Xavier Ellis: Fremantle Dockers star Andrew Brayshaw must be the one to take down Kysiah Pickett

Fremantle might have thrown away a winning position against Geelong, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. The Dockers were on the road, against last year’s grand finalists and scored 100 points – which they didn’t do once against a finalist last year. My other observation is from off the field, involving Justin Longmuir’s post-game comments – in my opinion, he is 100 per cent correct. There is a magnitude of reasons why playing in the Opening Round is an advantage, and it isn’t as basic as “extra fitness” or “hardened bodies”. Opening Round gives those teams the ability to tweak and review what didn’t work from their first game, as well as an extra in-season bye early in the season. JL was right – Opening Round stinks. But moving on. The Dockers need to kick-start their season against Melbourne, and they can do that by doing these three things. 1 – STOP Kosi Pickett. In round six last year Kosi destroyed Fremantle with 24 disposals and five goals. The Dockers midfield needs to evolve and the blueprint is Brisbane. Andrew Brayshaw is the perfect replica of Josh Dunkley. Dunkley is a star, his willingness to go head-to-head with the opponent’s best and defend. Allow Luke Jackson, Caleb Serong, Murphy Reid, Hayden Young (when fit) and others to stat up. 2 – Well, I certainly thought Max Gawn was going to slow a fraction in 2026. I was wrong. Gawn has spoken about a hand injury in the pre-season, and his only training has been running. Just play Jackson in the ruck. Don’t get beaten by what you know. Gawn is a runner and an eight-time All-Australian. I think Fremantle will win, but if they were to let this slip, let me guess, Gawn will feature heavily in the coaches’ votes. Gawn v Jackson. 3 – Eliminate the key forwards. Melbourne’s keys were dynamite last week. WA boy Jacob van Rooyen played the best game of his career and former Magpie Brody Mihocek was great support. Geelong’s Shannon Neale soundly beat the Fremantle defenders last week. Usually, the Dockers’ defence is sound. They’ll respond this weekend, I have little doubt. It’s a simple formula and the Dockers can beat the Dees.