For Fremantle defender Alex Pearce, it is no surprise the Western Bulldogs are talking up the importance of finals experience heading into Saturday night's elimination final.
"Oh of course they're going to say that, they're going to try to pump themselves up and go into the game really confident," Pearce said.
But the Dockers are dismissing suggestions experience on the big stage will prove a major advantage when the two sides clash at Perth Stadium.
The difference in recent finals experience between the two clubs could hardly be more extreme.
Fremantle are preparing for their first finals match since a 2015 preliminary final, in in stark contrast to the Bulldogs, who have made the grand final twice in the past six seasons – a defeat against Melbourne at Perth Stadium last year, and their premiership victory over Sydney form seventh place in 2016.
The lack of finals experience has deepened with one of the few players to have tasted finals action in purple, Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe, ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Old hands offer advice
But the Dockers are coming off a season that exceeded all expectations, with 15 wins and a draw seeing the club finish just half a game behind second spot.
Fremantle is set to start as a warm favourite against the Bulldogs, having beaten them by 17 points at Docklands in round 21, and Pearce said his team's lack of experience in September is no reason not to go in full of confidence.
"On the flip side of that we've been playing good footy all season, and we were able to play really well against them away from home a few weeks ago," the acting captain said.
Pearce said the Dockers had no shortage of experienced people to lean on, with the likes of veteran midfielder David Mundy, and assistant coach and former Geelong star Joel Corey among those to offer advice to the players.
"I think the more you hear from people who've had that experience, the more it becomes [clear] you can't get overawed by the emotion and the occasion," he said.
"You just have to stick to the way you play, and the ability to be able to keep stacking up your performances and just keep concentrating, and not get taken off task."
Wet weather no worry
Some of Fremantle's poorest performances this season have come in wet conditions, and rain is forecast for Saturday in Perth.
But Pearce insists the Dockers have come a long way since their wet weather defeats against the Gold Coast and Collingwood in May.
"We probably had a few games earlier on in the year where we struggled in those wet conditions, and in the second half of the year I think we've been able to play a little bit better," he said.
"So we can get it done in both [types of] conditions."
He says Fremantle will not be changing much about its approach depending on the weather.
"If you think too much about the weather it can take you away from what's really important," he said.
"In most games of footy if you can win the contests, win contested footy, get the ball forward, maintain field position, that's what gets it done, in the dry and the wet."
