Miserly Dockers aim to attack more in AFL

Fremantle recorded just 33 inside 50s in their win over Adelaide, but know they can't afford a repeat effort in their clash with Carlton.

Fremantle are aiming to dramatically increase their attacking thrusts in Saturday night's AFL clash with Carlton at Etihad Stadium.

The Dockers entered their forward-50m arc just 33 times in Saturday's 22-point win over the Crows - a record low entry count for a winning team.

Despite missing spearhead Matthew Pavlich and goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne, Fremantle's efficiency up forward proved the difference, with the Dockers managing to register a score with 60 per cent of their entries.

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson was surprised a team could win with such a low entry count, and the Dockers know they won't get away with a similar input against the best teams in the competition.

"Going in 33 times is not something that we want to do. It's not ideal," said star midfielder Nat Fyfe, who scored four goals against the Crows.

"We want to go in more than that and our midfielders need to pump it in a lot more than that. We'll look at it during the week and see what we did wrong.

"But to capitalise and to score as many times as we did is a good thing."

Ballantyne is expected to return from a hamstring injury against the Blues, but suspended skipper Pavlich and defender Luke McPharlin (calf) won't be available.

The Blues kicked 16.24 in their 43-point win over Gold Coast on Saturday, but they can't afford a repeat of that inaccuracy against the miserly Dockers, who are the best defensive team in the competition.

Carlton sit just a win adrift of eighth spot, and have their fate in their own hands with games against Fremantle, the Bulldogs, Richmond, Essendon and Port Adelaide (away) in the run home.

Fremantle are just half a win behind fourth-placed Essendon, and have an easy draw after the Carlton clash.


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Source: AAP


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