Fremantle defender Taylin Duman was pleased with how his teammates hung on in a tough five-point win that went down to the wire against St Kilda at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

It was Fremantle’s second consecutive game decided by under a goal and Duman said the team was hungry to avoid the disappointment of their three-point loss to Gold Coast in round two.

“It was a close one. St Kilda really came hard at us at the end of the game but the boys held on which was really pleasing,” Duman said.

“The team got to practice another tight situation, like we had in the Gold Coast, and the boys really held on, unlike last week where Gold Coast ran on top of us.

“Today we were strong enough to go to the end.”

In Duman’s first AFL appearance of the season, the defender had 16 disposals, seven marks, five rebound 50s and five tackles.

He said that the team had to find another level after losing captain Nat Fyfe to concussion in the third term.

Fyfe had been one of Fremantle’s best leading into the accidental head clash with 23 disposals, 13 contested possessions and six clearances.

“We lost Fyfey and I think that really drove us to go harder and really try to do it without him,” Duman said.

“David Mundy stood up in there, Andrew Brayshaw, he might not have had the best day, but he worked hard to make that last quarter his own.

“Everyone dug deep, it was a hard game but we dug in and really went to the end, which we couldn’t do against Gold Coast but we’re pleased we did today.”