Fremantle have emerged from the opening month of the AFL season as the league’s top team, standing alone without a loss and doing so with two wins against premiership contenders.
Could this be the year Ross Lyon finally goes all the way in September?
There are a few reasons to get excited. And one pretty obvious reason not to: It’s early days.
If anything, this could be a dangerous time of year to be finding form – it could instil complacency, rendering them underprepared for the inevitable charge of rivals later in the season.
But for now, credit needs to go to the Dockers. Out of the teams that made up most people’s predicted top four – Hawthorn, Sydney Swans, Port Adelaide and Fremantle – they were the ones on the outer.
Those predicting a shake-up of that particular four were typically leaving the Dockers out.
That’s now changed. Indeed, the Dockers sit atop not just the real ladder but a certain four-team ladder that could quite possibly be studied very closely as the season rolls on:
This ladder will be worth keeping an eye on. Games involving the four clubs most expect to see action toward the pointy end of September will become the key focus.
Last week against the Swans, there was plenty to like for the Dockers.
The ball was in Fremantle’s forward half for only 42 per cent of the match.
Even as they built a commanding 48-point half time lead, the inside 50s were dead even – both sides had an equal number of entries from which to score.
By game’s end, Sydney would win the inside 50 count by eight.
But Freo soaked up that forward half pressure and spat out those inside 50s, and did it effectively.
Their rebound 50 leaders were Clancee Pearce (six), Michael Johnson and Lee Spurr (five), Garrick Ibbotson and Stephen Hill (four) and Luke McPharlin (three).
The scary part? All bar one of these players had a disposal efficiency of 83 per cent or more. Spurr and McPharlin were north of 90 per cent.
The Dockers have all the hallmarks of a well-oiled defensive machine. If there aren’t any further injury interruptions beyond Zac Dawson, who’s due back soon, and Alex Silvagni, who re-injured his hamstring last weekend, they could already possess the foundation for a serious flag tilt.
We all know that Ross Lyon and defence are synonymous with one another.
But the nature of that defensive dominance has shifted. In 2009, the Lyon-coached St Kilda averaged 10 more tackles than their opponents, the best in the league.
In 2015, Freo are currently last in the ranking, averaging 10.8 less tackles than their opponents. Lyon even told Perth radio the team hardly practices tackling.
In place of constant pressure by tackling, Lyon oversees a team that simply knows how to defend – and can remain calm once that defending pays off.
That puts them in good stead for the pressure-cooker games later in the year.
Yes, that didn’t necessarily come to the fore last season, when the side was knocked out of the finals in straight sets, but the absences of McPharlin, Pearce and Johnson tells a story there.
We can see a noticeable difference now that those players are back.
Looking ahead, Freo don’t face a member of the already-anointed top four until Round 16, a date with Hawthorn in Launceston.
There are some challenges between now and then – notably from teams looking to upset any notion the top four is locked in – but the Dockers should be in a good position at the two-thirds mark of the season.
Indeed, there’s no reason why that can’t continue their dominance. They don’t play Sydney or Hawthorn again after that and a return battle with Port Adelaide isn’t until Round 23.
Right now, they are your safest bet for minor premiers.
kick to kick
Guest
Freo at their best are unbeatable (1st quarter against Swans). At their worst they are uncompetitive(3rd quarter against Swans). They will be minor premiers but will want to iron out that inconsistency for finals or the Cup will elude them.
Tom from Perth
Guest
#bringbackdonfreo
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
From what he says Ross Lyon seems to handle the pressure by focusing on what he can control in the here and now, and a premiership is not one of those, being a future thing. So on the face of it at least, he seems to try and focus his energies on putting in place the things that he believes will maximise the opportunity to win it. This is a good robust method for handling whatever level of pressure, perceived or otherwise. As for the favourites thing, there are plenty of the usual suspects to share that "burden" with, whatever happens. People will always fancy the Hawks chances and it wouldn't take much for Sydney to gain the spotlight with their playing list, plus Port have a lot of expectations on them this year as well. So while Freo might have it in that scenario you've put, there will always be some opportunity to portion it out I'm sure. Oh and so you'd plump for Freo over anyone else as an opponent for the Cats in September? You do have a (potentially unhealthy) thirst for revenge. I'd guess it'd take a lot for them to get there from what they've shown at this stage, but it is a long season and you never know if they get on a roll they still have some very potent weapons plus the imprint of success.
Nudge
Guest
The roar is poorer without Don Freo #bringbackdonfreo. A very intelligent AFL and cricket poster. If not sometimes a little loud, but who cares,don't sook, get over it. #bringbackdonfreo
davo
Guest
Really?? Don has a job? I thought he was a full time roar commentater and part time Freo supporter(If only he could just ditch his filthy WC loving ways)
Chuznut
Guest
Fair enough, he doesn't necessarily discount everyone's opinions, but that's only if they share the same opinion as him in the first place, which is generally a very narrow minded opinion that he never considers budging on, no matter how many facts/stats/explanations he's given. He's welcome to exercise his free speech, but it doesn't mean that a lot of what he says isnt cringe-worthy. I don't necessarily agree with him being banned because of what he has said on this article (or was he banned for something he said on a different article?), but I'm certainly not going to miss his one sided views over the next month.
Chuznut
Guest
Out of curiosity, Were you at the game? Or just watching it on TV? Like I said, on TV, I thought they didn't look too bad, but live I didn't think they looked very good at all up until the 4th quarter. A lot of other people I spoke to and overheard on the train on the way home afterwards thought the same thing.
jax
Guest
I haven't been on the other side of Don as we agree on a few things but definitely not on all. I'm not as active as some people and I have missed a lot of comments. I can only comment on what I have seen and I haven't seen him say anything that deeply offended me and I've seen others say worse. He is on here a lot though and I can see how he can rub people up the wrong way. I wouldn't mind someone posting a few links to the offensive comments. It sounds like this had been building for some time. If that was the case I hope that he was issued with a warning or two before he was banned?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I just realised when you said 2009, that was the year I meant instead of 2011. No matter. Will be interesting. I can't imagine the personal pressure Rosco has on him at present. It must be enormous. Part of him would have moved to Freo based on him truly believing he can win with this list. Sure he has built the team up, but he could have also done this with the Saints again. It just would have probably taken longer. I also think the extra resources he has at Freo gives him the edge required to not just win one premiership, but multiple. I have to disagree with you though. If the Dockers finish in the Top 2 and keep playing the football we are seeing, then they will become firm favourites with most punters - me included. My hope is my boys get a crack at you in September. We owe you one, but it would almost be like a free swing at ya! :) Unfortunately it would appear my boys are hanging on for dear life. You never know, but I really can't make a rational argument on how they can make the top 6, which would give them a slim hope.
mattyb
Guest
#bringbackdonfreo
FreoAs
Guest
Ha ha ha. Don is just a positive wide eyed genius and misunderstood rebel who never meant harm to a soul, that's brilliant. You're not doing anything to allay my suspicions he's a West Coast plant.
jax
Guest
Don't worry about what the rest of the world thinks, that's the point I'm trying to make. Different is good, we learn more and the world is generally a better place. I haven't done a count but it looks like most people on here are calling for Don's return. I hope Freo wins the flag this year (if WC can't, which they won't). There are many tough challenges ahead. Lyon and the players know that which is why they are setting themselves for two home finals.
FreoAs
Guest
Well if he's out to change a particular part of the world so that more people hate the Dockers, he's been doing a damn fine job!
13th Man
Guest
Can't believe I am agreeing with a west coast fan but..... Spot on Jax, your comments on this article have been very true. Good on you for sticking up for a docker in need mate! btw its just banter what I say about the eagles, don't take it to heart haha ( =
AB
Guest
Jax, Don is free to publish his own website where he can continue to goad, ridicule and troll anyone he wants to. The editors of the Roar have every right to insist on some minimal standards of respect and courtesy for anyone who wants to post on their site. Clearly they thought Don wasn't meeting those standards. And I agree with them. As do, it seems, some Freo supporters and presumably plenty of other supporters as well. It's interesting - and deeply ironic - that those defending Don are insisting he has a right to his opinions. I totally agree. But the thing is, he wasn't banned for his opinions, he was banned for his rabid intolerance of any opinion different to his own.
13th Man
Guest
You must have been watching a different game to me Chuz? From my opinion Freo were way better than Port after quarter time and didn't really put them away and certainly ran out the game better!
jax
Guest
Not exactly FreoAs - Don thinks differently to most on here and that should be embraced, not penalised. For example, he tipped Freo to take out the flag this year or least make the GF and though its early days 5 games is all that we have to go on and barring injury I think they will finish Top 2. He said WC were better than most predicted as did I. He said Melbourne would improve significantly. Off memory I think he also said that the GCS would improve so he's not perfect but that's not the point. This quote explains my position better than I ever could. “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Steve Jobs
jax
Guest
he doesn't discount everyone else's opinion, only the ones he doesn't agree with. What happened to 'creative thinking' and 'free speech'? You should reconsider the way you look at this matter Chuz, it's a free speech and civil liberties issue for mine. If people can't speak there mind then god help us all.
jax
Guest
I think you're right on that one ;-)
jax
Guest
The only person having his freedoms abused is DonFreo and who gives you the right to determine 'his freedoms' as you so aptly put it?