Plugging the holes that are sinking Fremantle

I'm not aware of any "Sales Spiel". What do you imagine he has been saying?

You're right with saying superstar is a subjective term, it's hugely subjective. As for Walters, we've seen him listed in the All Australian squad in the first year he played anything approaching a full season in 2013 and has headed up the Dockers goal kicking in their GF and minor premiership years. He's done a bit across the past few seasons, not to forget that he spent the vast majority of 2014 out injured.

Apeness has been terrific at Peel. Taking 7 or 8 marks a game...including in that hail last week. Ross says he just needed one more game last week. Luke McPharlin raves about him on 6PR every Wednesday. Ballas has been back to his tackling best. He is kicking goals. He and Mayne are getting back to that forward line pressure. If you don't look at the win/loss but look at the players, you'll see that they are not as far away as the doomsayers would have you believe. Big improvement in Sutcliffe on the weekend too.

Don, I am hoping Apeness can play but I am not holding my breath. Before this current injury he really wasn't cutting it at Peel. Still, he is huge and if he can crash packs and provide a target it will free up others. I might also add that I am very concerned with Ballantyne's form. 28 and not getting any better. He also looks done to me.

Surely you see improvement in young guys like Fyfe, Walters and Neale. Even this year, Pearce has been stunning while Blakely, Weller and Langdon...along with Taberner... are really taking off. Watch for Apeness now...and Morabito starred again on the weekend. Uebergang should be elevated soon.

I am less worried about Sandi than others. He has been injury free for a while now until this latest rib injury. Big lumbering guys like him just plod along for years. I see him playing till he's 35 if he wants to.

I wonder why the younger players aren't improving as much as hoped. Is the development coaching good enough? Has the WAFL standard dropped? Were they dud recruitments? Do Freo and Peel play essentially the same game plan? I'm very proud that the Swans have debuted six players this year and look stronger than last year, not weaker. Only one of the debutants (Mills) was rated a gun. The system seems to be working. Interesting to see how Paul Roos has fixed a lot of these things at the Dees. Or at least got them moving in the right direction. If I was a Freo fan I would maybe look at the differences with those 2 clubs and see what needs to be changed. The board certainly should! BTW - Carlton too where Bolton has really turned things around with a pretty crappy list.

Interesting article. The poster that commented first is correct. Freo will target Mccarthy (and get him), Lobb and Hogan but they will have to give up plenty to get them with the exception of Mccarthy, although that may take a second round pick anyway. Lobb is receptive to a return to WA. Unfortunately for Freo there are very few players other clubs would want. The three that are untouchable are Fyfe, Neale, and Walters. I would look to trade Hill if push comes to shove. He's a good player but he hasn't really gone to the next level we freo fans thought he would. I'm not sure I buy into the idea Freo will just bounce back next year. Anyone that has watched them this year can see there are enormous problems with the list. The overriding problem that I feel has been ignored is the number of mid-aged players that have gone backwards rapidly. Your deboers, clancees, muzungu, barlows, sutcliffes, ibbbotson, subans, Maynes etc. Added to that guys like Crozier and Sheridan have not come on at all the last couple of years like we hoped they would and players like Clarke and Griffin are simply just not afl standard. In our desperation for a light at the end of the tunnel many freo fans have overstated how good some of our new guys have been. Apart from Alex Pearce the only other player I am convinced will be a good footy player is Blakely. Generally, if a midfielder can get 20+ possessions for a couple of weeks in a row in their 3rd or 4th game, in a crap team, you know they will make it. Weller has been okay but he is not getting the footy that much yet. Having said all that, Freo haven't been playing all that bad for a team that's last. Lyon certainly deserves a chance to rebuild. Anyone that watches Freo can see that they play for him and are throwing the kitchen sink at the opposition most weeks- we just have a very poor team and face another hefty rebuild. For me, the list management has been the issue. They have generally drafted well, but ignored the gaping holes in the list for kpp's. This has been borderline criminal. Fremantle fans should demand more from their inept administration. The area is footy heartland. It consistently produces the best footy players in the land. The club has never reflected this and is constantly shown how it should be done by the team down the road.

Don Freo, like a lot of Freo fans you have a complete lack of objectivity mixed with a persecution complex. You're much like an alcoholic, except its not a drink that's your problem but Ross Lyon himself. You have bought his sales spiel hook, line and sinker. It's sad to witness, and your club will be in the gutter for the next 10 years because Freo fans have failed to hold him to higher standards. You need to put the bottle down, Don, otherwise you will wake up with the mother of all hangovers come August 2017.

If Hogan had any brains he would sign with the Eagles.. the Fockers wont be troubling the top 8 anytime within the next five years so if he wants to experience finals and have a decent crack at a flag during his career youd be hard pressed finding a single reason to sign for that mob in purple. ;-)

Walters is not a superstar. I know it's a subjective term and he's a solid player but he just isn't.

There is no evidence to suggest Ross Lyon is a "tactical genius". He has never been an innovator, until this year he's never evolved his 2005 game plan, his attempt in 2016 at becoming more attacking has been the biggest fail in AFL history, he makes suspect decisions in big games (let Luke Ball play only 50% of the 2009 GF and let Lake run riot in the 2013 GF). To me, Clarkson is a tactical genius. He's won the last three Grand Finals with three different game plans. He's constantly evolving, coming up with new solutions that importantly work (which indicates he knows what he's doing and trying to achieve). Lyon change of game plan in 2016 (still haven't figured out what the game plan is) has been the equivalent of throwing mud against a wall hoping something will stick (indicates he doesn't know what he's doing). Clarkson's assistants have been at the cutting edge when they move into senior coaching. Ross Lyon has never been any of these things. As for the injuries excuses, Freo had essentially a full team for round 1 and could only manage one goal by half time. In round 2, Freo had a FULL STRENGTH TEAM and found themselves already down 5 goals at half time to a horrible Gold Coast team at their Subiaco fortress. If they started the year strong with a full strength team and were winning games, then you can use the injury alibi. But their form as been equally horrible no matter how many injuries they have.

...and Walters is even better than Neale.

We are all aware that "the fact remains that he’s played 26 games in his 5 and a bit year career." That fact, however, makes no valid argument. He is playing strong, compelling footy at Peel that indicates he has not lost any talent. His hammy strain (not tear) is not related to his 3 knee issues. Mora, added to Fyfe, Sandi, Mundy, Johnson and Bennell make for a strong team of recruits next year. Watch for the unveiling of Michael Apeness next week against Essendon.

There are plenty of WA boys that are maybe not desperate but would return to WA, Freo will always be a club that players want to go to, great club, great area, it really is a great footy heartland Freo and surrounding suburbs.