AFL great's one reservation as 'ruthless' Freo look unbeatable
Adelaide champion Rory Sloane believes Fremantle is close to unbeatable right now, as they enter their bye 12-1 and potentially two games clear first on the ladder if Sydney loses on Sunday.
The Dockers haven’t lost since blowing a six-goal lead to Geelong on the road in round one, and slaughtered North Melbourne by 124 points in Bunbury on Saturday.
Luke Jackson, Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy sing the Fremantle song after a win. Getty
They currently sit four wins clear of Hawthorn in third and are well on track to gain a home qualifying final, and potentially the smoothest possible path to a grand final.
Sloane believes they currently have no weaknesses in their game.
“I look at Fremantle and go, you can’t stop them. I watch Sydney and go, I know how to beat Sydney, you cover the corridor and press up,” Sloane told Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“But defensively, Fremantle are outstanding. Their forwards get up and join into team defence. They’re defensively sound.
“Contest wise, they are absolutely sound and transitioning the ball, they’re as good as any team.
“Lastly, they’re tough. They crack in hard. They put on huge pressure. They were ruthless the whole game, even after it was beyond doubt. Their team-lifting efforts last the whole game and they were so ruthless across four quarters.
“I was so impressed. I don’t know how you beat them. (They’re the No.1 seed) by far.”
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd agrees, but wonders whether Fremantle has peaked in June, giving rival clubs time to unpick their strengths and weaknesses.
“Sloane is right. They can’t be doing any more right now, but can you peak too early?” Lloyd asked.
“Would they be wishing this was in three months and not now? They can’t be doing any more right now.
“Does it give opposition teams 10 weeks to go ‘how do we stop this mob?’.”
After their bye, Fremantle hosts Geelong and Gold Coast in successive weeks, before taking on GWS and then Sydney. That month of footy will likely determine whether they finish the minor premier.
The Dockers currently have two players inside the top six of the Coleman Medal, with Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss both on 32 goals.
Their winning streak has come despite star midfielders Caleb Serong and Hayden Young missing time through injury.
