By Justin Chadwick
Fremantle defender Hayden Young is confident his team is tactically and psychologically prepared if wet weather descends on Saturday night’s AFL elimination final against the Western Bulldogs.
Questions about Fremantle’s ability to play in the wet were raised midway through the season after the Dockers suffered back-to-back 36-point losses to Gold Coast and Collingwood.
Hayden Young says Fremantle has a strong plan to win in the wet. Credit:Getty Images
Those wet-weather doubts were amplified by a 46-point loss to Melbourne in round 20, but the Dockers were able to gain some confidence two weeks later from a 9.17 (71) to 7.5 (47) win over second-bottom West Coast at a rain-soaked Optus Stadium.
Between six to 15mm of rain is forecast for Perth on Saturday.
If the rain does affect the elimination final against the Bulldogs, Young is confident Fremantle now possess the tools to deal with it.
“We feel like we’ve learned a lot from our mistakes and we should be in a good place if it gets wet,” Young said.
“We probably went into those games with not a strong plan around what to do in the wet.
“We tried to stick to what we usually do. From those games, we’ve made some adjustments now.
“If the game is wet, we’ve got some strategies in place that can allow us to still get the ball going forward and score.”
The win over West Coast was particularly important for Fremantle, with the Dockers dominating that game in the wet to create 26 scoring shots to 12.
Young feels his team are now mentally more equipped in the wet.
“Having more clarity, psychologically it gives you more confidence,” he said.
“I think we can take some confidence out of the win over West Coast.
“And the fact we’re going in now with a strong plan just gives you a lot more confidence, that under pressure you don’t have to try to pull anything off.
“You can just pick the ball up, get it on the boot, and get it going forward.”
Fremantle are hopeful forward Rory Lobb (shoulder) and wingman Griffin Logue (adductor) will be passed fit to return against the Bulldogs.
Forward Matt Taberner (calf) could be overlooked even if he recovers in time.
Rory Lobb will be back.Credit:Getty Images
Fremantle only narrowly missed out on a top-four spot, but will now need to buck the odds if they are to reach the grand final.
Young is confident his team can go deep into September.
“I think our best can match anyone else’s,” he said.
“We were only two points from second spot, so our finish on the ladder doesn’t dictate our season or what we’re capable of.”
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