Facing a second consecutive six-day break, Fremantle flew out of Brisbane on Saturday night, but the side’s flight was delayed by two hours and they arrived in Perth at 6am on Sunday.
Defender Paul Duffield said there would be a distinct focus on recovery this week, and the players’ training loads would be eased, but the side would take no excuses into Friday’s clash with ladder leader Collingwood.
“The guys had a great rest yesterday and we did our recovery this morning,” Duffield said from Fremantle Oval on Monday. “The group feels good - [so there are] no excuses.”
The players had Sunday off to rest and will also spend Tuesday away from the club.
Duffield expected Wednesday’s main session would be lighter than usual as the players recover from the AFL’s longest road trip and a shortened week.
The Magpies, who beat North Melbourne by 66 points on Saturday night, will also be travelling to Subiaco Oval on a six-day break, and Duffield was full of praise for the form team of the competition.
“Collingwood are a fantastic side, the premier side at the moment the way they’re playing the game, and we’ll be hoping to take it right up to them on our home deck,” he said.
“Friday night games are fantastic and it’s great to play in those types of games, especially at Subi in front of our home crowd.”
However, Duffield would not be drawn on the scale of the match when asked if it was the biggest game he had played in since debuting for Fremantle in 2006.
“We’re certainly not building it up like that,” he said. “Every game is super important and we’re not focusing on why it is such a big game, we’re just focusing on what we need to go out there and do to try and win.
“We’re playing a very good side and we’ve got to be at our best.”
Coach Mark Harvey has suggested he may rest a number of players to counter fatigue, with Nick Suban, Alex Silvagni and Antoni Grover all in line to return.
Fremantle, led by sports science manager Jason Weber, has escaped serious injury so far this season, something that Duffield said allowed the coaches to rest players.
“If the coaching staff decide to rest some players, then that’s up to them, but the rest yesterday and the recovery today has gone really well and the group was really sprightly,” he said.
“Nick’s missed a couple of weeks, but Alex has been great for us the last couple of weeks before he got injured.
“Hopefully those guys can train well this week and put their hands up for selection.”
