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Pieces needed to finish Dockers puzzle

Michael Walters was one of the Dockers' best this year. (AAP Image/Tony McDonough)
Roar Pro
3rd March, 2016
13

So, the Fremantle Dockers hang on to their ‘contenders’ tag for one more year.

But they have again failed in the offseason to attract the key forward they so desperately require to give them the extra scoring power needed to win that elusive first flag.

The Dockers almost seem cursed in their pursuit of a tall forward to play alongside club legend Matthew Pavlich, with the mighty club from the west seemingly in the box seat several times over the last few years only to see it slips through their fingers for one reason or another.

With Pavlich set to retire at the end of this year, the Dockers priority at the end of this season may not be acquiring one key forward but multiple talls.

Premier defender Luke McPharlin’s retirement at the end of last season and the fact reliable defender Zac Dawson is in his thirties makes the key defensive position another area in need of attention for the staff at the Dockers.

Suddenly holes are appearing in a puzzle that looked so close to completion.

Coach Ross Lyon is another interesting subject. Lyon is a man whose teams and philosophies are built around defence, discipline and structure. He has struggled when confronted with the flexibility, scoring power and progressive game plan of master coach Alastair Clarkson and the Hawthorn football club.

While the Dockers are not alone in their struggles with the juggernaut that is Hawthorn it may be time for Lyon to use the old philosophy of “if you can’t beat em join em” and add some unpredictability to the Dockers game plan.

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Of course Fremantle have a weapon that no other club has Nat Fyfe. The midfield colossus is at the peak of his powers and is definitely the best player in the competition.

He is the prototype for the modern midfielder, big and strong Fyfe is an excellent mark who can be very dangerous when resting forward. In fact Fyfe has all the attributes to be a champion centre half forward.

Could this be the bold move needed to fix the Dockers scoring problems and deliver a premiership? Of course this plan would leave a big hole in the Fremantle engine room, placing a lot of pressure on the ever improving Lachie Neale, experienced warrior Michael Barlow and captain David Mundy. But the Dockers have placed a joker in their midfield pack with the recruitment of flawed genius Harley Bennell.

The decision Fremantle made to take a punt on Bennell was an absolute masterstroke, this guy could very well be the Dockers second-best player.

Aaron Sandilands is another point of difference the Dockers have, with the ruck mountain enjoying one of his best seasons last year. I still don’t think Fremantle exploit this advantage they have with Sandilands enough, Maybe some variation in his tap work and pushing him forward a bit more could help.

The ruck division cupboard of the Dockers is well stocked and even with the imminent retirement of Sandilands they have Zac Clarke and Jonathon Griffin who are more than capable replacements.

Overall Fremantle are a well drilled and consistent team who turn up to play every single week. But funnily enough it is probably their unpredictable and inconsistent players that hold the key to the Dockers success this year.

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Players like Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters guys that probably aren’t going to win the best and fairest but could produce a bit of magic to win a big game.

It really is getting to the make or break time for this mighty Dockers group.

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