A change in tactics under midfield coach Peter German has given the club further confidence in its followers heading into Season 2008 according to Club Captain Matthew Pavlich.

With Peter guiding and educating a group of players including Des Headland, Peter Bell, Josh Carr, recruits Rhys Palmer and Clayton Hinkley and pacy 2007 debutante Garrick Ibbotson, Matthew expected Peter’s newly implemented strategies would lead to a more efficient showing around the stoppages in 2008.

“I think the midfield have done a tremendous amount of work this pre-season, like all other teams, to try to ensure that they’re more seasoned tactically and physically,” Matthew said.

“Obviously, the main aspect of the pre-season is to be conditioned to play out the season, but I think tactically the guys have changed a lot of things from the last few years.

“Peter German has taken the midfield role, with the help of Chris Bond, and there are some different views there than we’ve had in the past.

“I’m more than confident those blokes (midfielders) can win enough of the ball and also defend the opposition enough as well. I’m confident because those guys are mentally strong enough to be able to get through and I’m confident given the fact that a Garrick Ibbotson, a Rhys Palmer and Clayton Hinkley – I’m not putting pressure on those guys to step up – but the beauty of our list is there’s a lot of upside to a lot of players.

“And there’s a lot of upside to some young players who have experienced some football and some who will experience football this year for the first time,” Matthew said.

Following on from an impressive pre-season at training and in matches, Matthew could not elaborate on whether Rhys Palmer would like up against the Magpies this Saturday but he suggested the 19 year old would make his AFL debut at some point this season.

Fremantle and Collingwood head into their clash with similar records from their NAB Cup and NAB Challenge matches. And while Matthew recognised the importance of getting early wins on the board, he said too much cannot be read into the season on the back of early round results.

“At this stage of the season and before probably round seven or eight all the teams are still sort of jostling and finding out exactly where they sit. No one really knows exactly where everyone is going to be. There’s no one at the top and no one at the bottom,” Matthew said.

“It’s not until about that round eight mark, I think, that the season itself is settled and there is a bit of expectation on teams to win or lose each week.”

Saturday’s match will be telecast live nationally on Fox Sports 1 from midday WST as well as being telecast live into WA on Network Ten.