Mitchell Woodcock: Fremantle’s ability to adapt and adjust in Pat Voss’ absence sign of a great team

Good teams are able to play to their structure even when under immense pressure. Great teams are able to adjust and adapt on the fly when things in their structure aren’t exactly the way they’d like it. Fremantle proved they’re leaning more toward the latter in their dogged win against Carlton at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. It wasn’t the one-sided belting as many predicted. A lot of that was because of the immense pressure and effort the Blues brought for three quarters after a tumultuous week for their club. Yet, Dockers coach Justin Longmuir would be impressed with the on-field leadership shown across the board by his group given the significant impact Pat Voss’s late omission had to the way they like to play. Voss has become part of this three-headed beast in attack alongside Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss that would be the envy of many other teams. To have two strong tall forwards is rare for most, the Dockers are spoilt for choice. Voss is not only an aerial threat, but he is a menace at ground level with his want to hunt like a man who hasn’t eaten in a month. Alongside two ruckmen, the boys in purple like to play tall and despite its critics in the past, it has proven a successful method so far in 2026. When Voss went out just moments before the first siren because of illness, the Dockers only had wingman Jeremy Sharp at their disposal as the carry over emergency. And while Sharp kicked two goals, he is far from the physical presence Voss is in attack. Sharp had been plying his trade in the WAFL this year as an inside midfielder, but the Dockers didn’t need another one of those on this night so the former Gold Coast Son found himself in the often-unrewarded role of a high half-forward. And he took his chance and it will be difficult for Longmuir not to pick Sharp to take on the Western Bulldogs this Friday night. Voss’ absence meant the Dockers were smaller in attack than they would prefer, so they had to adjusted accordingly. If Treacy or Amiss didn’t take the mark then everyone in attack chased and hunted Carlton with a relentless intent. Isaiah Dudley was super-impressive with his pressure and clean ball handling below his knees, with his stats not reflecting just how a good a game he played. Treacy chased Blues’ defenders around like a man half his size. Even Amiss had some crunching tackles. Would Fremantle like to have been cleaner with some of their ball use? Sure and it could’ve led to a bigger win had they been more clinical. But their midfield was on top at the clearance and their backline continues to fly under the radar despite being as solid as any in the competition right now. Oh and then there’s Luke Jackson. Just quickly — might be worth pencilling him in for the All-Australian ruck position. He’s not a unicorn, he’s a freak of an athlete now at the peak of his powers.