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A Fremantle Dockers fan once said the following to me: “Although the Eagles won the premiership in 2006, the Dockers were the true premiers that year because they beat the Eagles twice”.
This ridiculous, tragic and twisted statement was a representation of the fragile mental state of some Dockers’ fans who had to endure years of mediocrity and inept performances.
But with the Dockers cruising, with a 6-1 record, the clouds of insanity are beginning to dissipate.
Like the ugly duckling girl in 80s movies who instantly becomes beautiful when she removes her glasses, everyone is suddenly in love with the Dockers.
And rightly so. They’ve taken everyone by surprise with their energetic brand of footy and gutsy performances.
After fifteen years of underachievement, there are some pundits who are sceptical about Fremantle’s ability to continue their good run. However, after good wins against 2009 premiers Geelong, and their first win against Brisbane at the Gabba, Dockers fans finally have a right to be excited.
Mark Harvey and his assistants have created a team which is a good blend of exciting youth, peaking veterans and excellent mature aged rookies.
Even though he really had no other choice, kudos must be given to Harvey for implementing a youth policy at Fremantle. The under-performing seniors were given the heave-ho, and after a difficult 2009, these young players are now blossoming.
The likes of Hayden Ballantyne and Chris Mayne are stepping up to the level and playing good footy. Stephen Hill, in particular, is turning into an elite footballer.
The Dockers received much criticism on their choice of Hill instead of 2009’s NAB Rising Star Daniel Rich. Rich had an instant impact for Brisbane at AFL level and remains a serviceable midfielder.
However, Hill is a bona fide game-breaker and has the ability to tear games apart with his run and carry and penetrating boot.
The veterans down at Fremantle are also doing the business: Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands, Chris Tarrant and Luke McPharlin are dominating games.
Although he provided a reasonable service in the midfield last season, Pavlich is back at his rightful position at centre-half forward. His form this year has been superb and pundits are placing him in the same class as Essendon great, James Hird.
Aaron Sandilands is the best ruckman in the AFL at the present time and is one of the favourites for the Brownlow medal. His outstanding ruck work aside, it is his forays into the forward line that make him so valuable to the team.
Opposition sides are finding it difficult to match up on him and nullify his marking ability.
Yet the best part of the Dockers success this season has been the performance of their astute rookie-list selections.
The obvious standout from this group is Michael Barlow, who has been a revelation in the AFL, and along with Geelong’s selection of 28 year-old James Podsiadly, has shown that there are other avenues to team list building besides trading and draft picks.
However, in pointing out these positives, the most powerful ingredient they’ve added to the mix this year is ‘heart’. They’ve found the ticker to run out games, which they so desperately lacked in the past.
This week is one of the biggest weeks for the Fremantle football club: Collingwood. Top of the table clash. Sell-out home crowd. Friday night football. A national audience. It’s going to be massive.
Fremantle won’t win the premiership this season, but they are on the right track towards building a powerhouse football team.
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The Crowd Says (18) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
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- AFL, Fremantle Dockers, Geelong Cats
May 14th 2010 @ 8:10am
Redb said | May 14th 2010 @ 8:10am | Report comment
Err.. no one is in the same class as James Hird.
Tonights game will be a ripper has the whole of Melbourne talking. All non Collingwood fans will wear purple in support of the Dockers.
May 14th 2010 @ 3:35pm
slickwilly said | May 14th 2010 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
that hurts redb
May 14th 2010 @ 3:42pm
Redb said | May 14th 2010 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
just backing my tips.
May 14th 2010 @ 12:18pm
Harvey the Scouser said | May 14th 2010 @ 12:18pm | Report comment
we freo supporters have to pinch ourselves at how well we’re goin (knock on wood)
May 14th 2010 @ 1:19pm
Al said | May 14th 2010 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
Two words, Stephen Hill. Kid is an absolute gun.
No one is in the same class as Hird for biased and inane commentary, that’s for sure.
May 14th 2010 @ 2:14pm
Redb said | May 14th 2010 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
Hmmmm…. Essendon envy and hatred is strong with this one yes (like a broken record).
May 14th 2010 @ 2:16pm
Harvey the Scouser said | May 14th 2010 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
get off Hirdy’ sback, you’ll have redb on to yer!
May 14th 2010 @ 2:17pm
Son of a Gun said | May 14th 2010 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
I agree AL, better in the long term than D Rich who Freo bypassed in the draft and was frowned upon for doing so, as Hill was a bit of a unknown,
May 14th 2010 @ 3:12pm
Al said | May 14th 2010 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
Spot on, Rich came into the AFL ready made with little upside. He has a raking left boot but nothing more, specifically he lacks speed which is becoming increasingly important. He is slow, is pretty much useless above his head and crumbles under a tag.
Hill is a remarkable story, he wasn’t even suppossed to play that much last season yet ended up playing 22 games. There were glimpses of something special last season but this year he is on the verge of becoming an elite midfielder. His speed and skill level is awesome, plus he has a beautiful kick, and unlike Rich, his kicks have depth, he can kick it not just far but accurately without breaking stride, Rich just kicks long.
I thought it would take a few years for Freo to be fully vindicated for their “gamble” on Hill but it already has paid off. He is one of the few players that I would pay good money to go and watch even though I don’t support his team, he’s simply a gun and will be one of the top 5 players in the league in 5 years time.
Props also have to go to Freo’s recruiting staff for picking up gems in Broughton, Silvagni and Barlow over the past couple of seasons. Fyfe goes ok too.
May 14th 2010 @ 4:47pm
Son of a Gun said | May 14th 2010 @ 4:47pm | Report comment
Not to mention he comes from my part of town, up at Quinns Rock.
May 14th 2010 @ 4:58pm
ozgamer said | May 14th 2010 @ 4:58pm | Report comment
Al: You’re poo-pooing Rich because he’s not going well at the moment and Hill is. Rich’s kick have depth in case you haven’t taken your one-eyed Freo glasses off. There is no-one in the league who can kick a 60m pass that is low, flat and hard like he does.
May 14th 2010 @ 5:33pm
Son of a Gun said | May 14th 2010 @ 5:33pm | Report comment
Drummond.
May 15th 2010 @ 11:02am
Al said | May 15th 2010 @ 11:02am | Report comment
I don’t support Freo.
Despite their loss last night to the most in form team in the competition right now, they still are in an excellent position sitting at 6-2. Tough coming back from Brisbane in only 6 days, they were visibly tired in the second half plus losing McPharlin early was a huge blow.
May 15th 2010 @ 11:11am
Al said | May 15th 2010 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Drummond, Hurn, Gilbee, Hunt, Malceski, Goddard, Hodge?
May 14th 2010 @ 2:06pm
Son of a Gun said | May 14th 2010 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
Tickets for tonights game going for $200+, frenzy ATM on e-bay., but with only around 4,000 to the general public i am not suprised.
We need a bigger stadium or a 3rd team or both.
May 14th 2010 @ 2:33pm
munjanuts said | May 14th 2010 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
tommix, you have me converted. screw the eegs and cmon dem docker kunchas…if only their colours, uniform, team song werent so awfully horribly detestably bad. but still, gotta love that silvagni brosin, old man barlow and clanceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
May 18th 2010 @ 2:18am
Stephen said | May 18th 2010 @ 2:18am | Report comment
The ‘purple patch’ is officially over:)
June 1st 2010 @ 4:50pm
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS said | June 1st 2010 @ 4:50pm | Report comment
I say well done Fremantle Docker’s from all the crap there got from other AFL team’s and other team’s fan’s i say go like how you are and you will win the finale’s for sure and many more too come.