For footy followers in Victoria, the teams out west don’t get so much of a mention in the news. What form they have is often overlooked due to a lack of proximity and mediocre showings when they do venture east.
Last year, West Coast was a roughie, a potential juggernaut threatening to launch into a new era. They appeared overnight and disappeared just as quickly.
Likewise, Fremantle provides an intriguing conundrum this year, having flown under the radar for much of the year.
While Sydney, Hawthorn, Collingwood and Geelong are never short of analysis, Fremantle are still something of an unknown quantity.
Their record in Melbourne has improved but definitely remains sketchy. This year has seen them build into a disciplined unit, something we’ve come to expect from any Ross Lyon-coached team.
Victorian media have largely overlooked them as a genuine contender, with experts and opposition fans only now starting to sit up, take notice and re-evaluate their September calculations. Some might consider their draw to be one of the easier ones on paper and so form is hard to judge.
The AFL obviously don’t see them being a very interesting prospect, as was indicated by the revelation the Dockers are to play Geelong down at the cattery in the first week of finals. Perhaps a little unfair, perhaps not.
Arguably Geelong deserve the same home-ground advantage as Freo would have enjoyed if they had earned a home final.
Considering what happened to them last time they ventured down to Simmonds Stadium, Freo are understandably miffed. But that is history now. It’s up to them how they handle their return visit.
This takes us to Round 23, where Ross Lyon chose take some extensive, some might yet say foolish, precautions. As a certainty for a top-four finish, resting a few players is to be expected.
Consecutive trips between Western Australia and Victoria aren’t ideal and to this end a different conditioning approach from the Victorian clubs is warranted. But the fact that they went so far as to rest 12 players is more than a little puzzling.
Looking back to 2009, a Ross Lyon-led St Kilda were unbeaten when they took on Hawthorn in Round 19. They travelled south to Aurora Stadium, resting seven players in the process. That team won convincingly.
The next week, with many of their stars supposedly a week fresher, the seemingly unbeatable Saints were bundled by a struggling Bombers outfit.
The same happened a week later against North Melbourne. This occurred over Rounds 20 and 21, so the stakes were relatively meagre. It is puzzling that Ross Lyon would take what proved to be a large gamble again with a final coming up.
Since the staggered byes have been introduced, converting a week’s rest into a win has been an arduous task, and with such a large portion rested Round 23 was essentially a bye.
Fremantle will be hoping a late rest before the final onslaught will be an added bonus for a bruised list. There is no doubt the players won’t need any encouraging to get up for a final, particularly a qualifying final.
However, all criticism of sportsmanship towards St Kilda aside, their Round 23 form and attitude was less than impressive, leaking more than 500 disposals and racking up less than 300 themselves.
It was a bruise-free encounter wrapped in cotton wool.
Let’s hope that this lack of intensity has not dented Fremantle’s momentum coming into September and we still see a competitive side taking the trip down to Geelong.
Considering Brisbane’s near heroics last weekend, if there was ever a time to play Geelong at Simmonds Stadium, it would be now.
bilbo
Guest
Superbly said bryan. I fully encourage the Vic clubs and public to maintain their non-interest in the non-Vic franchises. This is the way for such teams as Eagles, Crows, Lions and Swans to win 8/11 GFs ('91 Haw def Eagles, '96 NM def Swans, '04 Port def Lions). You could cut the air of arrogance when NM players ran onto the field re '97 gimme GF against Crows. Same in '12 by Hawthorn players re Swans dad's army troupe. I wish for same in '13 re Freo's first GF. For the record, since the 'AFL' grew out of its VFL make-up (say end of '1990) there have been 22 GFs. The non-Vic clubs have won 11 of them. Half is not a bad result for 6 clubs v 10. There is always more pressure on the Vic club to deliver the GF. Should Freo waft their way into the GF, I'll be very happy to see their opponents surrounded by a purple haze. The Vic public will be mystified for Dockers to win the flag. A mystery of over-arching proportions, not understood.
Sean
Guest
Well said Jacques of Lilydale. As a dockers supporter I fully agree with that too many of us are one-eyed. The Victorian press and footy fans have been pretty gracious in defeat and have being given credit where it is due. All except Gerald Whatley :) There is too much emphasis on Victorians vs the rest. A number of Freo players are from Victoria e.g. Crowley, Mundy, Barlow so I don't really understand the anti-Victorian sentiment, even our coach is from Victoria.
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
All you Freo posters, you have an inferiority complex. To a lot of football supporters here in Melbourne it was no surprise that the Dockers won. They monster Geelong whenever they play and they did it again. No surprise to us that a team coached by Ross Lyon and has stars Ballantine, Pavlich, Fyfe, Crowley, Sandilands and the rest finished in the top four. Don't know football as well as those in the West??? Give me a break Simoc. Take your purple blinkers off. We're in total admiration of Freo and Port, they came to play and delivered. What else do you want us to say? This IS the heartland of Australian Rules Football and we look at every team and give credit where it's due. Fully expecting to see Freo in the GF. Bit to go yet though.
Connor
Guest
fremantle were the third best team throughout the home and away season. Now they are probably the second best team because they won the final. It was an upset. Sick of this victorian vs every other state mentality. Jesus christ, if theres ever a civil war in australia we know which state will go down first
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Well said Bryan :)
bryan
Guest
It's just the continuing sense of their own superiority which colours Victorian's perceptions of other States. :)
Simoc
Guest
It wasn't an upset that Fremantle won. It's just that Victorians don't know football as well as those in the west. Probably Hawthorn to win the big one because they've looked the best side all year and Freo have been second best, close to Geelong and Sydney.
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
Not massively surprised but what a great effort in a hostile environment. Showboat Johnson pretty impotent once the physical pressure came to bear. Ross Lyon is a genius and when you have a team with Sandilands, Pavlich, Crowley, Ballantyne and all you can challenge anyone. Being a Hawthorn man, it looks like we may be meeting the purple haze if we can get over whoever we meet in a couple of weeks. Bit to play out yet in this finals series. One other thing I've learnt is that Eddie McGuire's love child, Nathan Buckley, is no rocket scientist, the pepper pies were shambolic and undisciplined last night, out in straight sets. Port had far more resolve and passion, who would have thought twelve months ago? Anyway, these results are great for the game after putting up with the Essendon drug crap for so long.
Verfel
Guest
David, apart from Team Emirates NZ winning both races of the America's Cup this morning, you've added great start to my Sunday! Dockers, you were brilliant, Wallabies disappointing, so not all Robbie Deans fault .
reg
Guest
To Andy demmi you plan backfired. Dockers roar.
David
Guest
Missed most of the game today but laughed at the result. Maybe the prelim against Swans/Rich/Carl will be in Darwin???
Angus Tonkin
Roar Rookie
I take back all doubts, that was spectacular stuff from the dockers and Stephen Hill's goal at the end just an absolute beauty. Genuine contenders this year
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
They won't win the flag but I'm sure Fremantle will come out all guns blazing today. If its wet even more troublesome for Geelong. Hawkins out leaves Podsiadly exposed somewhat. If Pavlich has a BIG game there could even be an upset brewing.
Darren
Guest
The final is there to try and secure federal funding for the next couple of stages of Kardinya and it is Election Day. It's unfair because if a Melbourne team had finished 3rd instead then the Melbourne team gets the home final instead of Geelong.
Aransan
Guest
Anyone heard the rumour that Geelong was awarded a home game to punish the Dockers for their last round strategy?
Dockersfan
Guest
So the winners of the qualifying finals should be afraid of the week off? First time I've heard anyone allude to that, very interesting logic (or lack thereof). Oh for the record Freo's dubious recent results in Melbourne are 7 from 11 in the last 2 years. Better than a lot of Victorian sides. Not so dubious.
Auger Sherrin
Guest
The fact that everyone keeps ignoring is that Geelong are the only side that gets to train all season on their home ground. NO OTHER TEAM IN THE COMP gets to do that. That is the unfairness factor that makes the decision a disgrace.
John Ascenzo
Guest
All will be revealed today. Sandilands a towering presence and Geelong without a real ruckman. Go Cats!
Minz
Guest
I'm sure I remember one year where Geelong finished high up on the ladder and were "rewarded" with a home final at the MCG under lights against North Melbourne.... who were night specialists at the time. About time they got to really have a home advantage! And I'm a Fremantle supporter, but really, Fremantle as a smoky for the premiership? After supporting the club since 1995, well, hope springs eternal, but experience says no! They haven't got anywhere near the really top sides this gear (Geelong and Hawthorn) and after what Lyons did last week, I just don't see it magically coming together in the finals. Unfortunately!
Cat
Roar Guru
I like how people say Freo rested people and thier form for the final round shouldn't be taken into consideration (and fair enough) but then take Geelong's form in a dead rubber as all important (it isn't). Watch the Geelong Brissy game and you can see Geelongs intensity drop every time they looked at the scoreboard and saw Freo were done and dusted. Geelong knew it didn't need to win, that a loss changed nothing.