AFTER two consecutive losses Fremantle midfielder Garrick Ibbotson believes his younger teammates answered the critics in their nine-point win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Losses to Adelaide and St Kilda had some pundits suggesting Fremantle’s season was on the slide, but Ibbotson said the strength of character of the young side shone through in the victory.

“We have young guys in our team and they are hungry to play well and they are always going to be,” Ibbotson said.

“They are always going to put their best foot forward every week so from inside the club we had no thoughts of them having a flat spot at all and this week has proven that.”

The win over the Blues now has Fremantle sitting in the top four with nine wins from 13 matches - their best start to the season since entering the competition back in 1995.

But Ibbotson - who celebrated his 50th game for Fremantle - said the challenge is still ahead of his teammates to capitalise on their sensational start to season 2010.

“The challenge for us now is to not go backwards from where we are," he said. "We are always going to remember where we have come from as a football club and as a team from the start of the season.

“We want to make sure we are pushing forward and keep improving and if we can finish off the last half of the season the way we have started, I think we are looking good.”

ST KILDA has notched its fourth straight win and separated itself from top-four challenger Fremantle, holding on in a tight finish to notch an 18-point win at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

Led by Stephen Milne, who kicked four first-half goals in his 200th game, the Saints built a 37-point lead halfway through the third term and held on to win 12.13 (85) to 10.7 (67).

Fremantle mounted a courageous late challenge, kicking five of the last six goals, but the Saints wouldn’t be denied, cementing themselves in the top three ahead of their mid-season break.     

Milne didn’t kick a goal after half-time, with Chris Tarrant moved onto the in-form forward, but his four first-half majors were important in a low-scoring clash.  

Goddard was also superb for the visitors, winning 20 of his 33 possessions as a loose defender in the first half, and moving into the midfield to have an impact at the stoppages in the second.

The star playmaker was able to position himself in front of Matthew Pavlich, and alongside Sam Fisher the Saints didn’t concede a single scoring shot to the Freo skipper in the first half.

We have move our base to Moondyne Joe's in Wray Ave Beaconsfield and what a great start. senational win against the Swans(May 22nd). Were you home alone? If you were you missed all the excitement of being with fellow passionate dockers.

Abbasolutely don't miss our next Away Game Function on Saturday June 19th 5.00pm V Caaaarlton. Come along and be part of passion with the Fremantle Football Club's Largest Supporter group - The FreoMOB. Be early to get a seat in the restaurant!!

YOU MUST BOOK IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE GAME IN THE RESTAURANT.

Don't be caught home along be part of the Dockers resurgence in 2010. Moondyne Joe's has great meals, huge screen TV's to watch the game and heaps of parking.

See http://www.moondynejoes.com.au/

We will be having our margin tickets, raffle and membership draw(have to be present to be in the draw). All Docker supporters and members are welcome to join the MOBsters and cheer the boys home.

FREMANTLE’S older and middle-tier players let the side down in their 23-point loss to Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, coach Mark Harvey said after the match.

While full of praise for some of his younger stars, including Michael Barlow (32 possessions, three goals) and Stephen Hill (24 possessions, two goals), Harvey was disappointed with the efforts of most of his team.

“A lot of our older and middle-tier players had quiet games and the ones we need to have good games,” he said.

Harvey said an inability to control many areas of the game, in particular the revitalised Adelaide midfield, was reflected in an inside50 count his team lost 65 to 45.

Adelaide set up the win with a five goals to two second quarter, but Fremantle kept in touch until mid way through the last term.

“There was a fleeting moment in the last quarter where Kepler Bradley had a shot on goal and if he kicked it might have been level, but we didn’t deserve to be that close,” Harvey said.