Just how good are the Fremantle Dockers in this 2015 AFL season? After dispatching Sydney on the weekend, you’d have to be leaning more to the positive side.
According to the AFL website’s statistics page Fremantle ranks as shown in these statistical areas.
Kicks: third
Handballs: sixth
Disposals: third
Marks: second
Hit outs: second
Eff Disposal: second
Cont. Disposals: eighth
Tackles: 17th
Goals: sixth
Behinds: 11th
Contested marks: second
Marks inside 50: seventh
Clearances: fourth
Centre clearances: fourth
Stoppages: seventh
Rebound 50s: 18th
1 per centers: 17th
Inside 50s: sixth
Goal accuracy %: 56.6 fifth
Interchange: second
So how good are they?
Looking at this data it can seem like just a bunch of numbers, but what it shows is how good Fremantle really are in some very important areas of the game.
Fremantle are dominant in being first to the ball, their ability to run with the footy, break lines and penetrate the opposition defence, and deliver hitting their targets better than almost anyone.
The Dockers’ ability to be gain control of the football is something Ross Lyon prides his team on and it is thanks to player like Nat Fyfe, Barlow, Neale and Pearce (Fremantle rank second in hit outs, second in contested marks, and seventh in stoppages). However every coach, or even every fan, knows that without effective disposals the ability to gain control of the footy is useless or has little merit on its own.
To Freo’s credit they have the necessary skills to deliver the footy accurately to their forward line with devastating results. (The Dockers rank third in the number of disposals/game, second in number of effective disposals, second in marks, fourth in clearances, and sixth in inside 50’s).
The figures shown are simply a numerical breakdown of the important and game winning components in the AFL and are averaged over a number of games.
It can be seen that according to the breakdown and ranking of Fremantle’s game and cross referencing on game-winning statistics Fremantle could be in very good stead to be finishing the season in the top four, possibly a premiership contender if they continue their current run of form.
So in response to the original question, the Fremantle Dockers are very good. Good enough to be taken seriously by the rest of the clubs in the AFL. That was demonstrated against the mighty Swans this weekend.
Ronnie Burns
Guest
Good article TK
Ronnie Burns
Guest
For all intents & purposes, Fremantle are currently the form side in the comp, along with the Dogs & Magpies. They rely on ageing stars but so did St Kilda during Lyons era there.(interesting to see Freo in 5 years time*basket case??) On to their stats. I did read that their number of tackles is low for league standards, that is only ok if your contested ball winning numbers & time in possession is healthy. I don't think alarm bells would be ringing at Freo HQ.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Anyone can report a comment Don. I was quite clear with you that I found your post unnecessary. Move on.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
There's a "Bad Pete" in the footy forum too?
Don Freo
Guest
Classy move Pete. Now report your own trash and have it removed. Classless. Fancy choosing to have edited, or silenced, things you don't want others to say. Fancy having someone in your pocket to have that done. And you want your comments respected?
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
You used my name specifically in a comment to Powerbot. It is unecessary. The post has been removed. As I said, stick to footy opinions.
Don Freo
Guest
You are the one who bought into my comments with unwarranted moralizing. If you don't like it, don't expect you have some kind of right to make it one way. You did say if you sounded "holier than thou' you are sorry...then continued to be holier than thou.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
I don't have to prove anything to you Don. Just leave me out of your discussions and take a leaf out of your own book their in relation to opinions and footy.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
No Don, just explaining what "Straw Man" means
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Again Don, unnecessary.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
You've picked that up and run with it quite a way though, haven't you? I don't think anyone has suggested that purely because they finished on top of the table after round four means too much on its own, other than they've started well.
Don Freo
Guest
"...hurling off insults like a spoilt ugly little kid.." Oh dear! The defense rests.
EddyJ
Guest
Oh dear, here you go again. Playful tete a tete, Sure. Accusing everyone of bad behaviour, when it's your behaviour that is the worst, hurling off insults like a spoilt ugly little kid. One eyed, creating futile arguments. Even when people say complimentary things about Fremantle, you turn it around to accusing someone has said something abusive. You've got a problem, It's just a sport. Loosen up a bit. Otherwise your team will never win the premiership.
EddyJ
Guest
It was a response to one poster who said that being on top of the ladder after Round 4 means that they are a good team. I don't dispute that Fremantle are a good team, but the point that I was making was it doesn't mean very much so early in the season. Remember Adelaide in 2006? Wait until there are more rounds and see what sort of pattern develops.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I think it's more the way they are playing rather than their ladder position that people are thinking is an indication of how they might go for the rest of the year. Those stats you give are pretty arbitrary though, you could just as easily use the top 4 after round 4, and since 2009 every premier has come from this group, except in 2010 when Collingwood were only out of the top 4 by percentage.
Don Freo
Guest
I must say, I am amazed at the ugly anger that Freo's win over Sydney has incited in Sydney fans. Perhaps the least gracious response I have ever seen. I was really looking forward to some playful tete a tete but the sizzling anger and denial has been stunning.
Don Freo
Guest
Seems like you are buying in to a conversation that is not yours here Peter.
Don Freo
Guest
What I say has absolutely no impact on Freo's performance. The club wouldn't even know who I am. What a strange idea.
Powerbot
Guest
.......Fell in against the Power without a ruckman, against Sydney the notorious slow season starters and a Cats team without a rudder......or a REAL coach. As always (I remember your comments before and after last years semi final IN FREMANTLE when your team LED BY SIX GOALS), you seem to get ahead of yourself a lot. Always an excuse, Don.....umpires, injuries, inexperience, Harvey......the list goes on and always entertains. Fremantle have won NOTHING in twenty one years. FACT. As a Port Adelaide man who knows Fremantle football history well, you are doing your club a disservice with your unbridled hyperbole. Take a good hard look at your clubs culture first.
Powerbot
Guest
Yeah right, Don......in ya dreams........anything to avoid Hawks, Swans & Power......you'll be lucky to make the top four.