wanting to move the ball the way we moved it Friday night.
"We just like to move the ball really quickly and catch the opposition off guard."
Fremantle had their main session yesterday and will train again tomorrow as they focus on the Suns, who are full of confidence after beating Richmond last weekend.
"Led by Gary Ablett, there's a lot of experienced players that have started playing real good footy," Johnson said.
"You look at their list and there are a lot of first-round picks in the draft and you can see they've put a couple of kilos on and that's where those second and third-year players are adapting to AFL footy.
"We won't treat them lightly. We'll go into the game pretty confident with the way we're training and tracking at the moment, but we know they'll be coming over here to give it a hot crack and we'll be ready."
