AFL
Purple pain: Dogs too good for injury-devastated Freo

Midfielder/forward Travis Colyer firmly believes that Fremantle have the ability to compete with any team, adding that the significant injuries sustained late in the game were no excuse for their 28-point loss to the Western Bulldogs on Sunday at Optus Stadium.

Griffin Logue came off in the second quarter due to concussion and Nat Fyfe (shoulder), Brennan Cox (hamstring) and Sean Darcy (hamstring) all came off late in the game.

Freo had cut the margin to within a goal in a rousing third-term performance before the Bulldogs dominated with a five-goal-to-two final term.

“It’s not necessarily any excuse in the end but it does make it hard losing one of your key mids, your ruckman and two key defenders against the Western Bulldogs. It’s not ideal,” Colyer said on the Final Siren podcast with Duck and Oz.

“At the same time, we probably went a little bit away from our execution of the game plan after the third quarter. It’s frustrating, disappointing, I’m sad for the guys who have got injured. Hopefully, they’re not too bad.

“We’ve got to move on pretty quickly. We have six days until we play Gold Coast before the bye. There’s no doubt that we want to turn the tables and get the victory.”

Colyer said that he saw impressive moments from players in every line at times during the game, praising the likes of Josh Treacy (three goals) and midfielder Andrew Brayshaw (27 disposals, one goal).

22:10

PODCAST | Final Siren with special guest Travis Colyer!

Join our post-game analysis following our Sunday eve clash with the Dogs - the speedy Trav Colyer joins the pod to debrief with Duck and Oz.

“We’ve got all the pieces there, and it’s just making sure that in each quarter and each moment that we’re putting them in the right place,” Colyer said.

“I don’t feel as if there’s anything that we’re really lacking to be a real threat and I firmly believe that.

“We’re just going to go into next week and during training review and have a look at what we did right and wrong and go into the game and then we have the bye. It’s just that execution when it counts.

“In terms of improving and getting better, the mid-forward connection piece and entering inside 50 and where we’re kicking from is a key factor.

“There was a period where we actually had more inside 50s than them and it’s probably where we’re getting (the ball) and that execution piece. (It’s) the consistency of our forward group to provide those leading options and getting into really good spots.”