Mitchell Woodcock: Fremantle Dockers don’t yet have killer instinct to become a premiership contender

Fremantle lack a ruthless edge they need to go from premiership hopefuls to premiership contenders. And it was on full display against Melbourne, who the Dockers shoud’ve taken care of but instead finish their roadtrip licking their wounds. The Demons went into the game on their knees. Under pressure, without a win and desperate for a glimmer of hope let alone a victory. It should have been easy pickings for a team as talented as Fremantle. But they left the door ajar in a sloppy first quarter and Melbourne not only put their foot in it to stop it from shutting, but they blew it wide open. The Dockers needed to come out and make a statement early. Instead they missed kicks, dropped marks and struggled to stop the Demons’ ball movement. And Melbourne took full advantage, dominating the game with run and carry. The more they attacked the contest the more their confidence grew. Come quarter time Melbourne looked like the team that should be in the premiership window, not the Dockers. Fremantle did what they needed to do six days earlier against Richmond, but they could not back it up against the Demons and it will hurt their hopes of a top four chance if they don’t rectify it before their next opportunity. Their leaders needed to make a statement early in the contest. Crash the contest, hit packs and bully Melbourne so from the first bounce they knew they had no chance to win. Instead they let the Demons have it their own way and not only didn’t they get the big victory they needed but they lost a game they shouldn’t have. Fremantle can be as talented a group as they like, but unless they get that killer instinct to put poor teams to the sword they’re not going to be able to match it with the better ones consistently. It will be the next stage in their maturing as a group but it shouldn’t be one we’re talking about now. To win the flag you’ve got to win at the MCG, but how can you expect to do this when you cannot beat this version of Melbourne there in April?