The 'imperfection' Fremantle Dockers must embrace to avoid straight

FREMANTLE must embrace "imperfection" in its ball movement against Geelong on Friday night, according to Michael Voss.

Minor premiers this season, the Dockers are looking to avoid a straight-sets exit as the Cats visit Optus Stadium.

Freo was belted by Hawthorn in the turnover game in the qualifying final, scoring just 17 points from that source, which was its lowest tally under Justin Longmuir since 2020.

And its wobbly ball use in big moments belied its season as it gave up 32 defensive-half turnovers, which was easily its most this year.

Voss, a three-time premiership captain at Brisbane, believes the Dockers must be more daring.

"It'll be a small adjustment for them to make, but it simply comes down to this: they need to be braver," Voss said on AFL.com.au's Finals Film Room.

"They need to stop thinking about perfection and think more about imperfection to get their ball movement right."

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said the issue the Dockers had against the Hawks was one that has troubled them in the past under Longmuir.

"This is what put Justin Longmuir under pressure in previous years; for that sort of football, retreating backwards and not taking the game forward," he said.

"That's why they've been the top side all year, not doing that."

The Cats had 29 intercepts forward of centre in their win over Carlton in an elimination final, and that strength could trouble the Dockers.

Voss believes Geelong and Hawthorn use their high forwards in a similar way, meaning the likes of Gryan Miers, Brad Close and Oli Wiltshire could have a big say in how the semi-final in Perth plays out.

"They do resource the stoppage because that's not necessarily been their strength throughout the year," he said.

"When you're playing against teams like Carlton and also Fremantle that have a clearance strength, you'd imagine that would be something they'd go to."

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