Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says the Dockers are preparing for another heavy tag on star midfielders Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong after the pair were held to limited touches in the Dockers' 61-point loss to St Kilda in Round 8 this year.

Brayshaw (18 disposals) and Serong (15) had minimal influence in the brutal loss for the Dockers early in the season, but the club have since turned a new leaf, winning their last five on the trot.

St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager's role has caught the spotlight after a highly anticipated matchup against Nick Daicos last weekend, which was one of Windhager's few unsuccessful tagging attempts as Daicos racked up 30 touches and a goal.

However, the Saints enforcer has kept players such as Kysaiah Pickett, Marcus Bontempelli, Finn Callaghan and Connor Rozee to less than 15 possessions.

Following Round 8's successful efforts, Longmuir believes the Saints will run the tactic again, but thinks the Dockers are now better equipped to overcome the shutdown role.

"It is one aspect of the game. We've looked back on that game from an Xs and Os preparation point of view and making sure we're ready if they go back to some of those things," Longmuir said on Friday.

"But largely we've looked forward and taken the lessons out of that game because there were more lessons that we learned out of that game other than those two getting tagged.

"Port Adelaide tried to tag both of those players (Brayshaw and Serong) and we were able to work our way through that. We've grown as a team, so we'll try to look forward as much as we can, but understand some of those plans worked on that night and they might go back to it."

Longmuir also spoke on Isaiah Dudley, who returns to the side along with Sean Darcy this week after a short stint in the WAFL that followed a fortnight away from the club due to personal reasons.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 30: Isaiah Dudley of the Dockers runs with the ball during the 2025 AFL Round 03 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium on March 30, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 30: Isaiah Dudley of the Dockers runs with the ball during the 2025 AFL Round 03 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium on March 30, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

"It was a little bit (of knocking down the door of selection with form). He didn't get dropped, he went out of the team for personal reasons and was from the club for a bit over two weeks so we just thought it was best for him and best for the team at the time for him to work his way back with a couple of games at Peel," the Dockers coach said. 

"He'll come into the team this week, his form has been good at Peel. Last week was a tricky game given the conditions for a small forward. He's done everything right since he's got back at the club and he deserves his opportunity back in."

Dudley had just one goal against South Fremantle last week, but had four scoring shots the week prior against West Coast's reserves.

The Dockers clash with the Saints takes place on Sunday evening.

 Sunday, June 29 
Fremantle WON BY 12 POINTS
Optus Stadium
FRE   
81
FT
69
   STK