Fremantle midfielder Danyle Pearce believes Freo was able to match Port Adelaide’s notorious running game in the club’s thrilling seven-point win at Domain Stadium.
 
Pearce was among Freo’s best with 28 disposals and two goals in his 50th match for the club.

Match report: Freo prevails in epic
 
“It was a great start for the boys,” he said.
 
“They’re (Port) right up there with some of the top teams and we know we’ve got a tough start to the year so it’s great to get the first win under the belt.”
 
The Freo midfielder said the playing group knew exactly what to expect in round one as soon as the 2015 schedule was released last year.
 
“We knew as soon as the fixtures came out and thought ‘Port…they’re going to run all day’,” he said.
 
“We had to meet them head on with that and that’s what we did.
 
“With every team you need to show up; they’re going to have their strengths, they’re going to have their weaknesses.
 
“It’s been publicised that Port are amazingly fit, so we took them on with that and it was a fantastic game.”
 
It was an incredibly tight match, but Freo was able to step up in the final quarter to record a memorable win in the 2015 Starlight Purple Haze game.

Showreel: Finals-like final quarter pressure
 
“I can’t pinpoint it…we just stuck to what we talked about all week leading up to it,” Pearce said.
 
“We just backed in our structures, everyone gave effort…I think we got what we deserved tonight.”
 
While the win is fresh in the minds of the playing group, Pearce said the result would be quickly forgotten as Freo begins to prepare for Geelong at Simonds Stadium next Sunday.
 
“When we’re in on Tuesday we’ll put this game aside and really start focusing on Geelong,” he said.
 
“They’re a great side, one of the premiership favourites.
 
“We know that nothing but 100 per cent effort and application to task is needed and anything less than that won’t get it done.”