One of the challenges of coaching and educating a young list is striking the balance of how much time is spent looking inwards and improving your own game plan, and analysing weaknesses in the upcoming opposition.

Having entered the 2022 campaign with the second-youngest and third-most inexperienced list in the competition, the team-first aspect of the players' education is paying dividends, according to Ben McKay.

At 24 years of age and with 42 games of experience, the key defender is the sixth-longest tenured player on the Kangaroos' list. Compared to many of his counterparts, he's a veteran of the competition.

He says the approach being implemented by senior coach David Noble is being well received by the players.

"'Nobes' has been really strong on focusing on us as a majority. There's obviously always 10, 20, 30 per cent on the opposition but I think he's been really classy in how he's gone about focusing on us and on how it's our process," McKay told RSN.

"As a player I've really appreciated that approach … I've really enjoyed that aspect of 'Nobes' and how he's gone about it … [he's] been really good on how we're the ones out there and we have to drive that ourselves.

"I'm really optimistic on where this group is. Obviously I want to win every week and every player is like that, but we've got to understand that you can't go from 0-100 overnight. Rome wasn't built in a day.

"'Nobes' has been really strong on the process and I credit him for his ability to be disciplined on that. I'm really excited for where we're going to go."

While McKay is bullish on the long-term prospects of this young and exciting list, the immediate future for the team involves a trip to Perth to take on the Dockers.

Fremantle has been decimated by coronavirus restrictions over the last two weeks, with no fewer than six players currently confirmed to have entered the health and safety protocols. These six have joined already injured stars Nathan Fyfe and Matt Taberner on the sidelines.

Potential key forward matchups for McKay in Rory Lobb and Lloyd Meek will both miss the clash, along with Blake Acres, Griffin Logue, Travis Colyer and Michael Frederick.

McKay says the Kangaroos are expecting a tough contest regardless of who takes to the field for the opposition.

"Poor Freo and West Coast are copping it at the moment. We faced a similar situation in Round 2 (against the Eagles) so it's not the first time we've experienced it," he said.

"I'm sure Freo are still going to be strong. They'll still play a pretty strong system game, I know they've got a few outs but we'll expect their best on Friday night.

"Going into this week I was getting my head around playing on maybe Lobb or Taberner, but it can change just like that. We have to be ready for anyone. It'll be a good challenge no matter what."