FREMANTLE has taken its tackling to a new level in 2010, and forward Chris Mayne says defensive pressure all over the ground has been a key to the side’s undefeated start to the season.

Coach Mark Harvey’s men laid 66 tackles in their thrilling seven-point win over Geelong on Sunday, with hard tacklers on every line creating sustained pressure.

Unheralded Alex Silvagni and Jay van Berlo, who shut down Cats Tom Hawkins and Shannon Byrnes respectively, combined for 12 tackles in defence.
  
In the midfield, Anthony Morabito (nine tackles) and Stephen Hill (five) were prominent, while Mayne led the forwards with four.

“I focus on forward pressure very highly and that’s been one of the keys for us this year,” Mayne said.
 
“We’ve been working very hard on our forward pressure, and all the boys have been excellent across the board.

“We knew we had to do the pressure (and) win the hard ball. We started to turn it and we came back strong.”

As well as tackling hard, Fremantle ran a perfectly organised zone defence from Geelong kick-ins that Mayne said had become “second nature”.

Fremantle came from 21 points behind to notch the famous win, with captain Matthew Pavlich inspirational and star youngster Hill influential.

“I’ve been here three years now and haven’t experienced anything like that,” Mayne said.

“To beat the reigning premiers from last year is excellent.

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves of course, we’re focusing on next week already, but it’s such a great feeling around the club.”

Fremantle held Adelaide and Essendon to goalless final quarters in the first two rounds, and they were too strong for Geelong down the stretch.

The home side kicked six goals to Geelong’s three in the final term, and Mayne said the players were confident they can now overrun their opponents late in games.

“That’s what got us over the line,” he said.