Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir thrilled for Nat Fyfe and Bailey Banfield after key victory

[Pelican Press 0]

Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir thrilled for Nat Fyfe and Bailey Banfield after key victory

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says he was always hopeful that superstar Nat Fyfe would get back to producing the type of dominant performance that he did against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night and feels it was a reward for the months of hard work he’s put in to get back to his best.

Fyfe was outstanding in Fremantle’s 14.11 (95) to 10.11 (71) win over the Bulldogs at Optus Stadium. He won 37 possessions, seven clearances and kicked one goal to produce the type of stats that Dockers fans have barely seen since his 2019 Brownlow Medal.

The former captain worked in tandem with Caleb Serong who won 17 clearances to help Fremantle to get the ball forward and kick their second highest score of the season. Longmuir said Fyfe had been giving fans glimpses of his best, but that was his most complete performance.

“I think we’ve seen snippets of it and quarters of it, but we haven’t seen a sustained game like that since he got back,” Longmuir said.

“But his body of work since day one of pre-season has been phenomenal. His ability to bring his teammates into the game and make his possessions contribute to us hitting the scoreboard was really, really good. It’s good to see him get the reward for all the persistence and all the effort.

“He just wants to be part of a successful team and he’s doing everything he can t be able to help to build a successful team. He;s contributing really well so it’s pleasing.”

Caleb Serong had 17 clearances. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

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Longmuir marvelled at Serong’s game as he also won 37 possessions. He described the vice-captain’s 17 clearances as exceptional.

Fremantle lost key defender Josh Draper to a hamstring injury early in the night but debutants Patrick Voss and Cooper Simpson both impressed. Voss kicked one goal and gave the team a target all night while Simpson showed composure and speed at key moments.

Josh Treacy kicked three goals and took five contested marks while Bailey Banfield became the hero late, kicking two goals when the game was on the line after struggling with four behinds in last week’s western derby loss.

“He was great,” Longmuir said.

Bailey Banfield kicked key goals Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“I said to him during the week, the hardest part about being a forward is getting shots on goal, not necessarily finishing them. He missed a couple of uncharacteristic set shots last week. I think he’s a really good set shot so I told him that. To stand up under pressure and deliver when we needed it was great.

“He’s been thrown around a bit this year in different roles. That’s twice he’s had to go back to fill in for periods of the game. He’s played on the wing which is a bit unusual for him up until this year. He’s been able to play those roles really well and do whatever the team needs. IT’s good for him to get a bit of reward.”

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