Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said the club will look to nullify the impact of Sydney star midfielder and winger Errol Gulden during this Friday's Preliminary Final.
Gulden looms as the main driver out of a Swans midfield missing the likes of Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner. Across his past six games, Gulden has registered 41, 34, 39, 47, 41 and 34 disposals after returning from injury, while also averaging 8.8 score involvements, 7.8 inside 50s and 6.8 clearances.
Speaking on Tuesday, Longmuir said the Dockers will certainly have plans in place to dampen Gulden's spark.
"We will have to have a look at (Gulden's match-up)," Longmuir said.
"Clearly one of the better players in the comp, a fire starter for them, gets a bit of their ball movement going for them. They are not solely reliant on him; they have a really even contribution at the moment.
"He is probably at the top of the pack, and we will have plans in place. Can't let him run around doing what he wants."
When asked if winger Matthew Johnson would be tasked with shutting down Gulden after performing well against Geelong star Ollie Dempsey, Longmuir remained purposefully vague.
"We will see," he said.
Sydney's key forward mix of Coleman Medal winner Charlie Curnow (74 goals), Logan McDonald (48), Joel Amartey (28) and Hayden McLean will pose a threat to the Dockers' back six.
Fremantle will be hoping key defender Brennan Cox will be fit for a return from a calf injury to help boost the defence and lock down a Sydney key forward.
Speedy small defender Brandon Walker is also a chance to return after he sustained a leg injury against Hawthorn a fortnight ago. His job would be to take on Sydney livewire Tom Papley.
Longmuir said both players will have to get through main training to be available for selection.
Ruck Sean Darcy is said to be improving after copping a knock to the knee a week ago.
Fremantle key forward Patrick Voss returned to form against the Cats both in his defensive effort and offensive output. The 23-year-old also had the presence of mind to take extra time in his goal-kicking routine to run the clock down late.
It's a move that will likely cause a rule change by the AFL during the off-season. The second potential rule change Voss has been the catalyst behind came after his ruffling of Melbourne utility Harrison Petty's head brought in a taunting free kick earlier in the year.
Longmuir said he backed his forward's thinking to slow the game down to help his teammates.
"I thought it was great clock awareness, game awareness and used the rules to his benefit," he said.
"He is entitled to take his full 30 (seconds) which he did and then a slow run up 'versus' a quicker, shorter run up we are probably talking five to 10 seconds, which is not much really off the game clock is it? I just thought it was really mature at the time under fatigue."
In a strange twist of fate, Fremantle club legend and former captain Matthew Pavlich will be cheering against his former side as he sits with the opposition as CEO of Sydney.
Longmuir said he wouldn't be reaching out to his former teammate ahead of the game.
"Yeah, radio silence," he said with a laugh.
"Maybe after the game."
