Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has urged his team to become more ruthless after being left to rue yet another missed opportunity to build all-important percentage.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
See subscription optionsThe Dockers posted their ninth win from their past 10 matches on Saturday when they defeated struggling West Coast by 49 points at Optus Stadium.
The 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph kept Fremantle (13-6) within percentage of the top four.
Although a 49-point win on paper sounds strong, Fremantle created enough opportunities to win in the vicinity of 75 points.
It continued a trend for Fremantle, who have only won in excess of 50 points once this season.
Out of the top nine teams, Fremantle (111.7 per cent) possess by far the worst percentage.
If could be a big issue that comes back to haunt them in the next month as they attempt to lock down a finals or even a top-four berth.
Longmuir didn't mince his words when talking about the missed opportunity of building percentage after the win over West Coast.
"We just couldn't hit the side of a barn, especially in that second quarter - 1.6 and two out on the full," Longmuir said.
"When you're 18.18 and there are four out of the fulls (it is a missed chance).
"I said to the players after the game, it's been a bit of a trend for us.
"I think we held Adelaide to 38 points or something until three-quarter time, and then coughed up three or four goals out of our back half just by going to sleep in that game.
"It was a bit the same with the GWS game. And you do that across the course of the year - take one per cent here or there - it adds up.
"So we need to be a bit more ruthless in that sense. And maybe that's the next step."
Fremantle will have another chance to boost their percentage next Sunday when they host struggling Carlton at Optus Stadium, before rounding out their home-and-away campaign with games against Port (away), Brisbane (home) and Western Bulldogs (away).
Given the Dockers' poor percentage, they will probably need to win all four in order to nab a prized top-four berth.
There were plenty of big contributors in the win over West Coast, but the most pleasing aspect of the triumph was the hot form of Hayden Young.
The 24-year-old made his return from hamstring surgery as the sub last week in the one-point win over Collingwood.
He was handed a start against West Coast, and went on to tally 23 disposals, seven clearances, 555m gained and three goals before being subbed out early in the last.
His efforts earned him a maiden Glendinning-Allan medal as best afield, and he looms as a key player in Fremantle's push for premiership glory.
Australian Associated Press
