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.
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.
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.
Don Freo
Guest
Interesting to hear Luke McPharlin speaking this morning. He is very clear that Freo has already replaced him (of course, he is too humble). His argument is that Freo's defence is always role-based, not personnel-based. He is regularly in conversation with Alex Pearce and Alex Silvagni, acting as a personal defensive mentor. (I guess that will make them both Smart Alex.) If, by the way, Freo does look to recruit from outside, I expect they'll go for competent players that they won't have to pay a fortune for...rather than Hooker or Hogan. Players like Jonathon Marsh and Cam McCarthy (who will be half the price now) are more likely to be the targets if they actually do chase anyone. In reality, they have a pulsating list of quality talls already.
Don Freo
Guest
Clarke is a gem. He'll come into his own when he is #1 ruckman in a year...or 3. One thing for sure, if Ross didn't see ability in Zac, Zac wouldn't be on the list. Remember he had a crook knee last year. His mobility, his pack marking (in the midfield and defence...not yet up forward) and his long kicking are great strengths. Like NicNat, he is gradually learning to read the game. He does it well defensively. NicNat seems to be more focused...but much of that comes from having to be #1 ruckman.
jax
Guest
Duffield is a significant loss but not many seem to talk about him, it's all LMac. I don't rate Clarke so Sandi better stay fit. Fyfe (forward), Tabs and Bennell are keys to their 2016 prospects. How quickly will Freo adapt to the tweaks they have made during the off-season? If it clicks they could go all the way but if it doesn't we may need to wait another year or two,
Paul D
Roar Guru
What you - and Don - said...accuracy in front of goal and lousy delivery down the ground. Solve that and there's your missing puzzle pieces. Agree on far too many clichés. Need a key forward. Lyon needs to change his gameplan. Gee, isn't Nat Fyfe a good player. While it's a tough thing to write for an informed audience, you need to do more than just regurgitating information everyone already knows.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
I bloody hate Walters and Neale , every time they play Port they carve us up. Excellent players, but I hate them ;)
Tricky
Guest
There is a lot of predictability about Freo, you know what you're gonna get - defensive grind- However Don is correct they do have a lot of forward 50 possession............... And accuracy is not there achille's either - so what is the answer?
Balthazar
Guest
If you don't see that Michael Walters is a supremely talented footballer who delivers in big games then I think you don't watch this team much. Also, Freo is injecting a new coaching philosophy via the assistant coaches they have recruited over the pre-season. Finally, it's not a lack of talls that has been a problem. It has been the poor and slow delivery down the ground. It apoears to have been Brent Guerra's sole focus over the pre-season to fix this.
johno
Guest
Walters is likely to win the clubs B&F, he came 5th last year. Freo tried to draft Hogan but Melbourne scuppered by getting the mini draft pick from GWS Freo tried to draft McCarthy but GWS decided they needed another tall forward to go with Boyd, Patton, Cameron ..... Freo ended up picking Apeness (injured) Freo overlooked Mason Shaw and Shane Kersten in the drafts neither really creating promising careers. The big miss was McGovern. His dad played for Freo and rumours are that Freo were urged to draft him but chose to overlook in the 2011 draft as he was unfit. He took some time to develop but would be the ideal player next to Pav currently
Don Freo
Guest
Cliche after cliche. Freo is consrantly in their forward line. They don't need another key forward. There is only one issue. They just need to kick straighter. Accuracy alone is the issue...although that isn't really an issue either. It is very rare that the opposition kicks 12 goals against Freo. Perhaps they all need another key forward.
Wilson
Roar Guru
True but he could have been completely different if he had gone to Freo there is no way to tell what could have cause his depression it could have been anything.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
They be very happy that Melbourne Pulled the Rug out from under them. Clark would of been a huge waste of big dollars for a big forward and would of solved nothing.
Wilson
Roar Guru
I think there Seach for a Forward has just been Unluckey for them so far it seem that everytime they try and get one someone pulls the rug out from under there feet. Most would have been think M.Clark was going before the deal to go to Melb came out of left field. But as I say in a Article i did, I think that Matt Taberner will step up this year and fix there Goal scoring problem. and if they can get Cale Hooker at a good price then there back line will be ok for the next few years.
Ironmonger
Roar Rookie
I wonder if Lyons coaching style and, or personality is a reason why they haven't secured the key forward they need.