In the wake of becoming Fremantle’s most recent Glendinning-Allan Medallist and delivering a Fremantle record in a RAC Derby, Sean Darcy felt Fremantle delivered a crucial all-round performance in their 24-point victory at Optus Stadium.
Darcy was dominant in the ruck with a career-high 56 hitouts up against Nic Naitanui, while kicking a goal, having eight score involvements and taking two contested marks.
His hitout total was also the record for Fremantle in a RAC Derby, eclipsing Aaron Sandilands’ 52 against West Coast in round six, 2017.
Most Freo hitouts in a derby.
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) August 13, 2022
35 – Aaron Sandilands R15 2014
38 – Aaron Sandilands R7 2014
45 – Aaron Sandilands R8 2011
51 – Aaron Sandilands R20 2015
52 – Aaron Sandilands R6 2017
56 – SEAN DARCY R22 2022#foreverfreo #RACDerby pic.twitter.com/hbVkBcFWos
While Darcy was the unanimous winner of the medal, he felt there was no real standout with every player contributing - coming at an important time heading into finals.
“There were plenty who deserved the medal, I thought Blake Acres was really good on the wing and I thought Michael Walters hit up and kicked a couple of goals, which was really handy,” Darcy said.
“Down back Alex Pearce was super, we had a really even performance this week, which was what we want.
“I thought I was alright. I got forward and got marking, which was good and then, because there were a lot of contests I was in the play a lot. I missed a few goals and dropped a few marks, which I’m always working on.”
While Darcy eclipsed Sandilands’ efforts for Fremantle in a RAC Derby, he credited the ruck coach for his plan up against Naitanui.
“Aaron and I, we decided to have a plan and I think it worked out alright,” Darcy told ABC Grandstand.
“I was focused on my positioning and my aggressive work inside the stoppage. I feel like if I get my feet set and they’re moving pretty well I can match it with most rucks in the competition.
“(Naitanui) is explosive so it’s always good going up against him and I enjoyed the battle. You know you’ve played Nic Nat when you’ve finished, but I feel like I pulled up alright which was good.”
The win was a crucial one for Fremantle in the wet, but Darcy said Fremantle’s struggled in slippery conditions were over exaggerated.
“I think we look too much into the wet. We still can play our game style in the wet, there’s just a few things, like long switches and things like that, you don’t really want to do,” Darcy said.
“The basics are really important, you still want to drive into the corridor and make your tackles stick. Not too much changes.”
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