Fremantle must embrace its successful shift to a more direct game plan in Sunday’s 41-point win over West Coast and view it as a “wake-up call” to how they need to play, according to dual premiership Kangaroo David King.
The Dockers powered past an injury-cruelled Eagles in Sunday’s Derby as Justin Longmuir’s team recorded its first win of 2023.
It comes after King last week said Fremantle had the “worst system” in the AFL and accused its coaching staff of not trusting the players by instructing them to play too defensive and not have enough dare with the ball.
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Dockers take out derby over injured WC | 02:54
But after Longmuir’s side ran riot against the Eagles — kicking over 100 points for just the second time since Round 8 last year while boasting five multiple goalkickers — King believes the proof is in the pudding with an approach that should be its new blue print moving forward.
“I think this chip, chip game is crap and it takes you nowhere. It doesn’t take you to the promise land, I know that,” King said on Fox Footy’s First Crack.
“(Against West Coast) they turn and go, they go through the corridor. Instead of taking 120 marks, they’re taking 80. But they’re taking territory.
“Your forward line works, everyone gets a look on turnover. All of a sudden you’re challenging defenders to get everything right in an instant.
“Even if it doesn’t work perfect, it still works. There’s always support turning up.
“They kicked 16 goals today — 108 points. Whether it’s by design or by accident, this is something they should embrace.
“They’ve got a good enough backline, and you know what? You’re going to get beaten at times. Instead of protecting your back six with the ball movement, play like this.”
King highlighted how the Dockers scored nearly 80 points from turnover against the Eagles, saying “you don’t get that sort of reward unless you go forward and challenge to punish”.
“I think it’s a bit of a wake-up call for Fremantle, that this is the new way to play … this is something they have to look at seriously,” he added.
St Kilda legend Montagna agreed with King and thinks it’s not too late for the Dockers to change their game plan even if they’d planned differently over the off-season.
Montagna suggested playing with more enthusiasm can become infectious throughout the entire team and help it in general play.
“There’s a lot of mentality about it, too. Sometimes when you move the ball with speed, the energy it creates in the rest of your game, it creates a sense of adventure and taking some risks and being a bit more assertive,” Montagna said on First Crack.
“Sometimes it’s the opposite, when you play with slower ball movement … maybe you try and take the foot off the gas because you’re in front.
“All of a sudden it can creep into your mind and everything else becomes a bit reactive. You take your foot off the pedal at stoppage and clearance and other parts of your game.
“I think the energy you get from your ball movement flows through the rest of your game.”
