Fremantle senior coach Justin Longmuir says he was impressed by the team’s ability to adjust to the challenges of the day, after being well beaten in the clearance game in the first half.

Carlton led by 24 points at the main break and had dominated centre bounce clearances 11-1 and inside 50s 27-17, before Longmuir’s side flipped the script to march home by 27 points.

Speaking at his post-match media conference, Longmuir says the maturity of the team to grind their way back into the game is what impressed him most.

“First half, they (Carlton) came to play. Their contest was outstanding, their pressure was very good, and we didn’t handle it the way we wanted to,” Longmuir said.

“We over-handballed, and I thought we were unpredictable to our forwards.

“I’m proud of our efforts, but we need to be better in the first half.”

Speaking on the drastic change in the second half, Longmuir says losing midfielder Hayden Young early took time for the players to adapt to Carlton’s bigger-bodied midfield unit.

After losing clearances 20-14 in the first quarter, Freo took control of the contest, winning clearances 36-23 across the final three quarters and outscoring Carlton 7.2 (44) to 2.3 (15) from the source to run away winners in front of a vibrant home crowd.

“We needed to quell the influence of their mids, it was a flip of the coin between Cripps and Hewett,” Longmuir said.

“Jaeger (O’Meara) went into the midfield, and his physicality when he first came on was outstanding. It set the tone for the rest of the boys.

“I thought Neil (Erasmus) came on and played his role. His physicality helped us, and he’s added flexibility to his game as well.

“It’s disappointing to lose Youngy, but the game throws things at you, doesn’t it?

“I’m really proud of the way the players were able to adjust to the challenges today.

“Sean (Darcy) had a great game in the ruck. I thought he was really strong.

“Jacko (Luke Jackson), as a big-bodied mid, gave us something when we needed a bigger body in there.

“They are quite a big midfield Carlton, and I thought Jacko’s ability to mix it with some of the bigger bodies helped us today.”

Jackson finished the game as the highest-rated player afield by Champion Data, earning a match rating of 25.5, ahead of Josh Treacy in second with a rating of 19.5.

Happy with the win and moving to fifth on the AFL ladder, Longmuir believes the maturity of the group is what now holds this team in good stead.

“Our maturity is just allowing us to stay a bit more connected, a bit more present, and not internalising in those moments (when behind),” Longmuir said.

“We’ve been able to work through a lot of these situations throughout the year — where we’ve been down at three-quarter time and had to come from behind, or in front and had to hold on, or today when we were down by 22 points — and we were just able to grind it out.

“I don’t think we’re winning that game at the start of last year, or even the year before.”

Fremantle now face Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in Round 22, with three games remaining in the home-and-away season.