Fremantle’s backline will need to improve their team defence to combat the AFL’s best key forwards, according to defender Luke Ryan.

Ryan said Freo were found out down back against Port Adelaide, with 200cm forward Charlie Dixon taking five contested marks and kicking two goals in round three despite the wet conditions.

Freo will again be tested this Saturday at Metricon Stadium against the likes of 202cm Ben King and 197cm Sam Day for the Gold Coast.

With Freo missing tall defenders Joel Hamling and Alex Pearce, Ryan said the backline would need to be at their best as a unit.

“That’s the first time I think the talls got on top of us (against Port Adelaide),” Ryan said.

“It’s all of us. We shouldn’t allow one-on-ones inside our defensive 50.

“It’s not a single person’s fault, it’s our whole back six. We’ll review that today and we’re looking to bounce back next week.”

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Ryan feels Freo can handle the damp and sticky conditions that prevail on the Gold Coast but added they struggled when the rain fell heavily in the second quarter against Port Adelaide, where the Power kicked five goals to none.

“We’ve been using water down at training and putting soap on,” Ryan said.

“We handled it pretty well in the first quarter, it’s just when the rain came down, we didn’t adapt to it.

“As the game went on, we adapted to it as we played. We’re doing everything we can and it’s just another learning experience for us.”

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