Dockers need to smarten up: Pavlich
Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich admits his team will get found out this AFL season if they repeat the lacklustre effort they displayed in their 84-point pre-season loss to West Coast.
The Dockers were second-rate on Tuesday in their first hit-out of 2014, with their delayed start to the pre-season clearly evident as West Coast bolted to a 85-13 lead by midway through the second term.
Fremantle will start the season as one of the premiership favourites after their run to the grand final last year.
Pavlich said their effort needed to improve drastically over the next few weeks to ensure they’re on the ball for their season opener against Collingwood on March 14.
“Our effort was way off the mark on Tuesday. A team who had a new coach wanting to impress absolutely smashed us,” Pavlich said at the club’s season launch on Thursday.
“We’re in a really big training load, so there’s that physical aspect to it.
“But this was clearly a mental choice on Tuesday.
“It’s a good reminder that if you’re not switched on and ready to go, you’re going to get found out pretty quickly.”