Following a disappointing loss to Sydney in round 19, senior coach Justin Longmuir was asked in his post-match media conference what Fremantle needed to address if they were to keep in touch with the top eight.

As well as highlighting Freo’s inaccuracy in front of goal, he said that the players didn’t deliver with their pressure in the contest.

“When the pressure came on, we couldn't match them and we couldn't buffer their pressure by owning the ball,” Longmuir said.

“We need to be able to hold up and understand when the opposition challenge, there are ways that we can control that challenge and get the game back on our terms.”

One stat particularly highlighted Freo’s inability to stop the Swans - tackle efficiency - which measures how well a team locks a player down instead of missing the tackle and allowing the opponent to run into space.

Fremantle rank 17^th in the AFL for the stat in 2021 with an efficiency of 57.3 per cent, and against the Swans their efficiency dropped further to 46.2 per cent - their lowest of the season and the third lowest of any team in a single game this year.

Speaking to SportFM, midfielder Caleb Serong said Fremantle had been trying to address the issue at training.

“It’s been a focus throughout the year because our efficiency has been pretty poor at times,” Serong said.

“We've been doing a lot of training on it during the week…it was a massive focus for us going into the game because they (Richmond) bring the heat as well.”

AFL CLUBS' TACKLING EFFICIENCY IN 2021

Led by 12 tackles from Andrew Brayshaw, Fremantle turned the tables in a four-point win against Richmond, lifting their efficiency to a season-high 70.5 per cent – the second highest in the AFL for the round.

Serong said successfully applying tackle pressure had positive flow-on effects for the whole team.

“That initial pressure was huge and our tackle efficiency was the best of the year in terms of when we try and lay a tackle, we’re getting the job done,” Serong said.

“Richmond were always under the pump and that allowed time for our backline to roll up the ground and get into position. It allowed our midfield to fold in behind our forwards to create layers to defend.

“I think that was a really pleasing thing to come out of the game.”

There has been another side effect to the tackling drills, with Serong needing head strapping once again after sustaining a cut to his forehead at training.

“I had it earlier in the year when I got split open. I had it for a few weeks while the stitches were in there,” Serong said.

“Me and Andy (Brayshaw) were doing a tackling drill and we smacked heads and it split open again.

“I've got a little bit of a spot above my eyebrow where the skin is a bit weak, so the doctors are trying to look after me and tape my head up to look after it.

“At the moment, it's working alright for us. A few of the boys are telling me to keep it going for a few weeks to see if it works as a good luck charm, but at this stage it’s just to help out the head a bit so I don't require too much glue and stitches in there.”

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