After promising so much in 2013, Fremantle’s 2014 must have disappointed their long suffering fans. Can they live up to their potential in 2015?
1. Outside run
The inside presence of Fremantle has never been in doubt with the likes of David Mundy, Nathan Fyfe, Michael Barlow and Lachie Neale giving the side a dominant inside midfield.
Fremantle have done an outstanding job of defining roles for their players as is highlighted by the rebound 50 and inside 50 statistics for Stephen Hill and Danyle Pearce. Looking towards 2015, the possibility of Michael Walters being freed to add some more runs will make them even more dangerous.
The trio of Stephen Hill, Danyle Pearce and Michael Walters give Fremantle as dangerous a run and carry game in the league.
2. Small forwards
The only reason that Fremantle can take the punt on Walters as a running midfielder is the development of their small forwards. Again Fremantle should be praised for creating a strong succession plan within the group.
They have slowly been building Walters up as a midfielder while still being an important small forward. Partly due to Walters’ absence last year, Fremantle was able to build a core of small forwards including Hayden Ballantyne, Hayden Crozier, Max Duffy and even Tom Sheridan and Cameron Sutcliffe.
Late in the season, Fremantle experimented with Ballantyne, Crozier, Duffy and Walters in the same forward line. Walters may go into the middle but don’t be surprised to see Fremantle try a four pronged small attack again.
3. Defensive realignment
Probably the biggest surprise of Fremantle, especially late in 2014, was the inability of their lauded defence to be able to stop opposition runs. The Port Adelaide semi final was the stand out, but this was no longer the dominant defence that Fremantle once had.
Expect 2015 to be about recapturing that mantle as unquestionable toughest defence.
While the names are likely to change with Luke McPharlin, Paul Duffield, Michael Johnson and even Zac Dawson getting on in years, the process that Fremantle used to build a formidable defence is going to be back on display in 2015.
As much as they talk about wanting to score more, 2014 highlighted that this is a team that is build from defence and the defence failing is far more significant than a misfiring forward line.
4. Desperate Dockers
Another part of Fremantle being undersold ahead of 2015 is the psyche of the veterans on this team who want to be a part of the first ever Fremantle premiership.
Fremantle fell away late last year with some dispirited losses towards the end of the season. Expect the passion that Fremantle has always been renowned for to be at its best in 2015.
While the Dockers suffered a brutal season, but again the reality is they were not able to come through when it mattered most. If Fremantle find themselves in another sudden-death final, with the game on the line, expect everyone of these Dockers to be desperate.
As they say desperate times call for desperate measures.
5. Forgetting the wasted talent
Fremantle made a bold statement at last year’s draft when they went for small types when the expectation was for Fremantle to go tall.
As the club rightly pointed out, they were set for young tall players, but this was also a message that they are going to give chances to young players as opposed to going back to previous failed ventures.
Colin Sylvia has been a bust and was overtaken by this group of draftees. Anthony Morabito’s circumstances are sadder, but the reality is that the time has come for Fremantle to look at the future and that is what last year’s draft said.
For Lachie Weller and Connor Blakely especially, they will be given every chance to grab a spot whether that is forward of centre, in the middle itself or with a lime green vest.
Either way instead of hearing Fremantle fans speaking of the hope in Morabito and Sylvia, be ready for the real threat that comes in Weller and Blakely.
6. Early retribution
This is a club that is probably looking at what is a tough opening to the season as a chance to embrace the catch cry “anyone, anytime, anywhere”. They want Port Adelaide at home to avenge last year’s semi-final loss, they get just that in Round 1.
They want Geelong in Geelong to avenge last year’s after-the-siren loss, they get just that in Round 2.
West Coast and Sydney Rounds 3 and 4. Anyone, anytime, anywhere.
7. The Ross Lyon legacy
While he is a hard man to read, Lyon does appear to bristle and is perhaps a bit upset for the reputation that he left St Kilda in a state of derelict.
What has been clear from Lyon’s time with Fremantle that as much as he is as desperate to win a premiership as ever, he is also desperate to shake the tag that he is a club killer.
It is underappreciated what Lyon did do with some of the youth at St Kilda and it is vastly underappreciated the rejuvenation process that Fremantle is going through.
A club like Geelong is actively praised for blooding young players but staying competitive, yet Fremantle are getting no praise for a similar style and strategy.
In 2014 alone players like Max Duffy and Michael Apeness were able to impress on debut while Jack Hannath, Tom Sheridan and Hayden Crozier were again given opportunities.
Players like Lachie Neale, Cameron Sutcliffe and Lee Spurr have continued to grow and are now integral parts of the Fremantle best 22. That group is the nucleus of the next generation that Lyon is desperate to prove can give Fremantle sustained success.
Don Freo
Guest
It's interesting that Chris Mayne has been training for the last few weeks with the defence.
Balthazar
Guest
One of the things last year told me about Freo is that the team really struggles with 6 day breaks playing away, let alone back to back 6 day breaks. I also think that they looked a bit flat in the final against the Swans, where their travel had been delayed 24 hours (thank you, Virgin Australia) and they barely had time when they arrived to do a walk over on a surface they hadn't played on since 2006. My point is not so much to make excuses for last year but an expectation that they will make good use of a better schedule this year, particularly if they rest their veterans, as Ross has promised to do. Which also means that fans get to see more of the exciting young players, which is great. For the first time in a long time, there's a healthy degre of competition for spots in the side.
Don Freo
Guest
Yeah...I particularly look forward to Weller but the big one for me is always Mora... He can be better than Fyfe. Apeness and the tall backs that have been there for 2 and 3 years are the others that excite me. We loved how Taberner stepped up last year but Apeness is a class or two up on Tabs. As always, my excitement is multiplied by Roarers...by about round 21... suddenly realizing how comprehensive and widespread is Freo's elite talent. Thanks for the article Cam. I guess this steps up my preseason of Roar comments.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
Hi Don, Thanks for taking the time to read and to reply, appreciate it. Fair point you raise on the opposition runs. I went back and had a look at some of their second half games in closer detail and you are right that it wasn't always a quick opposition run that did cost the Dockers victory. The bigger point was probably that the defence had lost a bit of that unscoreable aura about it. It seemed teams late in the year scored 'easier' goals then in 2013 when every score by the opposition seemed to be an effort. Injury no doubt played a part, but I am excited to see Lyon go about really refocusing that defence on what made them the league's best. I didn't like grouping Morabito with Sylvia and tried to highlight the differences. Morabito was just very unlucky while Sylvia was all down to attitude. Either way as a Freo fan, I would be way more excited by the prospect of Weller and Blakely then Morabito going into this year and again that is the larger point. But again you cannot help but feel for Morabito and wish him the best if he can get back.
Don Freo
Guest
A pleasantly surprising eyes open assessment. My only criticisms, Cam, would be your comments about the inability to stop defensive runs, using the Port game as an example. That was ONLY the result of 4 in game injuries. These all occurred before or just after half time to a midfield and defence already limited by missing stars. Remember, Port scored 4 goals in the last 3 minutes so the actual 'over running' was not as clear as many claim. A fit Freo has nothing to be concerned about. The other issue is to lump Morabito into the same summary as Colin Sylvia. Morabito would be worth carrying for 5 more years just for the 4 years of quality that might follow. Sylvia should use this season to learn a trade or study a tertiary degree.
johno
Guest
Thanks for pointing out that Ross Lyon is not destroying the Fremantle team by not playing youth or implementing an exhausting gameplan! The young kids coming through are very promising and the latest batch of recruits points to a very mature recruiting program. All the nay-sayers wailing about Freo not picking talls ignore the fact that over the past 3 years they have drafted Hannath, Moller, Taberner, Alex Pearce, Vanderluer, Smith and new irish recruit Sean Hurley. One would think that 7 players that are being developed is enough current stock to replenish Pav and McPharlin. Also you missed out on mentioning with Weller and Blakely this kid called Ethan Hughes who Freo rookied this year. He's just turned 20, has had one season in the WAFL as a 19 year old where he played 19 reserves matches and 2 league games. He looks like the bargain pick of the draft and could easily play seniors if needed (189cm, 81kg and a good user of the ball)
Paul D
Roar Guru
I've been really impressed by Fremantle's drafting over the past 2 seasons. They haven't listened to the gaggle of would-be talent scouts in the press who've been bellowing at them to get more talls - they're backing the ones they've got to develop, and have picked up some some good young mids instead, showing a fair bit of foresight in the process. About the only area they haven't done that well in is trading - Gumbleton was not able to shake the injuries, and Sylvia has been a predictable-in-hindsight flop. I'm sure there are other trades that have gone ok, but those are the two I remember, mainly. It's hard to lure players over to WA though - it's not like they haven't thrown the $ around in trying. I've got them down for top 4 this year. Still a very good side, and will be tough to beat, no matter where they play.