FREMANTLE's dominant midfield group needs to be on guard this week against the No.1 clearance team in the competition in Adelaide, Dockers coach Ross Lyon says.
The Dockers are rollicking along at 8-0, two games clear on top of the ladder, and travel to Adelaide Oval with an unchanged line-up this week.
Fremantle's diverse midfield, led by the big bodies of Nat Fyfe, David Mundy and Michael Barlow and complemented by the run and carry of Stephen Hill, Lachie Neale, Nick Suban and Danyle Pearce, has torn opponents to shreds this season.
But Lyon is wary of the Crows, who are equal first in the AFL for total clearances this season, third for centre bounce clearances and third for inside 50s.
Fremantle is ranked ninth for total clearances, eighth for centre clearances and ninth for inside 50s but the Dockers have the AFL's best defence.
Lyon said on Thursday the major threat of Adelaide's clearance work came from their first-choice players in the centre square.
"Primarily it's about inside," Lyon said. "(Patrick) Dangerfield, (Scott) Thompson, (Sam) Jacobs, Eddie Betts, and those guys get through. They're very good.
"Our guys weren't at their best last week, so they've got a big challenge within the game. If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best, so we'll accept that challenge."
The Dockers were smashed in the centre clearances 15-7 against North Melbourne but they won the stoppages around the ground 30-15.
Adelaide coach Phil Walsh said on Friday he believed the Dockers were vulnerable and that the Crows could exploit them at the stoppages.
The game will feature three of the best five centre clearance players in the AFL, with Fyfe ranked equal second, Thompson fourth and Dangerfield fifth.
Fyfe and Thompson are ranked in the top four in the competition for contested possessions and total clearances a game.
Danyle Pearce said earlier this week the Dockers will have their work cut out for them.
In the absence of senior Crows midfielders Rory Sloane (cheekbone) and Richard Douglas (foot), youngsters such as Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Matt Crouch have stepped up. Ellis-Yolmen is third at the Crows for clearances this year behind Dangerfield and Thompson.
Pearce said the unknown quantities within the Crows' midfield, as well as the senior players, would create a challenge.
"It just gives us more homework to do," Pearce said.
"We've got to make sure we're thorough with every aspect of the game and make sure we're looking at everything and they've still got a lot of guns in there in Thompson and Dangerfield and the All Australian (nominee) ruckman in there, Jacobs. We've got to make sure we're switched on."
