Smashed in the midfield
Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis says he can’t recall a bigger midfield smashing than the one experienced by the Eagles in yesterday’s western derby.
The Eagles lost the clearances 44-26 and the contested possessions 135-115, but most of that damage occurred in the first term. Fremantle led by 52 points at quarter time after winning the clearances 15-4 and contested possessions 43-27.
Priddis said it was the most dominant quarter he had seen.
“That first quarter, they pulled us apart,” he said.
“We couldn’t get our hands on the footy, they were dominant at stoppages, got the ball going their way and they were very accurate going forward too.
“We were off with our pressure, off with work rate and they are a very, very good side. They are elite and they came to play.”
Priddis said there was a clear gap between the Eagles and the best teams in the competition.
West Coast finished ninth last year, but failed to beat a team above them and yesterday was their first match of this season against a 2014 finalist.
Priddis said everyone had to understand the gap between the best and the rest.
“Freo are an elite side and we are a building side,” he said.
“We need to get to that level and we’re not there yet. We know where we’re at, we know we’re a developing side and we have a lot of work ahead of us.
“We are prepared to do it. There are other areas other than the first quarter that we need to work on — making sure we comply to our structures.
“What we want to go into a game to do, we need to make sure we’re doing them.
“We are always learning. We are a developing side. I don’t know what the perception is, but we know where we are at.”
Priddis said the Eagles didn’t follow instructions early and their second-half fight-back showed what could happen if they stuck to the game plan.
West Coast still struggled to stop Fremantle’s midfield from running rampant. Lachie Neale finished with 42 disposals and three goals, while Stephen Hill kicked three from 30 touches.
Neale won the Ross Glendinning Medal, Hill finished second and Nat Fyfe third after 31 disposals and 10 clearances.
“That’s one of their strengths. Their midfield bats very deep,” Priddis said.
“We put some work into a few guys and then someone else pops up. That’s the sign of a quality side and that’s why they’re a top-four side.”
