Geelong's Gary Ablett is vying with Carlton's Chris Judd to be the AFL's premier midfielder, according to a player who has seen both of them dominate the game up close.

North Melbourne stopper Brady Rawlings classed Ablett in the same echelon as Judd following an incredible performance on Friday night that had his opponents fearing to tackle him.

Despite being tagged, Ablett, who last month turned 24, collected a career-high 39 possessions - 14 alone in the first quarter - seven clearances and booted two goals as well as having a hand in four others.

Rawlings, who was shifted on to Ablett after Ed Lower was put to the sword early, confirmed the Kangaroos were instructed not to tackle Ablett but corral him into disposing the ball to lessen his effectiveness and stop him from breaking the lines.

It was a tactic that Rawlings said he had never heard before.

"I probably rated (Chris) Judd as the best I played on, Gary Ablett nearly took over him on the weekend," Rawlings said.

"Just his ability to shake tackles and to keep running all night, his explosiveness and kicking goals, he's right up there amongst the best that I've ever played on.

"It's a pretty tough gig going to him after he already had a great start and he continued on from there. No matter where he was, in the midfield, he went forward, he just dominated.

"A couple of times he shrugged three of us at one time so he's got amazing strength and it's probably the strength through the hips which probably makes him so good.

"We just couldn't get near him so it was probably the best game you'll ever see."

Despite Ablett's dominance, a depleted Kangaroos team pushed the reigning premiers all night and had their chances to produce a big upset.

Rawlings said the club would not happily accept the 13-point defeat because the team needed to win the close ones to keep in the finals hunt.

"Honourable losses don't sit well with us - we want to win every week," Rawlings said.

"We've had some pretty tough games lately and a couple of them we haven't been able to get over the line.

"Those tight games you've got to win and that will probably decide whether we make the finals or not."

With the Roos currently clinging to eighth position, just two points clear of St Kilda and Carlton, Rawlings said this Saturday's clash with struggling Fremantle at Subiaco was a "must-win" match.

The Roos have a good record against the Dockers in Perth, winning three of their last four meetings and will welcome back classy midfielder Daniel Wells (knee).

Forwards Nathan Thompson (knee) and Corey Jones (ankle) will also push for selection if they can prove their fitness this week.

Rawlings said the ruck match-up of in-form Docker Aaron Sandilands against North duo Hamish McIntosh and David Hale would be crucial to the outcome of the match

But he believed his side would be tested by the Dockers, despite their woes this season.

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