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Over the last four years, Fremantle have probably been the most dominant team in the AFL to not taste premiership glory.
Playing in one semi-final, two preliminaries and one grand final, there is no doubt that Ross Lyon’s coaching style has lifted Fremantle close to the ultimate prize.
When analysing why Fremantle are yet to win a premiership, their lack of forward firepower is often blamed. During this year’s trade period, Cameron McCarthy was a significant target for the club and their fans would no doubt be bitterly disappointed by the fact that he remains at GWS.
His addition to the side would have been valuable, given that their list of experienced forwards is thin, with the ageing Matthew Pavlich, Michael Walters and Hayden Ballentyne doing much of the heavy lifting, despite none of them being out and out star forwards.
However, to say that a lack of a few more power forwards is the sole problem at Fremantle is naïve. It is instead the issues within the Ross Lyon game plan that is costing Fremantle a chance at success.
In 2015, the club ranked 14th for inside 50s in the competition while grand finalists Hawthorn and West Coast ranked first and fifth respectively. Such a low amount of supply makes it very difficult for Fremantle’s forwards to kick a winning score.
Nonetheless, the Fremantle forward line is surprisingly efficient, converting the 14th highest amount of inside 50s into the ninth highest amount of goals. This contributes to the idea that Fremantle’s failings lie not in their personnel, but in their game plan.
Although the idea is that their defence makes up for their offensive struggles, they actually have only the second best defence in the league with Hawthorn – who are also the best attacking side. In short, their defence is good, but not good enough to make up for their clearly lacking offence.
Granted, I’m no expert and I have no idea how to develop and more attacking game style with minimal impact on defensive prowess. However, to move forward and give the Purple Haze hope of seeing their own premiership cup, the Dockers need to get more ball inside 50.
The addition of one or two forward line players will only compliment this change, it will not address the underlying problem.
However, Ross Lyon is a great coach and has in fact already coached a side without these failings. His 2009 St. Kilda side ranked third for inside 50s and third for average goals.
Any Fremantle supporter could argue that their side in 2016 will be just as high quality personnel wise as the St. Kilda side of 2009.
If Lyon can mould the Dockers into a side with more supply, they don’t need anyone else. The only problem is time is not on their side.
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