The blossoming of Lachie Neale into an A-grade player has lifted Fremantle’s midfield unit to the best in the AFL.
Sydney and Hawthorn have battled for this title for the last couple of seasons.
The Swans have five elite midfielders – Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy, Jarrad McVeigh, Dan Hannebery and Kieran Jack.
Hawthorn’s top end is made up by Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell, three of the hardest, most courageous and skilful footballers I’ve seen.
The Dockers, meanwhile, now have five top-tier midfielders – Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Michael Barlow, Stephen Hill and Neale.
Fyfe is the best player in the land at present. Mundy and Barlow are two of the most underrated guys in the AFL. Hill has finally capitalised on his ability to become one of the game’s most damaging outside mids. And 21-year-old Neale is among the top five footballers his age in the competition.
The player who tips the balance in favour of Fremantle’s midfield is the same man who can tip the balance of a car, a boat, or even a truck – the goliath Aaron Sandilands.
Sydney and Hawthorn fans often point to the fact that their midfields are commanding even without having a dominant ruckman. But how much more effective would they be at the feet of arguably the best big man in the competition?
Tell me that Kennedy, Parker and co. wouldn’t have loved to have had Sandilands in a red and white jumper when he was monstering them last season. Across the two matches between the sides, Sandilands went head-to-head with Mike Pyke and utterly destroyed the Canadian, winning the hit out count 90-34.
Sandilands’ opponents certainly rate the work that he does. In this year’s top 50 AFL footballers, as voted by the players, he was not just the only ruckman to feature in the list, but was ranked at the lofty position of 20, ahead of the likes of Jordan Lewis, Dane Swan, Shaun Burgoyne, Luke Parker and Brent Harvey.
Young Neale is certain to join this top 50 list in the near future, perhaps even by season’s end. His display in Sunday’s Western Derby was remarkable. Neale’s 42 touches, 10 marks, seven clearances and three goals earned him the Ross Glendinning medal as best afield.
The dynamo appears to have hoisted his game to another level after a prolific 2014 campaign in which he had the Dockers’ second most disposals. Still little known outside of WA, his supreme display against the Eagles will have lifted his profile across the nation.
According to Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton, Neale is the most underrated player in the competition.
West Coast can only dream of having a young on-baller with as much poise and tenacity as Neale. Time and again he cut a path through the centre square, leaving the Eagles’ plodding midfielder grasping at air. In between he could be found at the bottom of packs, scrapping for the ball with complete commitment.
Crucially for Fremantle, their midfield unit has plenty of youth. Sandilands admittedly doesn’t have long left in the game, but Neale, Fyfe (23 years old) and Hill (24) can form the nucleus of their on-ball division for close to a decade, while Barlow (27) and Mundy (29) could be around for several more seasons.
Last year I was one of many who questioned whether Fremantle’s premiership window was at risk of closing after their early finals exit.
The importance of veteran big men Sandilands, Matthew Pavlich and Luke McPharlin is without question. But the quality of their midfield alone will ensure that even when those lynchpins are gone, Fremantle should remain a force.
Don Freo
Guest
This article was written 4 months ago Hawkeye. Were you really waiting for 4 months before you felt you could proffer that spurious, tentative statement?
Hawkeyes_15
Guest
After the last 2 rounds against Freo and Sydney, you'd have to say the Hawks midfield are a classy unit.
jax
Guest
That's a big call and very doubtful they would have reached Matera and Mainy status. Let's see where they finish when they retire.
jax
Guest
Or better still their most recent encounter ie last night
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
He does kick some ripping clutch goals on a pretty regular basis though.
13th Man
Guest
Being a freo supporter I would rather have Burgoyne in a heartbeat. Pearce turns it over too much. That semi final against Port last year, Pearce took on a player and got holding the ball about 4 times and 3 resulted in goals. He was secretly still playing for port! lucky rest of our midfield is good enough.
Don Freo
Guest
Of course it didn't. I see you are aware now of how that made you sound. It is only the Hawthorn posters who raise a flag issue...and it says a lot more about what you don't understand that what you do understand. The flag thing is silly. It always is. I follow my team out of joy. I don't become disenchanted if they don't win a flag. Some of the greatest ever players never won one.
AB
Guest
I'm a Hawthorn supporter Don, so I know a lot more than you about what it takes to win a premiership. A strong midfield alone won't win a premiership, but it is a critical precondition. No team in the modern game can win a flag without a very strong midfield. Your earlier comment suggested there is no relationship between the strength of a team's midfield and it's capacity to win a premiership, which is clearly nonsense.
Don Freo
Guest
There is only one flag won per season with only one midfield, therefore, successful. It is a team premiership, not a midfield premiership. Brian Lake doesn't play in the midfield. Either you know less about footy than you pretend, AB, or you are just being parochially obtuse.
AB
Guest
Playing ability has everything to do with flags when you're discussing a whole midfield.
Don Freo
Guest
A ridiculous comment would be to suggest that playing ability has something to do with flags. That would be to say that Bob Skilton was pathetic or that Marcus Bontempelli can't play. You silly, silly man.
Fabes
Guest
Ridiculous comment Don. Freo not as polished as the Hawks in midfield as evidenced by having no flags. I doubt Freo will win the flag this year also.
Don Freo
Guest
They'd all be wins to Freo. Sydney would have to play Buddy v Fyfe (win to Fyfe), Kennedy on Mundy (win to Mundy on disposal efficiency alone) and Hannebury on Neale ( Squared on the outside but Neale wins inside), Parker on Barlow (Barlow will just run him around while Parker is looking for body), Hill on Jack (Hill would score 6 goals if that happens), leaving McVeigh to play on Mzungu, both Pearces, Sutcliffe, Pav and Sunny...oh dear!!!
13th man
Guest
yup big plus. It is allowing the dockers to play another attacking midfielder which is providing more run and excitement. Freo don't need to tag an opposition player if their own midfield is dominating and always getting the ball. It will be tougher this week as the Swans have a better midfield. We could see some fantastic 1 on 1 matchups Fyfe V Parker, Barlow V Kennedy, Mundy V Hanneberry !!!!
13th man
Guest
I give it to Freo. Midfield depth is ridiculously strong and have the best player in the comp. Fyfe, Barlow, Mundy, Neale, Hill, Mzungu, Pearce,
pdelux
Guest
Sandi may have smashed pyke 90-35 in hitouts in 2014 but the swans won both games. So with that kind of dominance the mids didn't capitalise on, I'd say freo are playing catchup. Maybe the loss of Crowley is a plus.
JW
Guest
Being a port supporter I can tell you who I wish we still had, and he doesn't play for Fremantle.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I see this as like the Question...Which of your three kids is your favourite? Dockers, Hawks & Swans are that close when it comes to midfield strength.....
Gecko
Guest
Pretty surprising that the article only mentions three top Hawthorn midfielders when they've decimated the comp in the last two finals series. Burgoyne is unquestionably a huge part of their dominance in finals. Good that Ken mentioned Isaac Smith and Brad Hill on the outside but taggers get under appreciated in both the article and the comments section. If Ryan Crowley (assuming he gets back this year), Kane Cornes or Liam Shiels can stop a guy like Hannebery or Dangerfield, then they deserve mention as key midfielders.
Mitcher
Guest
Just having a larf Don. I'd hope it was taken in the spirit intended. I have no dramas with you guys' passion for your club. In fact, in my weaker moments I think it wouldn't be a bad thing to see a new AFL premier. Then I crush those sacrilegious thoughts down deep and picture Buddy kicking 10 in the geefa as the 100 dollar bills fall out of his pockets. Cheer Cheer!