Emotions were running high for players and fans alike in the dying minutes of last Saturday’s win against the Western Bulldogs and for Hayden Crozier they were hard to contain.

It was the middle of the fourth term when Crozier snapped a goal from the boundary to give Freo the lead and his celebration was one for the fans. 

“I think it was a bit of pride in the jumper to be honest,” Crozier said.

“We have been working pretty hard this preseason and it’s been a bit disappointing for some guys that weren’t getting opportunities at the start and were playing really well at Peel.

“So I think it was just a bit of emotion, and I think the crowd really lifted us at the end.”

The 23-year-old played 16 games in 2016, but was missing from Freo’s line-up in the first two games of the 2017 home and away season.

After two strong performances at Peel Thunder, Crozier said getting an opportunity to pull on the purple jumper in round three was ‘massive’.

“Not only for myself but for all the other guys that in came in as well,” he said.

“We have been fighting it out at Peel and there has been opportunities that have come along and I think everyone grabbed them with both hands.”

However, he knows the pressure to perform is on, with plenty of players pushing for AFL selection.

“There is a lot of pressure coming from underneath,” he said.

“We have to make sure we play our role to the best of our ability.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game against Melbourne, Crozier said the feeling around the club has been ‘vibrant’ and the focus was pretty straight forward.

“It’s just to keep it pretty simple, be hard around the contest and having a lot of run from behind,” Crozier said.

“That seemed to work pretty well on the weekend and if we just keep it simple with guys playing their roles and trying to execute week in, week out we should be fine.”