Fremantle duo Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling are proving to be the stingiest pair at the club - and their teammates are loving it.
Pearce and Hamling have become one of the best defensive combinations in the AFL, with their shut-down jobs on the league's best forwards earning widespread praise.
Hamling has been a rock in defence since crossing to Fremantle following the Western Bulldogs' 2016 premiership.
Pearce's career was at the crossroads after missing almost two years of action with two broken legs
But the 23-year-old has been a standout since returning last year, with AFL great Jonathan Brown saying Pearce would be a "lock" for an All-Australian berth if the team was named right now.
Hamling and Pearce have shut down some of the AFL's best power forwards this season, including the likes of Ben Brown, Taylor Walker, and rising star Aaron Naughton.
Naughton was held scoreless by Hamling in round six.
A week later, Naughton snared 14 marks and kicked five goals in a big win over Richmond.
Dockers defender Luke Ryan said he and his teammates were in awe of Hamling and Pearce, rating them among the best in the league.
"It's a pretty good combo. They're both young. To see what they're doing now is pretty special," Ryan said.
"The way they're playing at the moment, it's pretty hard to get past them."
Ryan said Pearce's leadership both on and off the field had been elite.
"Coming from a couple of broken legs and to do what he's doing now - playing on the best forwards every week and keeping them to one to two goals - is unbelievable," Ryan said.
"I"m really proud of what he's doing."
Fremantle slipped to 4-3 following their 17-point loss to Adelaide.
The teams combined for just three goals in the first half, and Ryan admitted it had been a weird experience.
The Dockers will be aiming to bounce back to the winners' list when they host the injury-hit Tigers at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Connor Blakely, who tore his hamstring during the pre-season, could be recalled against the Tigers after making it through two WAFL matches.
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