Xavier Ellis: The lesson from Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson that Fremantle Dockers should heed

What a putrid weekend of football for the West Australian teams. We’ve had some stinking weekends over the last few years but last round takes the cake. Fremantle What I liked: At a massive stretch - the Skipper. What I didn’t like: Fremantle’s game style reminds me of that car that sits in the right lane of the freeway, driving 10km/h below the speed limit. You might argue that the car will get to their destination safely, but they’ll never be there first. The Dockers weren’t beaten by a Ross Lyon masterclass. They were destroyed by a hungrier, more desperate team. Their two stars, Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong, weren’t tagged out of the game, they were slaughtered, which is a rarity for those two and a mulligan. I am certain they respond Thursday night against Collingwood. If the Dockers continue with this league-wide slow style, they certainly won’t be premiership contenders. In fact, it’s possible they’ll be on holidays again in September. In my playing days, Alastair Clarkson expected one out of every five of our kicks to be a turnover, as we were taking risks. Fremantle play as though a risk or mistake could be game or career-defining. What I would like to see this weekend: Select the team on form and impact. Oscar McDonald and Pat Voss should be immediate inclusions. West Coast What I liked: Beyond Ryan Maric and winning their third quarter for the season, not much. Maric’s numbers might be inflated given he plays on from kick-ins, but he is steady, precise and is making improvements. What I didn’t like: Each week we are reminded why the Eagles shouldn’t have split their draft picks and why they should have just taken the best talent. The Eagles midfield is as thin as you’ll ever see. Max Gawn is a modern day great, but you can’t just say “Oh well, it was Max Gawn”. I’ll cop the hit-outs, but not 35 disposals. The rucks and the midfielders must find a way to compete and help their defenders. What I would like to see: A win! Outside an unexpected victory against an unsuspecting opponent, the Tigers may be the only team West Coast stand a chance of beating and I’m hoping to see their first win of the season.