Fremantle 2013

[RustyCage]

New Recruits:

Free Agency Recruits:
Danyle Pearce - Port Adelaide

National Draft Recruits:
Josh Simpson - Pick No.17
Tanner Smith - Pick No.36
Max Duffy - Pick No.39
Clancee Pearce - Pick No.78
(Promoted Rookie)
Lee Spurr - Pick No.93
(Promoted Rookie)

Rookie Draft Recruits:
Matthew Taberner - Pick No.11
Alex Howson - Pick No.26
Craig Moller - Pick No.51

Pre Season Draft Recruits:
Jack Hannath - Pick No.8
Jesse Crichton - Pick No.14

Out Going

Traded:
Greg Broughton - Fremantle

Retired:
Adam McPhee
Antoni Grover

Delisted:
Jordan Wilson-King
Gavin Roberts
Jay van Berlo
Nick Lower
Dylan Roberton
John Anthony

[RustyCage]

The Off Season:

The major off Season story for the Dockers was the unfortunate news that Anthony Morabito had torn the graft on his repaired left anterior cruciate ligament, in Fremantle’s first training session since the Christmas and New Year’s break. Morabito is apparently considering LARS Surgery, and if Morabito did go down the LARS Path he could make a stunning return to AFL football in the middle of this season if he was to successfully have surgery using a synthetic ligament. Adam McPhee re-signed with the Dockers for a further one year, then abruptly retired from the game to head home to Victoria for Personal Reasons. McPhee said “but ultimately the decision isn't about whether I have football left in me - it's more about what's best for the family". In a big coup for the Dockers, Ross Lyon brought premiership hard man Brett Kirk over as an assistant coach, which is sure to have monumental impact on the midfield, in which he will take over. The other great news for Fremantle, is that they will be establishing their headquarters at Cockburn (pronounced co-burn) in which the Dockers will break away from Pattison’s stadium and eventually, and have their own stadium in which they will host their home games. The new developments are currently underway, and the Dockers will be training at the new facility and hope to be playing home games there in 2016/2017. The $107 million training base on a 26,000-square meter is a breakaway from the traditional home ground of Fremantle oval, however as has been the trend with the likes of Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, St Kilda, Carlton and Melbourne – they too will move away from their spiritual home, to ensure the club keeps up to date with the best and latest facilities to produce on-field success in the future.

Trade/Draft/Free Agency:
The free agency period started and finished with the Dockers making a bid for Port Adelaide defender/midfielder Danyle Pearce on day one. The Power decided against matching the Fremantle offer the same day, due to the fact they didnt think he was worth what they were offering, a rumored $550k a season over 4 Years. Greg Broughton also left, after falling out of favour with Ross Lyon, who really stunted his development in his first year as senior coach.

The Draftees:
Fremantle started the draft off with the player they wanted most, Josh Simpson. Simpson was touted to go at pick 13 to the Gold Coast but Lonergan was selected instead, and Fremantle couldn't of been happier. The local Perth lad, Simpson is a lot like Anthony Morabito, which makes his recruitment genius on recruiting manager Lloyd’s behalf, in light of Morabito’s third consecutive knee injury – he could slot in quite comfortably in round one. Simpson is lightning quick, and is an excitement machine, who towels up opponants with his break-neck speed, and his outside game, but he is also a highly contested possession winner, who showed he can play as an inside player in the National Championships. Simpson has a light frame of only 73kg, and will more than likely start his career off a half forward flank, and pushing up the ground playing as a winger or even tried across the half back flank due to his penetrating and super accurate kick.

Fremantle was definitely looking towards the future when they selected Victorian Tanner Smith. Smith is a key defender, who is super agile and has fantastic speed for someone of his height (194cm). Smith can play both as that Luke McPharlin type where he can play that lockdown, closing checking one-on-one role or play that Josh Gibson role playing as the 3rd man floating across half back, whilst rebounding from defence. Smith has a fantastic kick for a defender which makes him even more valuable. He has also been earmarked as a potential swing man, with Fremantle currently having him train with the forwards.

And Fremantle's last live selection was Max Duffy, who is a 19 year old from East Fremantl, subsequently overlooked in 2011 National draft. Duffy played 15 Games for East Freo in 2012 and kicked 33.32 in 15 Games. Duffy isnt overly tall at 188cm so he would play the Chris Mayne type role as a lead up forward, or somebody who can roll into the midfield at some stage. Duffy will have to improve his kicking before he can become an true AFL Forward but there is alot of upside too him.

What To Expect:

The word coming out of Fremantle is that they believe they have what it takes to push for a top four spot in 2013, and can quite easily improve on their 2012 exit during the finals. They got the big scalp over Geelong in the first week, travelling to the MCG, and totally dismantling and defeating Geelong in every aspect of the game, keeping the reigning premiers goalless for the majority of the first half. But just exactly is the surge to the top four going to come from?

Matthew Pavlich will have to play as a permanent full forward, and kick 60+ Goals for Fremantle to be any chance of making the Top 4. He will also need big efforts from Chris Mayne, Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters to create a formidable forward line up, that can cut opposition defence’s.

The Midfield is really starting to shape up and with Brett Kirk coming across to the Dockers, this should really enhance, and increase the Dockers’ contested ball winning abilities, and clearances from the centre bounces and stoppages around the ground. A fit Nat Fyfe will be the barometer, hard man Ryan Crowley sets the tone from the onset and throughout, David Mundy continues to fly under the radar, whilst most improved midfielder of the lot – Matty De Boer is ready for a breakout season. The recruitment of Danyle Pearce will help drive the midfield with more speed, and will allow Stephen Hill to get off the leash and use his pace to set up play, and burst away from opponents to kick the important burst goals. Michael Barlow is a star in his own right, but has struggled to get back to his best since that awful leg break a few years ago. Should he be able to put that behind him – a strong and uninterrupted preseason will be the launching pad for him to lead the Fremantle midfield. Clancee Pearce will be seeing a lot more midfield time in 2013, after a really great season last year, in which he proved to be dangerous up around the forward line, and on the wings.

The real improvement will come from the young kids, namely Lachie Neale and Hayden Crozier with Jayden Pitt thereabouts, too. Lee Spurr should cement his spot in the side, and was a revelation in 2012, playing as an impact player off the bench, but he should be really looking to consolidate a best 21, and stay away from the subs vest, especially with Broughton’s departure.

But arguably it’s the defence which will really need to step it up, should the Dockers aim for a top four position. Silvani will be looking for more senior time, and Zac Daweson will also look to improve on his consistency, however despite the whipping boy tag – he had some brilliant games in 2012, and really held down a key position well. Luke McPharlin would be disappointed he didn’t partake in last year’s finals campaign with a hamstring injury, but he’s fit and firing and ready to make amends in 2013. The most exciting cog of the Freo defence will be the role that Paul Duffield will step into, as the rebounding, hard running, dashing and creative ball user off half back. The unheralded defender found his niche in Ross Lyon’s game plan, after a midyear dumping to the reserves, and was a huge part of the Freo’s second half of the year, and also put in two impressive finals showings, and was unstoppable as a raging bull off half back. Tanner Smith could quite easily earn a debut, and could become that third key tall down back, really giving some depth and structure to the defence

[coyote ugly]

Whats the latest on Sandilands? When will he start playing?

[footys the winner]

Whats the latest on Sandilands? When will he start playing?

Not until around round 6 is that latest I heard. Probably longer though.

[whufc]

Top 4!!!

Fyfe
Barlow
Mundy
Mayne
Pavlich equal jets

Hill is alright as well

[Rik E Boy]

Top 4!!!

Fyfe
Barlow
Mundy
Mayne
Pavlich equal jets

Hill is alright as well

Lyon is the ace in the pack. Mayne not up there with the other players listed.

regards,

REB

[The Sleeping Giant]

Look out if Walters reaches his potential.

[whufc]

Look out if Walters reaches his potential.

Agree their second tier of players are very exciting, the likes of

Walters
De Boer
Ballantyne
Duffield
Johnson

Throw in the fact Lyon has a history of winning minor round games, despite an unnatractive style, 9-10 home wins and i think their in for a massive year.

[valleys07]

Good news for Dockers fans- with Michael Barlow a chance to play this weekend against the cats after having a minor procedure on his jaw.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-24/s ... -eyes-cats

[FOURTH ESTATE]

Should be a cracking game. Geelong know Ross Lyon's style of play. No Stevie J (M.R.P - W.F.J.) should make it a bit tighter.

[Rik E Boy]

Fremantle will beat the Cats this week.

regards,

REB

[westozfalcon]

Fremantle will beat the Cats this week.

regards,

REB

I wouldn't be so pessimistic. Geelong have more highly skilled players than Fremantle who have a lot of blokes punching above their weight and overdue to be found out. If the Cats come over here committed to play solidly for 4 quarters they'll win.

[Rik E Boy]

Fremantle will beat the Cats this week.

regards,

REB

I wouldn't be so pessimistic. Geelong have more highly skilled players than Fremantle who have a lot of blokes punching above their weight and overdue to be found out. If the Cats come over here committed to play solidly for 4 quarters they'll win.

Game is at Cat Park and Dockers will still win it. They match up well against Geelong. We never win the clearances but we cant get the ball out of our defensive 50 against freo or the Pies. We havent beaten either side since 2011.

regards,

REB

[Johno6]

Are REB and Jim having a competition who can bag out their own team the most this year?

[the joker]

Fremantle will beat the Cats this week.

regards,

REB

With their draw compared to yours a loss this week and you will probably be traveling over their to play them in the first final

[Jim05]

Are REB and Jim having a competition who can bag out their own team the most this year?

Cant speak for REB but ill never sugar coat my teams performance. If they play crap I will give them a whack.
I spend thousands a year on membership and merchandise and have done for 30+ years so I think I can dish out a bit of criticism

[Rik E Boy]

Back on topic I reckon Freo can win the flag this year. However, if they do we may have a set of Ross Lyon clones in the AFL next year. I'll be shattered if Hawks play Freo in the Granny! It would be like a Luke Hodge stamp, you wouldn't know which side to spit on.

regards,

REB

[whufc]

Look out if Walters reaches his potential.

Agree their second tier of players are very exciting, the likes of

Walters
De Boer
Ballantyne
Duffield
Johnson

Throw in the fact Lyon has a history of winning minor round games, despite an unnatractive style, 9-10 home wins and i think their in for a massive year.

Not a bad call on March 14

[Barto]

Back on topic I reckon Freo can win the flag this year. However, if they do we may have a set of Ross Lyon clones in the AFL next year. I'll be shattered if Hawks play Freo in the Granny! It would be like a Luke Hodge stamp, you wouldn't know which side to spit on.

regards,

REB

Nice.

[Rik E Boy]

Back on topic I reckon Freo can win the flag this year. However, if they do we may have a set of Ross Lyon clones in the AFL next year. I'll be shattered if Hawks play Freo in the Granny! It would be like a Luke Hodge stamp, you wouldn't know which side to spit on.

regards,

REB

Nice.

What was I thinking, ill spit on the Hawks. Go Dockers!

regards,

REB