Fremantle Dockers midfielder Ryan Crowley not fussed by 'enemy' tag ahead of Grand Final

FREMANTLE hard nut tagger Ryan Crowley clearly noticed, but is not fussed that he is Hawthorn's public enemy No.1 ahead of tomorrow's Grand Final.

Fremantle's Ryan Crowley (right) received a hostile reception from Hawthorn fans. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

FREMANTLE hard nut tagger Ryan Crowley clearly noticed, but is not fussed that he is Hawthorn's public enemy No.1 ahead of a historic Dockers grand final at the MCG tomorrow.

And important Dockers defender Zac Dawson gave a clear indication that veteran Luke McPharlin is the likely match-up for powerhouse Hawks scoring force Lance Franklin.
 
Dawson, 27, who heads into his fourth grand final after playing in three at St Kilda for two heart-breaking losses and a draw, conceded that he expects to take on resting ruckman David Hale or this year's Coleman Medal winner Jarryd Roughead.
 
Dawson revealed that he has been approached by some young Dockers this week for pivotal advice on how to handle the surge in hype and anticipation ahead of a title play-off.
 
"I'm happy to pass on advice. I've been through it so I tell them to really relax and really embrace this," Dawson said.
 
"Embrace the parade, embrace the support and then get down to business."
 
Crowley, 29, is widely tipped to take on Hawks gun midfielder Sam Mitchell in one of the most anticipated individual shootouts of the potentially tight and close finishing title showdown.
 
The tough Dockers enforcer was heckled and jeered by Hawks faithful during today's parade through the streets of Melbourne and conceded the attention is more than he usually cops.
 
"It's been a big build-up for everyone, but maybe a little bit different for me," Crowley confessed.
 
The hard-nut defensive on-baller said he wasn't fazed with prospects of heavy physical attention from Hawks enforcers in a tactic intimidation to throw Crowley off his vital duty to nullify Mitchell.
 
Geelong premiership hard-nut Cameron Mooney even called for Hawks heavy hitters to "take Crowley out" as a means of putting the tough Docker off his game and tagging assignment.
 
"It's a bit different because it's been a bit more public," Crowley assessed.
 
"All the teams are going to try and look after their gun midfielders.
 
"It does seem like it's been a bit more of a crazy week."
 
Crowley could also be assigned to dynamic Hawks running back Shaun Burgoyne, who was also in stunning form in Hawthorn's narrow win over Geelong last week.
 
McPharlin, 31, confirmed that he is fully recovered from calf and groin problems that appeared to trouble the key defender in last weekend's stirring win over Sydney in Perth.
 
"I'm 100 percent," he confessed.
 
"I trained fully yesterday and I have pulled up really well," he revealed.