Following a difficult week for the club, Cam McCarthy said it was important for the players to come together and deliver on the field for late former teammate Shane Yarran.

On an emotional evening on Saturday at Optus Stadium, Fremantle delivered on the field with a 54-point win against the Western Bulldogs.

“A lot of the boys were really close to ‘Yaz’ and it’s a sad night for the whole footy club,” McCarthy said.

“We all loved him and it was good to get the win for him.”

McCarthy was the first player to congratulate Michael Walters on kicking his first of his five goals of the night.

Walters paid tribute to Yarran, his former teammate and childhood friend, by tapping the black armband and pointing to the sky.

McCarthy said he held back from immediately approaching Walters because he understood the weight of the occasion. 

“I was going to get around him (straight away) but I know how much Yaz means to Sonny,” McCarthy said.

“Sonny was really close with Yaz and seeing him put on that performance, it would have done him proud.

“He’s done all of us proud. He had a great game.”

Walters’ five goals will challenge Nat Fyfe’s 43-disposal performance for the best on ground and McCarthy said the small forward-midfielder was a crucial member of Freo’s lineup.

“When Sonny gets going he lights it up, brings the crowd into it and brings everyone else into it,” McCarthy said.

“We all feed off him, his energy is unreal and he’s probably one of the most important players at the club along with Fyfe and (Aaron) Sandilands."