Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Defender Judd McVee has been recalled and Fremantle’s players are being urged not to panic as the Dockers brace for their date with destiny in Friday night’s semi-final blockbuster against Geelong.
McVee has been dropped twice over the past month, but the former Demon is being backed to rediscover his best form in the pressure-cooker environment of a cut-throat final at a sold-out Optus Stadium in Perth.
The 23-year-old will replace the injured Brandon Walker (ankle), with coach Justin Longmuir also confirming out-of-favour ruckman Sean Darcy couldn’t be considered after copping a knock to his knee in the WAFL last week.
Fremantle stars such as Josh Treacy, Shai Bolton, Hayden Young, Pat Voss and Jye Amiss were heavily criticised after last week’s 32-point home qualifying-final loss to Hawthorn.
But Longmuir is backing his players to rebound strongly, and he knows first-hand what it takes to recover from a qualifying-final loss.
Longmuir was part of the Fremantle side that lost to Adelaide by 30 points in the 2006 qualifying final, before coming out firing the next week to defeat Melbourne by 28 points in a semi-final.
“Don’t panic,” Longmuir said of his message.
“We had some players that weren’t up to their best last week, and multiple players that weren’t up to the best.
“But they didn’t let me down. We finished top of the ladder, gave ourselves two chances.
“We’re one win away from prelim, same as what we were last week.
“So there’s a lot of optimism in the group, a lot of trust and faith that our best footy is good enough, and I’m sure you’ll see a different team.
“The players are keen to get out there and right some wrongs.”
Fremantle succumbed to Hawthorn’s intense pressure, leading to players firing off panicked handballs instead of playing with freedom and taking on the tackler.
McVee is set to play on either Shaun Mannagh, Brad Close or Gryan Miers in what looms as a crucial match-up given Fremantle’s struggles to contain smaller forwards this season.
Longmuir has told McVee to trust himself.
“When he’s playing his best footy, he’s playing on instinct and trusting his ability,” Longmuir said.
“You’ve probably seen his contest drop away a little bit and the pressure of others playing really well at Peel has found him out of the team.
“But when he’s playing his best footy, he’s working with his teammates well, he’s trusting his read of the ball, and then trusting himself in the contest.
“The rest can flow off that.”
Geelong enter the match full of confidence following their 33-point elimination-final win over in-form Carlton.
Patrick Dangerfield wound back the clock with five goals, but there are big questions about how well the 36-year-old will be able to back-up that performance.
The fitness of Jeremy Cameron and Max Holmes have also been in the spotlight following their recent injuries, but Geelong’s vastly superior September experience looms as a key advantage against a Dockers outfit that have lost three finals on the trot.
