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The Dockers has a strong year in 2010, but how will they go in 2011?
Team: Fremantle Dockers
Homeground: Patersons Stadium (43,000)
Coach: Mark Harvey
Season 2010: Sixth (P-22 W-13 L-9 52pts 103.88%)
2011 squad: Jack Anthony, Hayden Ballantyne, Michael Barlow, Justin Bollenhagen, Kepler Bradley, Greg Broughton, Zac Clarke, Jesse Crichton, Ryan Crowley, Matt de Boer, Paul Duffield, Peter Faulks, Nathan Fyfe, Jonathon Griffin, Antoni Grover, Roger Hayden, Stephen Hill, Clayton Hinkley, Joel Houghton, Garrick Ibbotson, Michael Johnson, Chris Mayne, Luke McPharlin, Adam McPhee, Josh Mellington, Viv Michie, Anthony Morabito, David Mundy, Tendai Mzungu, Rhys Palmer, Matthew Pavlich, Jayden Pitt, Dylan Roberton, Aaron Sandilands, Byron Schammer, Alex Silvagni, Nick Suban, Jay Van Berlo, Michael Walters. Rookie list: Ben Bucovaz, Nick Lower, Clancee Pearce, Gavin Roberts, Tim Ruffles, Hamish Shepheard, Casey Sibosado.
Ins: Jack Anthony (2011 Pre-Season Draft), Michael Barlow (elevated rookie), Matthew de Boer (elevated rookie), Peter Faulks (traded from Gold Coast), Jonathon Griffin (traded from Adelaide), Josh Mellington (2010 AFL Draft), Viv Michie (2010 AFL Draft), Tendai Mzungu (traded from Gold Coast), Jayden Pitt (2010 AFL Draft), Alex Silvagni (elevated rookie), Jay van Berlo (elevated rookie).
Outs: Ben Bucovaz (delisted), Steven Dodd (delisted), Chris Hall (delisted), Paul Hasleby (retired), Des Headland (retired), Ryan Murphy (delisted), Brock O’Brien (delisted), Dean Solomon (retired), Chris Tarrant (traded to Collingwood), Scott Thornton (retired).
Season preview: Fremantle took the AFL by storm last year after finishing 14th in 2009. The Dockers marched into the finals without discovery of the year, Michael Barlow, and speedy forward, Hayden Ballyntine.
They ended up going down to the Cats by 69 points in the semi final. But the experience of playing Hawthorn and Geelong in a final will only help the Dockers 2011 campaign.
So can they back it up this year? History tells us that they cannot. The Dockers have enough depth in their side to finish top eight this year but how many players can back up their good form and improve? After making finals in 2003 and 2006 Fremantle did not return the following years.
Last year the Dockers were fit and in-form but they’ve had a terrible run with injury with up to six of their best players out and not likely to be ready for round one. Tendai Mzungu (medial Ligament damage), Rodger Hayden (foot), Barlow (leg), Garrick Ibbotson (ankle), Matt de Boer (hamstring) and Anthony Morabito (knee) will all be missing.
Outstanding ball-winner, Barlow played 13 games last year after he was sidelined with a broken knee and still finished with the club’s second most Brownlow votes. He was seventh in the club’s best and fairest and and kicked 15 goals. And Fremantle will not want to rush his return. Barlow and defender Alex Silvagni both made a big impression in their AFL debuts.
Chris Tarrant is a big loss for the Dockers but they will hope Luke McPharlin and Silvagni can both have full seasons as well as Adam McPhee. Jack Anthony is a good pick up for Freo and will give them some extra options up forward.
Leading goalkicker and skipper Matthew Pavlich as well as All-Australian, Aaron Sandilands will be as important as ever in the Dockers’ quest for consecutive finals. David Mundy proved to be one of the Dockers most consistent performers last season which was capped by his first best and fairest. Paul Duffield led the AFL for rebounds from 50 and will look to build on a solid year in defence.
Byron Schammer only managed three games and will hope to regain his spot in the senior side in 2011. There are high hopes for Rhys Palmer who struggled last year after returning from a knee reconstruction in 2009. Freo fans will be wishing he can reproduce his 2008 form.
Mark Harvey has done a good job moulding this side. In his third season as senior coach, Harvey will have a strong focus on winning more contested possession. There is no doubt Fremantle threaten to be a top side again in 2011 and if their bad run with injury can dry up and players can regain their good form the Dockers may just make the top four.
Main man: It would have to be the tallest player in the AFL, Aaron Sandilands. The All-Australian ruckman finished second in the Freo’s best and fairest and took the club’s most contested marks. Had the most hit-outs in the league and gives his midfielders every opportunity. Sandilands has a huge presence on the field, including ground level (the big man finished ninth in the AFL for hard-ball gets). A smart footballer, who was an integral part of the Dockers climb up the ladder in 2010.
X-Factor: Mature-age recruit Tendai Mzungu looks like he has plenty of it, but lively forward Hayden Ballantyne is speedy and can outsmart the opposition. He finished second in the Dockers goalkicking last year which included a bag of six against West Coast.
Predicted 2011 finish: Ninth
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