If you listened closely at Patersons Stadium late on Saturday night, you could almost hear it.
Amid the sighs of disappointment of another season realistically coming to nought, was the sound of the mythical premiership window not slamming shut, but slowly closing even further.
Just how far ajar it now remains may depend on how coach Ross Lyon shops during the off season.
For the Dockers and Lyon, this was supposed to be their season. After all, as the saying goes, you have to lose a grand final to win one – well they served their apprenticeship last year. With that experience, this was now their time.
But it wasn’t.
Lyon knows as well as most how quickly the window can close. At St Kilda in 2009 they were grand finalists. Again the year later they made the decider, and the replay after the first attempt ended in a draw. But by 2011 they slid to making up the numbers in the eight, and that slide was complete this season when they won the wooden spoon.
It’s been well documented that Fremantle have the oldest list in the AFL. It’s also known that key defender Luke McPharlin may decide to pull the pin right now, and veterans Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands – both vital cogs in the Dockers machine – are year-to-year prospects. As we all know – having seen it so often – once you hit the other side of 30, the end can often come quicker than you expect.
It was not surprising Lyon rejected claims the window was closed.
He said he was confident they will be there again, that they were about “sustained success” and the club would do whatever it took to improve – through the draft, free agency, and the trade period.
The Dockers have plenty of quality and plenty of potential leaders among their list, and I’m sure they will again visit the eight next season, but they missed a good opportunity this season. Going into the finals, most people thought there were only three live chances: Hawthorn, Sydney, and the Dockers. I don’t know if we’ll be saying the same thing about the Dockers as we head into September in 2015.
Regardless of Fremantle’s performance, credit where it is due to Port Adelaide. To persevere when it seemed the Dockers had them on toast, and then to go on with the job once they did take the lead, was meritorious
They might be young, but the likes of Ollie Wines and Chad Wingard have shown they are ready-made for finals footy.
When you add to the experienced heads in the Port line-up and that talented middle level of players, you can see why they are having success.
Can they continue the fairytale run? I’d imagine most footy fans whose teams are no longer playing in 2014 – with perhaps the exception of Crows supporters – would love to see the dream continue. But I can’t see it.
Hawthorn, lying in wait for their prey, won’t be as generous as the Dockers were. The Hawks can, and I expect will, be ruthless, and march on for a shot at back-to-back premierships.
On the other side of the draw, the Kangaroos also have been living the dream, but I also think that will come to an end this week. I can’t see anything but a comfortable Swans win in Sydney, setting up the grand final most anticipated, with the two best teams of the season, Sydney and Hawthorn.
Stewie
Guest
Mitchell did spend most of the year injured... If he gets a full preseason, surely he'd get a spot in the best 22. If he doesn't, I might have to find a new team to support :P
Stewie
Guest
As a Swans fan, Derickx should not be in the side unless our first ruck is injured. Cannot play in the fwd line to save his life. Didn't take a mark or kick a single point for his first three games when he was playing a fwd/ruck role. Was serviceable but not brilliant as the first ruck.It was our midfielders who lifted most during those rounds. In the next two years, I reckon Naismith/Nank will overtake Derickx, and when that happens, we'll need to cut him from the list. Has very little development from what I can see. Then again, I'd be thrilled to be proven wrong!!!
Zach
Guest
Viv Spot on another team he will destroy in his path with his coaching he and freo will never win a flag,,,,,,I would get rid of him off now before he destruct's this club as he did with the Saints.......Other club's should be vary of his history and legacy
Zach
Guest
You Sir Are spot on I too can not stand Lyon's coaching it's so negative and should he continue he will never win a flag Freo will also never win a flag under his coaching...... nor anty team for that matter unless there all super stars if that be the case why need him.....and too the crap about Freo they are out and shiate so get off this and move on am sick of friggin stats and all hogwash move one
Balthazar
Guest
Nope. Roly loves Freo. Third time lucky. He's in a professional envoironment, it's a great place to bring up his young family, he has excellent young players coming through and a club environment that is not conducive to setting fire to dwarves. Why on Earth would he go to a team like the Crows that staggers from crisis to crisis and now, presumably, are about to watch Dangerfield walk as well
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Balt, could Lyon be doing a St Kilda like deal with the Crows ;-P
Balthazar
Guest
So Kasey, for a team with such a culture of "closing the deal in September", I wonder what deal is being closed to find you a new coach? Sheesh. What a mess the Crows are. Matthew Rendell, Tippett, Tippett's salary breach. One vaguely good year in 2012... No wonder Pav wouldn't have a bar of playing in South Australia again. Sensible man, our captain
Natalie SwansFan
Guest
Then you obviously missed rounds 2 through to 7 this season because that is exactly what did happen until Pyke did his hammy. Derickx then rucked on his own until Pyke returned in round 14. Yep helped guide my Swannies to 6 on the trot as the lone ruckmen. He went out of the side in round 15 for a rest and then suffered a season ending hamstring injury. Despite what you think you know about him Don....you know nothing.
MJ
Guest
Brisbane finished 3rd in 2003 AND lost the first final, yet still won a flag.
Don Freo
Guest
Fighting srag is really valuable...I think. ????
Don Freo
Guest
They will never play Pyke and Derickx in the same side. Derickx rarely got a game for Claremont. Just a plodder. Don't worry, I know them all.
Michael
Guest
Hehehe, I just love reading the Fremantle sooks bleating and moaning with excuse after excuse. Ross Lyon says that they are a no excuses club. Obviously that memo didn't reach the fans. Question: what's the only ship that hasn't docked in Fremantle? Answer: The Premiership ;)
Gregor
Guest
McGovern wasn't interested in the Swans either,sounds like a smart bloke.He'd get the same service that Reid gets from the coach now that Franklin and Tippett are there
Thomas
Guest
Ryder would be a great fit. Frawley back and McPharlin forward could also work in the short term. Jarrad Waite has been mentioned, but he's better suited as a third forward given he's so erratic - which is really Chris Mayne's gig (unless you throw Mayne back and again, that's short term). Getting a young bloke from Carrara to Cockburn would be a pretty tough sell - particularly given none of the Suns talls are from WA. The Giants' Cam McCarthy looks capable and would be the best bet if Ross Lyon is looking to rob the cradle.
VivGilchrist
Guest
It's called 'The Ross Lyon Effect'. It happened at St Kilda and it will happen at Freo. He creates a very competitive unit from a good list but fails to utilise the individuals fully. I like to call it 'communist coaching'.
Thomas
Guest
Mitchell doesn't like the Eagles? Sounds like a top bloke. That three way trade seems unlikely. I would wonder why the Swans would be interested in McGovern. He's a good player, but he Swans don't lack tall at the front end - unless they plan to use McGovern as a defender or shift Sam Reid into defence to replace Ted Richards now or later. Given the Swans have a disproportionate percentage of their cap invested in two players, could lose their COLA allowance and have a bumper Father/Son - Academy crop this year I'd think draft picks would be more useful to them at the moment anyway.
Powerbot
Guest
As I recall, Ibbotson returned to the field and carried on, Don. Jonas was subbed off. Stay on point fella. First it's kicking.........now it's injuries. The fact is your team got creamed by a team prepared to play four quarter football. Simple as that. Everything else is a lame excuse.
Don Freo
Guest
Did my opinion hurt you? Thanks for the ascription of power. I'd assume you wouldn't care.
Don Freo
Guest
Furrowed brow is the try hard serious look...like someone trying to be David King or the like. I hate it when there is a wonderful put-down caricature and the target is too literal to understand it.
Macca
Guest
Don you said "our second tallest back, Ibbotson", I was just going from you definition. "Gray was towled up by Ibbotson until 3 free kick goals" And were these free kicks just another example of Frewo being terribly hard done by by the umps or should some credit go to Gray for getting himself into a posisiotn to win the free kick? And on supply how does losing a tall forward and 1 defender suddenly prevent Freo from locking it in? Surely that comes down to the work rate of the midfield and while you could argue going down rotations hurts later in the game I don't think they would impact the third quater. And what about Ollie wines game - no credit for him?