Following Fremantle’s straight sets exit from the finals there has been talk on The Roar of the Dockers’ premiership window being slammed shut.
It has become a well known fact after their loss to Port Adelaide that Fremantle have the oldest list in the AFL and it has been very well publicised that Fremantle’s three key pillars Matthew Pavlich (32) Luke McPharlin (32) and Aaron Sandilands (31) are nearing the end of their illustrious careers.
Sandilands has renewed his contract for another year and has been in great form and could realistically continue for another two years.
However, should Sandilands retire the dockers have readymade replacements in Jon Griffin and Zac Clarke as well as younger project players Jack Hannath and Micheal Apeness that could fill the giant boots of the big man.
It is also worth noting that Fremantle missed Sandilands for the bulk of the 2012 and 2013 seasons and coped fine with the likes of Griffin, Clarke and Hannath performing admirably.
The bigger issues are that of Pavlich and McPharlin. Pavlich has renewed his contract for one more year with many people predicting that 2015 will be the Pav’s last ditch effort at tasting the ultimate success, should that not eventuate Fremantle will need to plan for life after Pavlich.
They’ve shown they can do it as Pavlicj missed half of last year and the Dockers performed very well with Chris Mayne, Hayden Ballantyne and Micheal Walters carrying the midget sized forward line.
However, to achieve the ultimate success Fremantle will need a big key forward to replace Pavlich and these guys don’t come around too often.
Matt Taberner and Micheal Apeness are both young guys that look like they have a bright future, but if Freo are going to be a contender for the next couple of years they need a readymade replacement.
There are a couple going around at the moment. Paddy Ryder would be a perfect fit at Fremanlte, he can play as both a key forward and as a Ruckman which could fill whichever need is more important.
If Ryder does choose to leave Essendon, Fremantle will need to package a good deal to get him. Offer them Zac Clarke and Matt De Boer as well as their first pick perhaps?
If Fremantle cannot lure Ryder then Sam Reid would be a great pickup, he is right now playing fourth fiddle to the likes of Tippett, Franklin and Goodes and may be tempted by a move west.
Jarrad Waite and Mitch Clark have also been mentioned as potential candidates at Fremantle but both come with issues that will make Fremantle avoid them.
Waite is 31 years old and really isn’t worth it because he won’t last as long, struggles with consistency and is injury-prone.
Clark has been suffering with depression and would be a huge risk.
It is stating the obvious but getting a good key forward should be top of the list at Fremantle.
It has been rumoured that Fremantle are chasing James Frawley as a replacement to Luke McPharlin but I think Fremantle can cover McPharlin without dipping into their pockets to get Frawley.
Alex Silvagni did a great job against Lance Franklin and is very underrated. Meanwhile Zac Dawson and Micheal Johnson have shown they can do the job. Garrick Ibbotson and Paul Duffield can also play tall if they need to.
Apart from the lack of a key forward I think Fremantle are very well placed to continue to be right up at the top of the table for years to come.
They have one of the best midfield’s in the competition and also have some fantastic small forwards, and on their list have two players Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters who are still only 23 years of age and both have alredy shown that they are right up there with the best in the competition.
It is also worth noting that Fremantle lost to the best team to ever finish outside the top four – Port Adelaide are a seriously good football side who are a very good chance of winning the premiership this year.
If Fremantle had of been playing North Melbourne, Essendon or Richmond in the second week of finals I believe they would still be fighting for the premiership right now.
Here is what a Fremantle would look like with no Pavlich, Sandilands or McPharlin; still a very strong line-up that could challenge for the flag.
B: Lee Spurr, Zac Dawson, Alex Silvagni
HB: Garrick Ibbotson, Micheal Johnson, Paul Duffield
C: Stephen Hill, Micheal Barlow, Danyle Pearce/Anthony Morabito
HF: Lachie Neale, Chris Mayne, Hayden Crozier
F: Micheal Walters, Full Forward (eg: Ryder, Reid), Hayden Ballantyne
Foll: Jon Griffin, Nat Fyfe (c), David Mundy (vc)
Int: Ryan Crowley, Cam Sutcliffe, Nick Suban, Matt Taberner
Don Freo
Guest
You'll read plenty of my comments about games that don't involve Freo. You need to open your eyes as well as your mind.
Don Freo
Guest
You're an unusual unit sometimes, Michael. Who needs to be less sensitive? You get upset by what I write...I don't care what you write, it's your opinion and that doesn't change mine. It's because I'm not sensitive to others disagreeing with me that I can happily put an opinion out there that most of you find outlandish...and your type find offensive. What I never hear is a fond, representation of your own team's strengths. Sydney (except Olivia) and Hawthorn goes to abuse immediately. I enjoy that because it shows me that Freo supporters have a depth of passion for their teams that you can't find. Prove me wrong by talking about your teams, not mine. Did you know you are playing your last game for 2014 tonight?
Michael huston
Guest
The general consensus is that Sydney and Hawthorn have been the best teams, but you believe Freo are, which implies Sydney and Hawthorn must be over-rated. Perhaps I'm just a criticial nit-picker but when I analyse my team or any other team I don't get so harshly viewed. You need to be less sensitive. It's a game. If I wanted to truly insult your team there are loads of avenues I could go. And I'll spare you the rant about Sydneys greatness. Hopefully we'll see it tonight, but if not, then I'll tell you all about why I'm happy with my team just like you did with Freo. I do implore you to venture outside of just Freo articles and you'll find I'm an old bugger who criticises nearly every team in the comp. I shouldn't be at 25, but hey, I guess AFL does that to you.
Don Freo
Guest
I never call Sydney over rated...I don't care what ratings other people give them. I just don't rank them as highly as I rank Freo. I talk about what I think... That's the thing...you want me to explain my reasons for that and to convince you. Why should I do that? Your support for Sydney shouldn't be so fragile. What you could do is tell me what excites you about your boys...not tell me what is wrong with our boys...(eg..Sandilands has not had as good a season as Jacobs. That kind of position tells me you don't know about Freo's season at all but take your conclusions and your reading of games from The Roar website.)
johno
Guest
Bomber Thompson ... gee can we please get a guy who was part of the whole "use players as pin cushions" regime!
Michael huston
Guest
Was purely a response to Don calling Sydney over-rated. It's what supporters do mate.
Balthazar
Guest
Dalgety, wasn't attacking you're description of Duffy. More musing out loud that he's a real inbetweener. Neither a true small nor as tall as say Mayne. Grey is an interesting one. I like the look of anyone who can play a number of sports well and it seems he has really picked up the game despite the late focus on AFL. I can see him on a wing too too but I reckon a half back role is not a bad option first. Unfortunately we will need to put one of our quick players there because we consistently get caught out by quick smalls. I note he's been trialled there a bit in the WAFL. I try to find a role for Subes, I really do. But I think re his right foot he never even attempts to use it (Lachie Neale is a bit guilty of this as well) so it makes him easy to shut down. That and the fact that he doesn't seem to play a consistent 4 quarters troubles me.
Balthazar
Guest
Michael, I don't care whether you are a Freo hater or not. I really don't. There's too many of them on this site for one more to bother me. I live in my happy place where I comment on articles about the strengths and weaknesses of the team I support and that's about it. Or I occasionally amuse myself sledging some of the more self-important so-called expert writers who exhibit clear agendas and pretend otherwise. But yes, your constant criticism of the team every week this year, your hostility to great players like Waters and Fyfe being recognised as such and the fact that you only say anything remotely sympathetic about them when you no longer think they are a premiership threat means that, yes, you're no different to 95% of the posters here. But it doesn't really matter what I think. If it's an issue for you for whatever reason - here's the thing, don't write a treatise on them in every article saying how overrated they are
Michael huston
Guest
I didn't say anything about Freos list because you guys have better knowledge of that than me and I respect that. In another article I even said there's no point writing off Freo's (or any teams) future when we haven't even seen it yet. I've stood very firm in defense of Freo in terms of their premiership window. I just responded to Dons opinion with my own re the issue of injuries, and whose the best team and coach in the competition. I think Don's view is bonkers, and he thinks mine is too. But that's the way the world goes and I think both Don and I will both admit to dishing it out as much as we take it. But don't categorise me as a Freo hater. The fact I bother to invest myself emotionally in them is because I want them to do well. Hawthorn and Freo are my equal second favourites, but Hawthorn have won two flags in six years, so there's not really much to comment on there. I apologise for making broad statements about Freos supporter base, but my point is that the majority of the comments on here have mentioned Freos injuries when in my opinion, it didn't have that much of an impact.
Axle an the guru
Guest
BTW i didnt invent Shemantle and i only used it on a couple of occasions and i havent used it for a while now.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Hahaha yes Dal you do have a couple points there. Your making me laugh,i will give you credit on your memory bank,its very impressive,but if you think im sitting here feeling hurt about the word troll your wrong,i was just making the point that I'm not a Fussball or a Lazza. Yes i did tip Brizzy,lost that one,carnt always be right. In regard to your hectoring as you call it,i accually dont mind some of you purple people and have enjoyed some of the comments recently so i thought i might try and smooth over some of the sh:t of the past,but thats ok as we are both entitled to our opinions and i respect yours even though i rearly agree. As for the smiley faces,im generally a happy person with a serious side in a debate,so there fine by me.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Suban gets caught because he tries to take them on…and on…and on, not because he's slow…and tell me how many lefties have a right boot to speak of? I'm sure if he had the focus/role of lock down defender he would moderate his game. He plays the game with more intensity than most. It'd be a shame to waste Brady Grey's pace with a lockdown role, he seems like he might make it on to the wing or perhaps initially replace Sutcliffe when he goes into the middle more. And yep, as I said, "smaller forward" for Duffy.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I would say so.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Well well, look who the humourless one is now? C'mon Axle, sticks and stones, sticks, and, stones, buddy. You love to constantly throw around your pithy and not-at-all-derogatory nicknames for Freo, not adverse to a little "Shemantle" type rant, but go all injured and hurt like when a few people take exception to your "playful" hectoring. :D For the record I didn't call you a troll, but said you weren't shy of some trolling (in the vein of you being more courageous with it than the suddenly highly vocal Freo-bashers posting their hate for what seemed the first time). There is a difference between the two. :D Yes yes, you claim you weren't fishing, but the behaviour definitely fitted the pattern and was consistent with your line on Freo on many occasions, namely an antagonistic one. :D You did get lucky with the straight sets thing (cast the net enough times). Didn't you also predict Brisbane would beat Freo, then moderate it, then strengthen it, then moderate it again? :D Oh and how are the smiley faces working for you? :D
Axle an the guru
Guest
I dont rate Lyon as a super coach Don,he is to negative/defencesive for my likeing,everyone knows that,but if i seriously critisize someone i always name them otherwise no one would know who I'm talking about,but i do get into Lyon a bit so i can see how you would take it seriously,but i thought the smiley face and my placid tone would indicate it was a joke. But anyway we will never agree on Rossy, but alls good mate :-)
Don Freo
Guest
Way to go. Folk...I think I might have just shrugged one of the nasty people.
Spruce moose
Guest
Quite right. No point in engaging in rational conversation with you. Ever again. You are crazy. I respect your right to have an opinion. I don't respect your stance of irrational behaviour when someone dare question your line of 'reason'. I take back what I said about you last week. In fact I genuinely cannot in good thought continue to engage in conversation with someone who cannot see reason, respect the opinion of others, or at the very least engage in discussion with a semblance of intelligence and maturity. I actually worry for you. Au revoir. Bon chance.
Don Freo
Guest
Just not the Rossie thing. There are brain dead things that people say about Lyon and they are not jokes...indeed they are never jokes. They are deeply serious and intended nastiness, advertising the character of the poster. I look for the joke first in your posts but that is a Bosk, spruce, powerbot comment. Leave the anti-Ross stuff. There is no humour there.
Don Freo
Guest
See Michael, you think one thing...but you'd be wrong, probably because it's you doing the thinking. If I think Freo are the best in the comp, do you really think an angry post is going to change how I think? If our injuries hadn't happened during the game, we win. Not the other big 4 that missed...those during the game. That has never happened to Sydney...certainly not last year. No-one of any substance was missing. You can't use injuries as an excuse. We can.
Don Freo
Guest
It is, after all, a Freo article, AB. We might be the only club...no Sydney and Freo...seem to be the only clubs that actually like their own teams, coaches and possibilities. You never read a Hawthorn fan trumpeting the strengths of their teams. I wonder why. Do they lack passion. It seems to be all about putting down others. It's a strange mentality...a strange way of being. Why follow footy if you have no passion, only reasons to dislike others?