Dockers don’t take foot off the pedal: Clarke

Ruckman Zac Clarke says suggestions Fremantle are deliberately taking their foot off the pedal during games to conserve energy are “way off”.

The Dockers have jumped two wins clear on top of the ladder after their 28-point victory over Essendon at Domain Stadium on Saturday night.

Fremantle were in front by 55 points early in the last quarter before the Bombers booted the last four goals.

That followed periods of dominance by West Coast and Sydney after the Dockers had established a big lead in rounds three and four. But Clarke denied it was by design.

“That’s way off,” he said. “We obviously don’t get that from (coach) Ross (Lyon) or any of the coaches to take the foot off the pedal.

“We aim to play four quarters of consistent football and I think we have only done that one game this year, so we have to keep working on it.”

Clarke said they would review what went wrong during the final term as they prepare to take on the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

He said the Dockers wouldn’t be getting carried away with their 6-0 start and believed they had to be prepared for the ups and downs of the season.

The Bulldogs have been the feel-good story of 2015 but gave up a 55-point lead to lose to St Kilda on Saturday.

“They’ve improved quite a lot since last season,” Clarke said.

“Their younger players are really energetic.

“I really enjoy playing at Etihad. Under the roof, it’s a quick and exciting ground to play at. We know what they are going to bring so we’re going to have to match that and bring our best footy.”

Clarke, 25, said his left knee had pulled up well after a round-two scare.

He said he had been working hard on his marking and ability to be an attacking threat in 2015, dragging in 11 contested marks and booting 4.2 so far.

He is behind only Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands and Matthew Pavlich in contested marks at the Dockers this season.

“Me and Aaron have got really good chemistry at the moment so I think we’re working pretty well in tandem,” Clarke said.

He also believed he was reach-ing a level of maturity after 80 games at the top level.

“It takes a while to adapt to the AFL environment,” Clarke said.

“You can see all the guys from that same (2008) draft playing well and playing consistent football.”