In the wake of some disappointing performances, Robert Walls has taken it upon himself to question the soul of the Fremantle Dockers, posing the most unusual question to embattled coach Mark Harvey, “what does Fremantle stand for?”
Such an inane question should not be considered unusual from Walls. Let’s consider his record.
He had early succes with the Carton Blue, a side he inherited. However after Walls had the chance to put his stamp on the club he found himself sacked after Carlton suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Brisbane Bears, going down at Princess Park.
While coaching the Brisbane Bears he led them to 4 wins and 11 losses before being told his services were no longer required. He also courted much controversy at the Bears after leading the players in a rumoured discipline process which saw one young player physically attacked by his own side for being ‘soft’.
Following this less than stellar performance, he gained a coaching position at Richmond. He was sacked after a soulless 137 point defeat at the hands of the Adelaide Crows in Round 17, 1997.
His career as a commentator with both Channel Seven and Channel Ten followed. Many fans believe his commentary to be inane, and Walls is known as the master at stating the obvious. What was not so obvious was his comment on Paul Roo’s coaching style at the Swans. Walls said they would never win a premiership under Roo’s. History proved Walls wrong when the Paul Roo’s led side went on to win the 2005 premiership. Paul Roos did not accept Walls subsequent apology.
Which leads us to his comments on the Fremantle Dockers.
It is true that apart from reaching a preliminary final the Dockers have disappointed their fans many times. But these fans have produced the fastest growing membership of any AFL club. Membership stands at close to 40, 000 members. The media have often taken it upon itself to criticise these fans. For instance, they cheered their side off the ground following the defeat to Essendon in the clubs first final.
The ‘Freo’ chant drowned out the Essendon song, much to the chagrin of ‘Freo basher’ Dennis Commetti. He, and other commentators, do not understand club spirit when they see it. They are much more accustomed to the orchestrated applause put on by the incorporated West Coast Eagles, who have no real spiritual home, despite having a ‘spiritual captain’ for a couple of years. Contrast this to Fremantle whose members staged a protest march from Fremantle oval to Subiaco when the AFL threatened to place their club facilities at Subiaco Oval, instead of in the heart of Fremantle.
During the season of 2001, the so called ‘Drum’ years, the Fremantle faithful continued to turn up to games, at times eclipsing the much better performing Melbourne clubs in terms of attendance. There have always been a regular and steady group of supporters, who always support the club. That is soul.
Consider Shaun McManus. He has suffered two knee reconstructions, and the ignominy of facing the media as dual captain week after week, defeat after defeat. McManus never flinches, and still plays for the club. Other greats such as Jason Norrish, Troy Cook and Dale Kickett were never blessed with the skills of other players, but played with heart, leaving nothing on the field.
Walls dared to question the commitment of Peter Bell. Bell found himself not required by the Dockers, and went on to carve out a very successful career with North Melbourne. On his return to the Dockers, Bell has played with incredible spirit, out playing much taller and stronger players. He has now returned to Perth, despite playing incredibly well although living in Geraltdon.
Consider our present Captain, Matthew Pavlich.
A five times All Australian, originating from South Australia, and growing up barracking for the Adelaide Crows. He found himself in a very similar position to his cross town rival Chris Judd at the end of 2007. Fortunately Matthew had ‘soul’ and stayed with the Fremantle Dockers, something Judd found impossible to do.
Despite Harveys’ integrity in showing up for “On the Couch” and his courage both on and off the field, Walls has proven himself unable to resist the inane and ill considered question, which was really a comment.
BuzZ
Guest
Mark E, you make a good point about Premiership windows. I know that if my club, Essendon, were in the same position we probably would have done the same thing. And I think any other posters here would be the same. It's worth remembering just how good Freo were at the end of 2006. It's also important to remember that teams can have an off year when in their 'premiership window' and still come up alright. Look at the Western Bulldogs. They finished just behind Freo in 2006 and recruited Jason Akermanis. Last year was pretty much a write-off for them and a lot of questions were asked. This year they have looked like a top 4 contender almost every round. So the question again needs to be asked; Was Mark Harvey really going to have a crack at the top 4 this season? Johno, I disagree totally with your assertion that Harvey should be replaced with Sheedy. The drafting of Johnson was something I saw as classic Sheedy list management. Sheedy believed in recycling 'hasbeen' players to top up the list while, at the same time, always bringing a group of young players through. He worked under the idea that you should try and get up to the top half of the ladder every season and then rely on your senior players to go for the premiership. This just stopped working over the past few seasons and in the end what the bombers needed was someone to turn over the list move the side forward with a focus on a younger group of players. I disagree with others who say that Sheedy is simply past it, but I do believe that he is not the right fit for Fremantle right now.
Johnno
Guest
The Dockers have a pretty good list and is the most experienced in the comp but after the preliminary final appearance in 2006 I can't believe how they capitulted last and this year. They would be close to extinction if it was'nt for the fans turning up each week or fortnight watching their team get close but lose or get smashed. This is a team lacking a scary amount of direction and I agree 100% with the comment made by buzz regarding the recruitment of an out of form 30 year old mark johnson and kepler bradley who has no redeeming features in his game.I don't understand what mark Harvey is doing.Is he rebuilding the list or is he having a geniune crack at a title? He seems to be doing both with the trade decisions he has made since appointed as coach. This is a team that looks awfully similar to that of 06 where they finished 3rd and one 9 straight including a win over 2nd placed adelaide at AAMI Stadium. This stat shows that they can be a force but they are'nt being coached properly or are'nt playinf well enough. The ageing list is going to fade out in the near future and it may take another 10-20 years before they win a premiership considering they have had their most decorated player in the clubs short history in the lineup and it may take a lifetime to find another Matthew Pavlich. Mark Harvey shuld be sacked and Kevin Sheedy should be appointed.
Mark E
Guest
Solomon has been the recruit of 2007. 2006..things were looking pretty good. 1 quarter away from the big one, and after winning 9 in a row...any side would think they were in the premiership window.
BuzZ
Guest
I agree with the criticism of Robert Walls. One thing that this article and the subsequent comments have not touched on is the blatant prejudices which accompany any comment by Walls. Mark E, I would suggest that Walls has always disliked Fremantle in the same way he disliked Kevin Sheedy and Brendan Fevola. Similarly, Walls has an almost fetish like love for anything that comes from the post 2004 Port Power. His constant talking up of Dean Bailey is a case in point. He's cast Bailey (an ex Power assistant coach) as a master tactician and team builder. But I think the same questions could be asked of Melbourne as have been asked of Freo. Both teams were disappointing last year but rather than looking to rebuild have put far too much faith in senior players. In an age of teams 'bottoming out' and 'rebuilding', the Demons and the Dockers seem to be floating in a limbo. The Dockers now have one of the oldest lists in the AFL but it isn't exactly akin to the 'ageing' Brisbane Lions in 2002 and 2003. Mark E, perhaps the question of 'what do you stand for' is indeed inane. But let me pose another question to you along similar lines; When does Fremantle want a crack at the Premiership? From the Dockers recruiting in the past 2 years I would expect that the clubs hierachy are looking for a Premiership now or next year. I feel like the Fremantle football department suffered from the same miscalculation as the Richmond football department did at the end of 2001. After a season of reaching the Preliminary finals (Tigers in 01, Dockers in 06) both clubs believed they were at the start of a dynasty and went for broke. Both clubs did not realise quickly enough that they needed further improvement to get to the next level. For the record, I am a Essendon supporter and really want the dockers to do well. I admire Mark Harvey and always thought he'd be a good coach at AFL level (perhaps I'll be eating those words soon). I also think Dean Solomon was never given an opportunity to recover properly from his horrendous knee injuries when at the Bombers and I hoped he could regain some of the killer form he showed in 2001 and 02. But recruiting both Mark Johnson and Kepler Bradely is a clear sign of the lack of direction Fremantle is experiencing. Only a team looking to make the top 4 and challenge for a Premiership would recruit an injured 30 year old back pocket. At the same time, Bradely at Essendon showed that he could at best be a top up player; not good enough to make it in a good side (that wasn't effected by injuries) and too old to develop much more. I have no doubt that Fremantle have 'soul' and 'heart', but I am becoming increasingly worried about the 'brain'. Mark E, as a supporter of the club you should be asking more of those in charge.
Mark E
Guest
Fair cop Nev.
Nev
Guest
"I'm amazed at how many Eagles fans have something to say about the Dockers….hows 15th going for you?" I'm amazed how many Dockers fans can draw solace from percentage. You'd be ahead by alphabetical order too so I guess you're really, really great then. ...and as for Eagles supporters with something to say about the Dockers, I find your comments somewhat hypocritical given your posts on this site over the last few weeks.
Mark
Guest
Bloody awful mate but at least I can be objective about my own team. You have descended into schoolyard insults.
Mark E
Guest
I'm amazed at how many Eagles fans have something to say about the Dockers....hows 15th going for you?
Mark
Guest
Mark E you are perhaps a small part of the reason why the Dockers are in the state they are in. As a committed die-hard fan you should be applauded but there comes a point where enough is enough and you should have realised this by now. Fremantle have wasted too many chances, recruited badly, let their fans down, and yet have still asked them to believe. The Freo faithful have not demanded enough accountability from their team. Why has McManus been allowed to play on? His courage and commitment are beyond reproach but he has always been too slow and his disposal is poor. Flags cannot be won with him in the midfield. Why was Bell allowed to play on without training with the team? Walls is on the money with this - it is insane to think that turning up on Saturday is enough to be a part of the team. A senior player and a senior coach should know better than to tolerate this amateur rubbish. Why does Phil Smart (recruiting manager) still have a job after all these years? His record is catastrophic and speaks for itself. Why do ex-Dockers and players traded to the club play better for other clubs (Clement, Medhurst, Croad, McPhee, Brown, Headland, Josh Carr). They are not pushed hard enough at Freo and are feted before achieving anything at the club. I guarantee Sandilands' incredible potenital would be realised at a different club. For the record I am a West Coast fan and have been appalled and dismayed by the club's recent turn of fortune and I would even go so far to say we deserve to be where we are as a kind of karmic payback for our years of arrogance. I would like to think the lessons are being taken on board now. Personally I would like to see Freo improve as a healthy succesful Freo would be good for the Eagles.
Mark E
Guest
Savvas, thanks for your comments. However I did not state he only coached for that year...his last one.
Savvas Tzionis
Guest
The author of this article...like so much of this site (take note, web administrators) has made a mistake. Robrt Walls coached Brisbane from around 1992 to 1995...FOUR YEARS!!! Yes, Robert Walls is the most overrated 'expert' in the media (he shoudl have been sacked after that Roos comment), but get your facts right!!! Otherwise, I agree with the article. For goodness sake, they have been in the competition for 12 years...it took North Melbourne 50 years to win a premiership, and St Kilda 69 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul
Guest
Mark, I look forward to the day when you can celebrate a Freo victory, it will be well deserved. I am glad that we have a national competition now, it is enriched by the traditions of the Fremantle Clubs. But as for the national comp, I hope that Port Adelaide never get a premiership again.....
Mark E
Guest
I think its a hypocritical unnintelligent question by someone desperatly hanging onto something which has passed him by, if indeed he ever had it.
The Wounded Tiger
Guest
I don't want to be seen as backing up Robert Walls, but I do actually think that the question has validity, and the concern is that Mark Harvey struggled to answer it. If you ask Paul Roos, I imagine he'd tell you that the Sydney Swans stand for one another, the spirit of the bloods, blah blah. It seems to me that pretty much any of the premiership coaches in the past 10 years could tell you what they, as a team perhaps more than as a club, stand for. But I don't think you're alone. I'm not sure that Terry Wallace could answer that about the Tigers either.
sheek
Guest
There's a seaside rugby league club in Sydney's southern beaches called Cronulla-Sutherland. They were admitted to the NRL back in 1967. They have played in 4 grand finals - 1973, 1978 (twice) & 1997 (superleague). No premierships. One of rugby league's most famous coaches, Jack Gibson, who passed away on the weekend, had this favourite saying about Cronulla, "Waiting for Cronulla to win the premiership is like leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt". Let's hope Fremantle will have better luck. I believe they eventually will, sooner rather than later. The self-implosion of the West Coast will help.