Fremantle doubled their win tally from 2016’s annus horribilis, but a truly awful second half of the season makes them a very difficult team to read heading into next season.
Are the Dockers trending in the right direction? Or do they have another year of misery ahead of them?
What I predicted
“While Fremantle had a strong trade period, most of the players they’ve brought in still have something to prove.
“They could rise a lot higher, but for now they look like a team just on the outer.”
Prediction: 11th
What actually happened
After a poor first fortnight of the season, Fremantle looked very much like a team capable of rising up the ladder after a youth-driven purple patch saw them claim six wins from their next seven matches.
A 100-point loss to Adelaide brought them back to earth with a thud, and the season was flipped on it’s head for Freo from there.
The Dockers ended up losing ten of the following twelve matches, with a thumping at the hands of Brisbane and consecutive 104-point losses toward the end of the season particularly woeful.
In the end, Fremantle finished 14th, well off from the top eight, with a percentage just 0.1 points greater than last-placed Brisbane.
As bad as their end of the season was, there is some important perspective to be taken when analysing Freo’s 2017 campaign.
The club doubled their win tally from a season ago while blooding seven debutants. Suggestions the Dockers went backwards this season are therefore laughable.
Fremantle were inconsistent with their competitiveness, sometimes lacking it completely, towards the end of the season, but at the end of the day those are the hallmarks of a young team in need of some more pre-seasons.
On the other hand, the Dockers weren’t simply just too young an inexperienced to compete properly in 2017, with their general level of effort in several games this season below AFL standard.
Ross Lyon’s side finished the season ranked 17th in disposals per game and 14th in tackles per game. The only other club to finish in the bottom six in both categories was the Lions.
Best win
Round 3: Fremantle 13.11 (89) def. Western Bulldogs 10.13 (73)
Ross Lyon swung the axe on his underperforming veterans after two disastrous losses to start the season.
The result paid immediate dividends, with a new-look Dockers team bringing a ferocious pressure and energy to the contest that the then-undefeated reigning premiers simply couldn’t handle.
Fremantle’s ability to ambush their opponents in the first quarter was impressive, but what was remarkable was the young side recovering from a poor third quarter to reel in a 14-point deficit in the final term.
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Worst loss
Round 22: Fremantle 7.9 (51) def. by Richmond 25.5 (155)
After an insipid 104-point loss to Sydney, the Freo faithful, while not expecting a win against the top four Tigers, were hoping for a bit of a statement in their last game at Domain Stadium.
Instead, the Dockers served up a carbon copy of the putrid performance from a week prior.
Richmond toyed with their hapless hosts after quarter time, with their final score of 25.5 not necessarily indicative of freak accuracy but more so the easy shots Fremantle continually afforded them.
What needs to happen next year?
It was the transition to youth that sparked Freo’s early season revival in 2017 and, while the youngsters eventually ran out of steam, Lyon must give them the keys again in 2018.
The club already has younger replacements for uncontracted veterans Hayden Ballantyne, Zac Clarke and Jon Griffin, so it’s probably time for that trio to be moved on.
Michael Johnson and David Mundy still have something to offer, although in Johnson’s case you’d hope Alex Pearce or Griffin Logue have pushed him out of the best 22 by this time next season.
While their output can partly be blamed on lack of service, one of Cam McCarthy or Shane Kersten needs to start putting more goals on the board next year too.
Early prediction
Fremantle’s finish to the season was unacceptable, but they proved earlier in the year for an extended period they have what it takes be a force again.
Finals are probably just beyond them in 2018, but expect to see more of the Freo from this season’s first half.
Prediction: 9th-12th
Don Freo
Guest
The BBQ has been and gone. Gee you're off the pace. Any footy comment from you yet?
eric
Guest
You're WERE wrong Don - that's why your having a BBQ. You have been consistently incorrect in your delusional weekly forecasts for Docker success for 4 years. We're gonna make the four. wrong We're gonna finish 7th. wrong We're gonna beat adelaide. wrong We ahev 6 winnable games ahead of us. wrong We're gonna finish higher than Hawthorn. wrong We're gonna play finals next year. wrong All our juniors are budding superstars. wrong Fact is we are an ordinary team, with reasonable prospects down the track and all your wishful thinking will not alter that. Nothing wrong with looking on the bright side but I find your week-in week-out one-eyed diatribe tedious and a little embarrassing. But that's just my opinion - you keep going with your silver lined nostradamus prophecies mate, oh, and enjoy your BBQ.
Don Freo
Guest
There are no players driving this club that are "milked" from other lists. Brad Hill? Maybe. Hamling? He was a bit player and only got games there when Adams went down. Ross has brought him on. This is a Ross Lyon developed team.
Don Freo
Guest
Bennell's already on the park.
Slane
Guest
As evidenced by what? The one other stint he had as head coach where he was a bounce of the ball away from a flag? What an absurd statement
David C
Guest
Because he milks clubs lists until there is nothing more to give forcing a bottoming out rebuild. If fans are happy with that so be it. I wouldn't be.
David C
Guest
Bit optimistic there. Bennel and Apeness might not even get on the park next year. Ballentine's best years are behind him. You are better off getting a bottom 4 finish with a high draft pick and continuing the rebuild anyway.
Don Freo
Guest
I'm assuming you're a grown boy. Do what you want with your money.
DeanM
Guest
Without doubt Sandilands is the best Ruck going around. Considering how many games he has missed these past few years he will be fresh and firing. Good for a minimum 5 more years comfortably.
DeanM
Guest
Should I place a bet on Freo for the premiership next year? Seeing as they should have finished 4th this year and considering all the injured players they must be a sure thing for 2018.
Mattyb
Guest
I understand people don't like Lyon but to not say he's been the greatest thing that's ever happened to Freo is just mindless. The only better thing is maybe Pav but you could argue he would never have played a GF if not for Lyon. I find it amusing the Lyon knockers completely ignore how well he's handled the Bennell situation,Lyon is an outstanding human and clever coach.
Don Freo
Guest
Ross has been a total success. In all his time there he has only missed 2 finals series and they have both been injury decimated.
Don Freo
Guest
I thought you were going to be "realistic". You are commenting in a fantasy world. Who do you think is swallowing your version of things?
Don Freo
Guest
Sandi was the best ruckman in the league when he played this year. He beat all opposition he played against. He is certainly not finished. I'd say Darcy is already in the top 10 ruckmen in the league on the basis of who he has beaten so far this season.
Don Freo
Guest
They were only 5 close losses from finishing 4th or 5th. That's just 2 extended injuries. We had 12 extended injuries. Each of those close games we had over 10 first 22 players out injured, including 5 of our best 10. That's the 2017 season review. Bennell, Walters, Ballantyne, Apeness, Pearce...are where the goals are coming from. Guess how many games we got out of them this year? That's where the goals will come from plus Tabs who has now stepped up and will be very influential. That's the 2018 season preview. Freo is in great shape. Eric, give a reason (one that's not a brainless cliche) why I'm wrong.
David C
Guest
This was always going to end badly for Freo the minute they took Lyon on. This is what he does to clubs. Runs them into the ground and doesn't develop the young guys. This is the first year he has ever played the kids but it is too late. Now they are bottoming out right to the bottom (probably with NM), Luckily they re-signed Fife.
DeanM
Guest
Ross will have the last laugh with all that money he fleeced from Fremantle.
Steve
Guest
And as for not standing up to modern footy,these young blokes gave the cats and gws a fright as well as beating the dogs ,that comment is just plain old garbage,
Steve
Guest
Anon freo would have beaten the bombers had the umpires been up to scratch ,big Joe was gifted free kicks ,incorrect disposals at one end and not the other,what do you suggest for a rebuild ,how long did it take west coast they were crap not that long ago ,i reckon Ross will have the last laugh
eric
Guest
Annual ??? more like weekly