Dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has applied the finishing touches to his transformation into a forward target, with the Fremantle star shining in Freo's 31-point win against Port Adelaide on Thursday evening.
Fyfe, who booted three goals in last Friday's match simulation against Adelaide, built on that performance with another three against the Power and a game-high eight score involvements, finishing his pre-season transformation in fine style.
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It was Fyfe's ability to turn half chances into goals that made him such a weapon on Thursday, with the former midfielder kicking all three goals from general play and feeding more to teammates as Fremantle prevailed 13.14 (92) to 8.13 (61).
His first came from a clean gather and check-side snap, with his second coming within moments of half-time when he got clear out the back of opponent Tom Jonas and converted on the run with the outside of his right boot.
Fyfe's third was arguably the most impressive, wrestling the ball off ruckman Scott Lycett and fending off Darcy Byrne-Jones before snapping accurately across his body.
He now enters round one with a body of work behind him in attack, putting the competition on notice as Fremantle prepare to field a forward line that will also include marking targets Matt Taberner (two goals) and Luke Jackson, who missed the clash with the Power due to a recent head knock.
Josh Treacy, who booted two goals, is also making a strong case for selection against St Kilda on March 19, with 19-year-old key forward Jye Amiss not selected for Thursday's game.
Freo built their win on Thursday through control of the stoppages, winning the clearances 39-33 as ruckman Sean Darcy (38 hit-outs and five clearances) asserted his will on the contest.
The ground-level brigade was led by Will Brodie (36 disposals and nine clearances) as stars Andrew Brayshaw (36 and three) and Caleb Serong (32 and eight) tuned up for round one with typically hard-nosed performances.
The backline was much improved after last week's opening game, with key defenders Alex Pearce and Brennan Cox shutting down Power combo Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall, who combined for just one goal.
There were nervous moments early for Fremantle, however, who had a tendency to overuse the ball in the first half and missed targets when they were taking dangerous options.
The Power, by comparison, played a surge game that looked dangerous when their dynamic midfielders were involved, with Connor Rozee (25 and seven clearances) the pick of them.
The visitors cut the margin to nine points halfway through the final term but faded badly as Freo kicked four unanswered goals, with two of those registered by Taberner after assists from Fyfe.
FREMANTLE 2.3 5.9 8.13 13.14 (92)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.2 4.3 5.9 8.13 (61)
GOALS
Fremantle: Fyfe 3, Treacy 2, Switkowski 2, Sturt 2, Cox, O'Meara, Taberner
Port Adelaide: Powell-Pepper 2, Evans 2, Bergman, Dixon, Fantasia, McKenzie
BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Darcy, Brodie, Serong, Brayshaw, Cox, Pearce
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Bergman, Powell-Pepper, Wines, Duursma, Horne-Francis
INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Port Adelaide: Georgiades (hamstring)
