REDEMPTION.
After an unfortunate outing in Gather Round last year, Senior Coach Michael Voss said the group was determined to come back to South Australia better than ever.
With the side building their strengths week on week, Voss said the entire group was excited and anxious to get out on the park on Saturday afternoon.
Here's what he had to say.
On the match as a whole:
"It’s on neutral territory. These are two sides in some really good form. I feel like our form has been growing across the weeks, still feel like we’ve plenty to get after so we’ll try and take some of that into the 'Freo' game but they’ve been playing some really good form against good opposition so it promises to be a really good game.
On Fremantle:
"I think they’re known for defending really well as a team. You can't underestimate that, they’re hard to score against so it means your game has to be in shape. You have to make sure what you do and how you play stacks up, be patient and wait for your opportunities because they do defend very well.
On new dad Patrick Cripps:
"He arrived in today with a smile on his face. I caught up with him very briefly before we left, he was smiling then and he’s still smiling now. He’s really happy and the timing of it worked out ok, but he’s ready to go, he’s really looking forward to it."
On Sam Walsh:
"Sam is progressing really well. He’s back into main training and we anticipate if he gets through training next week, he’ll play. He’s been able to advance a few things in his rehab, it’s been a good plan, he’s stuck to it, been patient and so hopefully we’re seeing him on the park next week."
On last year's Gather Round:
"In some ways, it came as quite a surprise for us last year and we got caught on the back foot, not quite ready to be able to compete the way we needed to and Adelaide jumped us and we couldn’t recover.
"For whatever reason, we weren’t ready to compete. It’s on us to make sure we turn up the right way and don’t take any moment for granted, that’s our evolution as a team - that we mature as performers and become a really reliable and consistent football team.
"Our job is to be able to win anywhere, no matter what the environment provides and we weren’t ready for that last year, so we have to make sure we’re ready for this one."
On this year's Gather Round:
"We understand [the footy festival] is what the week is all about, people are coming from everywhere, we’re a well supported Club so we know we’ll get noise in the stands, which is fantastic to have no matter where we go in Australia.
"I love the concept, I think it’s a fantastic initiative by AFL, a great location to have it. We’re very lucky. We’ve got a great contingent of South Australian supporters but we’ve also got plenty to hit the road and come join us."
On the ruck battle of Tom De Koning and Luke Jackson:
"They're two very athletic types who like to get active around the ground. They also give very good first use to their midfield, so Luke works well with the Freo mids - they’ve been able to add to their mix as well - that will be a good contest around the middle of the ground.
"We’re not going to rely on one person though, we’ll have to rely on a few to get that done and hopefully we get enough looks forward of the ball."
On the midfield battle:
"We haven’t looked at it as a shutdown type, Brayshaw is a fantastic player. We’ve taken a team approach to most of these challenges so far this year and guys will take their turn when they need to, but there are strengths we need to take off them.
"I don’t think you can ever completely take it off them because they’re just great players, but we want to make sure we can keep an eye on it and get our own system in play.
"Our job is to make sure we get enough territory and we get enough ball speed and give our boys chances to have looks and we feel like we can do that. If the big boys go to work or if it hits the floor we’ve got pressure and we’ve got to keep it in our half, they defend their line very well."
