Adam McPhee of the Dockers celebrates their win after the AFL Round 05 ANZAC Day match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Western Bulldogs at Patersons Stadium, Perth. Slattery Images
The Urban Dictionary describes ‘Wounded Bird Syndrome’ as a device which young males use to attract women. When injured, either emotionally or physically, it is said to be an effective, if devious, way of getting dates.
The Fremantle Dockers may be chasing women, or may have broken a ship load of mirrors, but either way the injury list is the most extensive in the AFL.
Perhaps the calvary is still recovering but fans are hoping it may arrive just in time for Fremantle to make a serious dent on this year’s finals. After an injury plagued pre-season, it was expected that the side from the port would have a solid second half to the 2011 season leading into the finals.
However, the injury list has gone from bad to crippling with up to 11 of their best 22 players now on the sidelines.
The biggest toe in the AFL has received intense scrutiny, and with the Dockers grit filled win over Brisbane it still had a tale to tell. While Aaron Sandilands was influential in the first half, it was not until he went off with another suspected injury to his ‘turf toe’ injury that Freo began to win the clearances.
The predictability of Sandy winning the ruck was playing into Brisbane’s hands. With a ready and reliable replacement in Griffin rested for the week, expect Fremantle to deal with the inexperienced other side from Queensland.
It is from there that season gets interesting for the nervous fan. A bye will come late, but welcome, and then it gets hard. With games against top eight and top four sides coming up, slipping into the finals wont be easy, but is possible with none of the sides out of the eight showing much consistency.
If everything goes right, Fremantle will have the return of Ballyntyne, Sandilands, Suban, Mzungu, Barlow, Grover, McPharlin and Mundy to provide momentum into the finals. Assuming they finish sixth, the likely result, and secure a home final, anything is possible from there.
With Matthew Pavlich showing glimpses of his All Australian form, Palmer finally finding a role in tagging which suits his skill set and players like Bradley, Duffield and Johnson increasing their value to the side, things may not be as grim as appear at the moment.
It may be a nervous side facing a team which looks dramatically more experienced than it has for most of the season.
Joanne
Guest
Dockers Management SUCK!!! How dare you sack Mark - I will NEVER follow the Dockers EVER again!!!!!!
GrantS
Guest
Agreed Jason! The unfortunate part about the Fremantle injury list is that it started to build preseason which gave the club no chance to consolidate the team they wished to send out each week. I think they will still make the eight, but I've been wrong once or twice before. ;)
Nathan
Guest
Yeah, the Freo injury run makes Carlton's complaints seem very hollow indeed.
Jason Meotti
Guest
Really Bazza?? They have won 3 away games already, same as the Eagles, and should have beaten the Hawks a few weeks ago. BTW, the Dockers beat both Adelaide sides this year in Adelaide, something the Eagles have only just managed to do also but it took them 9 years longer. When you consider the players missing form our best 22 (11 at present) any side would struggle (the Eagles picked up the wooden spoon last year with less injuries than that) and the fact we are still in the eight is a massive credit to the depth and talent on our list. Bulldogs and Saints haven't had anywhere near the injuries and after top four finishes in the last few seasons, will be lucky to make the finals. Once the Eagles have won a flag in their own right (i.e. 1992 & 1994 were based on Fremantle-origin players) and without "white line" assistance (i.e. 2006) then I'll be impressed.
If they make the eight they will just scrape in as they have a hard run home. The thing that will help them is that, apart from Nth Melbourne, there aren't many clubs playing great football (outside the 8) and also five of their last nine games are at home. Essendon are (unfortunately) gone, Richmond's defence has too many holes, Bulldogs have yet to show us anything substantial, Saints are a shadow of their past seasons and forget the rest. Against them making it are their large number of injuries and, although there have been no reports, I am reasonably sure Hill and Mayne are also playing injured. Sidetracking here for a moment and a question for the "stats" experts. Have there been an extraordinary amount of injuries this year or am I noticing it more because the two teams I thought would do well (Essendon and Fremantle) have large injury lists.?
Bazza
Guest
Really? I doubt there would be too many nerves playing Freo. Perhaps in Perth you may be a little anxious but thats about as bad as it would get. Playing them anywhere else in the country and they are still hopeless. They remain the competition joke.
Redb
Roar Guru
I'm not sure Fremantle will make the 8 at all now. Losing Sandilands combined with a shocking run with injuries just makes it a bit too hard.
JB
Guest
6th??????....I wish!
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I think they should definitely make the 8. They have seven wins from thirteen matches played, and I don't think that five more wins is unrealistic. They might not make the top 6, however they should at least sneak into the 8.
KR
Guest
6th the likely result? how? 6th is sydney's. i dare you to put money on freo even making the 8.