Bailey Banfield is set to take some tough lessons from a mixed evening in Fremantle’s 29-point loss to Essendon on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.
An impressive opening three quarters was measured against by a damaging final term from star opponent Zac Merrett, who collected 13 disposals, seven contested possessions and five clearances in the final term.
David Mundy believes the Fremantle rookie will be better for his match-up on Essendon’s ball magnet.
“Merrett is a class player and he got off the chain in the final term and really drove their ball movement,” he said.
“Bailey’s a dog with a bone and he’ll analyse that (performance) himself and see where he went wrong and will try to improve.”
Conversely, Banfield led Fremantle for clearances alongside Lachie Neale with six, while taking six marks and having eight contested possessions.
The rookie’s 22 touches was Fremantle’s second-most, second only to Neale with 30.
Banfield is the only first-year player in 2018 to have played every game after his debut game in round one against Port Adelaide.
“Bailey’s come in right from the get go this pre-season and really did what was required to put his name up in lights and get the match committee to notice him and select him,” Mundy said.
“It’s a credit to him, the way he’s gone about it, to play every game in his first year is a marvelous achievement.”
