Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is keen to keep Rory Lobb in the forward line despite concussion ruling out ruckman Sean Darcy for Saturday's clash with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Darcy will miss the trip to the Cattery after copping an accidental boot to the head in Saturday's 35-point win over Carlton in Perth.
Lobb helped fill the void while Darcy was off the field, and finished the match with 25 hitouts to go with his three goals, 14 disposals and three contested marks.
It took Lobb's tally to 10 goals from six games this season.
Although Lobb is yet to kick a big bag of goals this year, his ability to make a contest has proven crucial in helping Fremantle's small forwards feast at ground level.
Instead of shifting Lobb into the permanent ruck role against Geelong, Longmuir is set to recall Lloyd Meek, who played the first three rounds before going out of the side.
"He (Lobb) is so important to us as a forward," Longmuir said.
"Although he probably hasn't hit the scoreboard the way he would like, we've been really impressed with the contest he gives.
"That contest to bring the ball to ground is really important, because it's allowing us to go to work at ground level, whether it's winning it or pressuring.
"Without that strong contest in the forward line our small forwards can't pressure."
Fremantle's small forwards were crucial against Carlton, with Lachie Schultz (three goals), Sam Switkowski (two goals), and Michael Walters (two goals) all cashing in.
Walters entered the match with just two goals to his name from five matches this season, and he was mobbed by teammates when he kicked truly from a set shot in the second term.
He followed it up a short time later with a classy dribbled goal, with Fremantle booting six goals for the term to set up the 14.13 (97) to 9.8 (62) win.
"I've been saying every time I get asked, I firmly believe he's in good form," Longmuir said.
"He just hasn't finished his work and put the icing on the cake.
"I am really proud of our playing group when they got around him after the set shot.
"They know what he's going through and the intense pressure he gets put under externally.
"I just thought that was a really significant moment for our year. I thought that showed the connection within the playing group and a real understanding of what everyone's going through."
Fremantle are flying in second spot with a 5-1 record, and Longmuir is encouraging his players to celebrate the wins but stay grounded at the same time.
Heath Chapman and Hayden Young could be out of the COVID-19 protocols by Thursday, but their availability for the game against Geelong remains up in the air.
