Fremantle 2010

[hearts on fire]

Another disappointing year for them, can't expect much from them.

Finish between 12-16

[Mr66]

Bottom three

[Turbo]

Bottom three

Wooden Spoon contender

[Sorry Dude]

is there any talk about Nick Suban, as to wether or not he will play this year?

[CK]

Honestly hard to make a case for anything above bottom four. Simply, far too much rests upon Pavlich and Sandilands, and to a lesser extent, McPharlin (being thrown to either end of the ground each game). May pinch the odd MCG game, where they seem to play okay at times, but not enough away wins in them.

Also need to really re-assess the policy of luring ex-Essendon players across. A couple have been good, others questionable. Jury will be out on McPhee for a while though, he may well be an exception in his second stint there.

[hearts on fire]

Dean Solomon has retired due to constant injury......

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/ ... fault.aspx

[stan]

Any talk about Chris Mayne this season.

[Voice]

is there any talk about Nick Suban, as to wether or not he will play this year?

My wife follows Freo and she hasn't heard any reason why he wouldn't play. He was a standout in another dissapointing year for The Dockers last year, very hard at it and one of the few players that could hit a target the majority of the time.
As far as their position this year goes, I reckon they'll improve slightly, and I mean slightly to 13th.

[Voice]

Any talk about Chris Mayne this season.

Chris is another that showed promise but had a shocker with injury last year. If he keeps himself fit you will hear alot more about this lad. Strong mark and an accurate kick at goal (except for the shot from 5 metres out on the run with no-one in front of him last year ). Something the Dockers need is a focal point in the goal square and should provide that in coming years.

[brod]

This sort of says it all about Freo

"We actually won three quarters ... (but) the third quarter was an issue,'' Harvey said.

A quote after today's trail where they let Geelong kick 13 of 13 goals to lose by 5 goals.

[Barto]

Any talk about Chris Mayne this season.

Saw Chris last Saturday, fit and raring to go. Rhys Palmer returns in 4-5 weeks.

Top 4

[stan]

Any talk about Chris Mayne this season.

Saw Chris last Saturday, fit and raring to go. Rhys Palmer returns in 4-5 weeks.

Top 4

By all reports at the moment Mayne is going to be one to watch as well as young Ballentyne. There season is going to be up and down as they have alot of young talent throughout the side. One bloke to watch will be Michael Barlow, seems to be able to find ball and is a natural ball winner.

[Barto]

Any talk about Chris Mayne this season.

Saw Chris last Saturday, fit and raring to go. Rhys Palmer returns in 4-5 weeks.

Top 4

By all reports at the moment Mayne is going to be one to watch as well as young Ballentyne. There season is going to be up and down as they have alot of young talent throughout the side. One bloke to watch will be Michael Barlow, seems to be able to find ball and is a natural ball winner.

Barlow is going to be brilliant IMO. Interestingly Guy McKenna said he was going to be looking at "Michael Barlow types" to fill the GC list next year.

If Ballantyne can stay fit he'll get under the oppositions skin a bit in the forward line. A Paul Medhurst type ball crumber and just as irritating.

[The Jack]

Anyone know if Barlow has been upgraded to the main list? Unless I'm mistaken he's on the rookie list at present? Do Freo have any long term injuries to their main list that would give him a chance of being upgraded?

[hearts on fire]

SNAPSHOT
Coach: Mark Harvey
Captain: Matthew Pavlich
Finished 2009: 14th (six wins, 16 losses)
Best and fairest: Aaron Sandilands
Leading goalkicker: Matthew Pavlich (28 goals)
Leading possession winner: Paul Hasleby (533)

NEW PERSONNEL
On-field: Justin Bollenhagen, Jesse Crichton, Nathan Fyfe, Joel Houghton, Anthony Morabito, Dylan Roberton (NAB AFL Draft), Adam McPhee (NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft), Michael Barlow, Alex Silvagni (NAB AFL Rookie Draft)
Off-field: Simon Lloyd (player development coach), Justin Longmuir (ruck coach)

BEST 22
B: Greg Broughton, Chris Tarrant, Antoni Grover
HB: Paul Duffield, Luke McPharlin, Roger Hayden
C: David Mundy, Paul Hasleby, Garrick Ibbotson
HF: Stephen Hill, Matthew Pavlich, Adam McPhee
F: Chris Mayne, Michael Johnson, Hayden Ballantyne
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Rhys Palmer, Ryan Crowley
I/C: Kepler Bradley, Nick Suban, Des Headland, Byron Schammer

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER
Ruckman Aaron Sandilands lifted his hit-out, contested possession and clearance numbers in 2009, and capped a superb year with All-Australian selection and a club best and fairest. He is a dominant ruck force and has a presence around the ground, but Sandilands has set his sights on also having a scoreboard impact when resting forward. Ruck stocks are thin at Fremantle below the crucial big man.

UP AND COMER
Chris Mayne enjoyed an excellent debut season in 2008, but stress fractures restricted the youngster to five games in 2009. A well-built medium-sized forward, Mayne’s game is built around relentless pressure in the forward 50 and he looks like playing a key role in Fremantle’s attack both as a third marking option and at ground level.

NEEDS A BIG YEAR
Michael Johnson has been one of Fremantle’s most important and reliable players in defence, but the club needs a tall forward target to stand up alongside Pavlich. An ankle injury ended the highly rated 25-year-old’s 2009, but if he can return successfully in the forward line he will be as important to the side there as he was from centre half-back.

CHANGING TACK
Luke McPharlin will head back to defence where he has played his best football, while Johnson moves into attack - but it is Matthew Pavlich’s return to centre half-forward that will most shape Fremantle in 2010. The skipper averaged 67 goals a season from 2005-2008 and will look to recapture that output after being required in the midfield last year. Rhys Palmer will return to onball duties in a midfield that could include recruit Adam McPhee at times. ‘Combative’ was the key word this pre-season at Fremantle as Mark Harvey looks to instill a contested game style in his young group.

INJURY LIST
Des Headland (hamstring) - test
Brock O’Brien (quad) - test
Jay van Berlo (ankle) - test
Hayden Ballantyne (knee) - 1 week
Rhys Palmer (knee) - 4 weeks
Antoni Grover (knee) - 6-7 weeks
Tim Ruffles (knee) - 8-10 weeks
Scott Thornton (groin) - 8-10 weeks

WHAT THE CLUB SAYS
“We’ve got a lot of improvement left in us. Eighteen months ago our squad was completely rejuvenated and in a lot of respects we’ve had to go back to the fundamentals with our younger players. We’re improving, but there’s still a hell of a lot that we’ve got to get better at to be competitive with the top sides.” - assistant coach Chris Scott

CRYSTAL BALL
A tough early draw is news to nobody at Fremantle - nor is the club’s 0-4 start in 2009 - but a positive start to the season is crucial to Mark Harvey’s men if they are going to take big steps in 2010. The more likely outcome is a modest increase on last year’s six wins, with more games pumped into the club’s talented youngsters as the list matures for 2011.

SEASON OPENER
March 28 v Adelaide at Subiaco Oval

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/ ... fault.aspx

[Voice]

Anyone know if Barlow has been upgraded to the main list? Unless I'm mistaken he's on the rookie list at present? Do Freo have any long term injuries to their main list that would give him a chance of being upgraded?

They've got at least 1 spot for an upgrade due to Solomon's retirement a couple of weeks ago. I think they said they have 2 spots but I'm only definite about 1.

[Q.]

Grover, Thornton and Ruffles all on the LTI list. I'd say Barlow is a very good chance of being promoted.

[Barto]

Anyone know if Barlow has been upgraded to the main list? Unless I'm mistaken he's on the rookie list at present? Do Freo have any long term injuries to their main list that would give him a chance of being upgraded?

Barlow was upgraded today.

[Q.]

Thanks Barto. Has Alex Silvagni been promoted yet?

[Barto]

Thanks Barto. Has Alex Silvagni been promoted yet?

Not yet, got to be next cab off the rank I'd reckon.