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Freo happy to avoid Eagle Kennedy

Fremantle's Lachie Schultz was stunned by Josh Kennedy's eight-goal haul on Sunday and says he's pleased the retired Eagle won't face the Dockers on Saturday.

LACHIE SCHULTZ.
LACHIE SCHULTZ. Picture: Will Russell/via Getty Images

Fremantle are relieved they don't have to face Josh Kennedy this weekend but are still wary of a West Coast unit trying to spoil their top-four hopes.

Kennedy kicked a remarkable eight goals in his AFL farewell on Sunday, though his impressive haul was not enough to prevent West Coast slumping to a 16-point loss to Adelaide.

The post-Kennedy era will officially begin on Saturday night when West Coast lock horns with arch rivals Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

The sixth-placed Dockers are just two competition points adrift of third spot, and they will need to beat West Coast and GWS in the final two rounds to have a chance of securing a prized top-four berth.

Dockers forward Lachie Schultz was amazed by Kennedy's swansong before his retirement, and is glad the star West Coast goalkicker won't line up for the western derby.

"It's a big relief to be honest," Schultz told reporters on Monday.

"For him to bag eight was a huge effort. And knowing that he's not going to be out there next week, I was sitting there going, 'Thank God for that'.

"It was a massive send off. We're going through those emotions this week with Dave (Mundy).

"I'm sure they (West Coast) would like to put a sour taste on our end and try to disrupt our season."

The derby will be Mundy's last home-and-away game in front of home fans.

The 37-year-old will hang up the boots at the end of the season but is eager to go out with a flag.

The quest started well last Saturday, with Fremantle snapping a three-match winless run with an impressive 17-point win over the Western Bulldogs.

"It was an emotional week. We thought we'd dedicate our performance to him on the weekend," Schultz said of Mundy.

"He did say last week that he wanted to finish the season with six wins, so we thought if we tick the first box, we can have that focus going forward."

Schultz believes Fremantle regained their mojo against the Bulldogs, with the team returning to the fast, attacking style that served them so well earlier this season.

"It was almost like we were protecting ourselves a little bit (in recent weeks)," Schultz said.

"We had a really big mindset last week to play more freer, really attack the game and play a more exciting brand of footy and put the score on the board."

The Dockers will be without injured spearhead Matt Taberner (calf), but goalsneak Sam Switkowski could return from a back injury.

Taberner's injury could pave the way for Sam Sturt or Josh Treacy to return to the side.

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