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Freo right in flag race: Sutcliffe

Freo right in flag race: Sutcliffe

Young defender Cameron Sutcliffe says Fremantle are still right in the premiership race despite a relatively low-key first half of the season.

The Dockers started the year as flag favourites, but are seventh on the ladder after losses to Hawthorn, Sydney, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide.

But they have won their past two matches, and will be just one win off second spot at the completion of the round if they account for Adelaide at Patersons Stadium tomorrow.

Sutcliffe said the Dockers were working hard to recapture their best form and were confident they could still challenge strongly for the flag.

"I feel as though we're still in the mix," he told _The Weekend West _.

"It's definitely a tight race for the premiership. Port and Hawthorn are obviously great teams, but we'll just see how we go.

"We're definitely still building and still learning and trying to progress the game plan and contribute every week. It's building."

Both the Dockers and the Crows named unchanged sides for tomorrow's game after strong victories over the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast respectively last week. Alex Silvagni, Brady Grey and Matt Taberner are the emergencies for the home side, with Shaun McKernan, Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Luke Thompson the Crows' emergencies.

Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs had been in doubt during the week with a hip complaint, but was named to play.

Spearhead Taylor Walker, coming off five goals against the Suns, is nursing a sore calf but has been declared fit.

A victory could see the Crows finish the round inside the top eight.

Fremantle's game against the Bulldogs was the first in a nine-game stretch against sides outside of the top eight.

Many experts predict the Dockers could win all nine and put themselves in line for another top-four finish, but Sutcliffe said the club's recent success had come from focusing purely on the next moment and that would not change.

Sutcliffe has been one of Fremantle's best-performed young players, stepping in to cover for the injured Garrick Ibbotson and Clancee Pearce late last year and making the spot his own.