Fremantle Dockers coach Lisa Webb says western derby presents perfect opportunity to right late-season wobble

After a strong start to their season, Fremantle’s expected return to the finals has been plunged into doubt by a late-season wobble.

But coach Lisa Webb says Saturday’s blockbuster western derby will present a perfect opportunity for the Dockers to get their campaign back on track.

Fremantle had four consecutive top-eight finishes between 2019 and 2022 — including a minor premiership in the COVID-abridged 2020 season — but missed the finals in Trent Cooper’s final season at the helm and Webb’s first campaign in charge last year.

They looked set to get back into the finals after thriving through a condensed fixture in the early stages of this season, winning five of their first six games.

But they have endured a form slump in the last two weeks, losing to Hawthorn by nine points before being sunk by a last-minute winner from Keeley Sherar in a shock four-point defeat to Carlton on Saturday.

Webb said her side’s attention would quickly turn to the clash with their cross-town rivals

“There’s no better way to turn it around than in a derby,” she said.

“It’s still worth four points but we want to get back to the footy we know.

“It’s a great opportunity for us this week.”

The loss to the Blues leaves the Dockers in sixth spot on the ladder, one win ahead of a chasing pack which includes West Coast.

A win over the much-improved Eagles — who have also lost their last two games — would go a long way towards securing their finals participation, with games against bottom four sides GWS and Western Bulldogs closing out their season.

Webb said she had full faith her side would bring their best for a game they have not lost in their history.

“I don’t think I need to do too much after seeing them in the change rooms,” she said.

“They’re really going to get to work, as they do every week, but we just need to make some really good decisions, we need to recover well.

“Obviously it is a big game, but just one where we want to get ourselves right, getting back to the footy we know we can play.”

Webb admitted the post-game atmosphere in the change rooms after the loss to the Blues was “flat” but said she expected nothing different after a disappointing defeat.

“You want it to burn, that means you care and we care a lot,” she said.

“I’m confident we’ll turn it around, but we want it to burn as well. We’re not here to lose games and losing that one today hurt.”

Hayley Miller was a late withdrawal from the Carlton clash due to calf soreness, with Webb saying she was “hopeful” the star midfielder would be available for the derby.