Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Fremantle defender Karl Worner will be handed one of the toughest assignments in the grand final, but the daunting prospect of helping curb Brisbane’s fleet-footed forward line is unlikely to keep him up at night.
Worner has enjoyed a breakout season and established himself as a key cog in the Dockers’ miserly defence with career high averages of 18.7 possessions and 6.2 marks per game.
The 24-year-old’s toughness and accountability have been hallmarks of a campaign in which he has played all 26 games.
He will rely on those characteristics in the grand final when he could be matched up against stars Charlie Cameron and Kai Lohmann, who kicked eight goals between them in the Lions’ nine-point win over Hawthorn in an unforgettable preliminary final.
“I had a mixture of roles last time against Lohmann, Cameron and Conor McKenna,” Worner told AAP, having tallied 18 disposals and seven marks in Fremantle’s 25-point win over the Lions at the Gabba in May.
“A good thing about our backline is that we accept different roles at different times.
“As a backline group we can look back to that Gabba game and try to replicate that. We know our game plan stacks up, so it’s about trusting ourselves on the big day.”
Worner won’t lose any sleep, quite literally, over the upcoming tasks, with his knack of getting some serious shut-eye well known by teammates.
“I’m known to be the best sleeper at the club, so I won’t really have an issue with that,” grinned Worner, who said he averages at least 10 hours of sleep a night.
“I’ve got a busy mind but have done a lot of different types of meditation because you need to quieten things down once you get into the AFL system.
“Hopefully it works this week, because you definitely need some good sleep before the grand final.”
Much like a number of his teammates, Worner was not a top-end draft pick after being taken in the 2021 rookie draft to further underline Fremantle’s shrewd list build that has them on the cusp of a historic first premiership.
Fremantle will start as slight underdogs, despite having claimed the minor premiership and being further boosted by the one-match suspension handed down to Brisbane star Lachie Neale for a gut punch.
The Lions will fight the ban at a blockbuster AFL Tribunal hearing, with the two-time defending premiers desperate to have their gun midfielder available.
Brisbane will boast a star-studded outfit in the grand final even if Neale’s suspension stands, but Fremantle are also brimming with confidence following the club’s best ever season.
“We’re just going to bring a hunter’s mindset and give it our best shot,” Worner said.
