Melbourne Demons vs Fremantle Dockers: AFL live scores

It was an excellent post with well thought out analysis. I wouldn't be putting that much store on the interchange rule having had that much of an effect though, I reckon the biggest factor was the opening up of the game with the man on the mark rule and the stricter deliberate out of bounds. That really benefited a more anarchic team like the Bulldogs with a run and gun style. Freo started the year going undefeated in the preseason cup and were playing two ruckman in Griffin and Sandi to try and kill a few birds with one stone, but it left them pretty slow and scrambling to start the season proper.

Excellent reading. A few things I'd already noted, but you helped clarify others. Also, interchange and sub rule hurt because our play style was "grind them into submission" and that wore on our bodies as much as our opposition's. And agree, a season of equal parts hope and despair. Thanks for your thoughts *thumbs up*

Mine — Even the simplest eventuality is rarely the outcome of a simple cause. In the case of Freo's fall since finishing 2015 as minor prems (I'll leave the 2014-2015 aspect for another time), a confluence of factors were undoubtedly in play. Some of these were operating from the start of 2016; others became increasingly influential across the course of the season: * The tightening of the interpretation of deliberate out of bounds for the 2016 season (and the whole AFL war on "congestion", generally) forced a major change to Freo's game plan. * Change in coaching structure for the 2016 preseason — partly in response to the above, where, reportedly, Hale and Guerra were brought in to help implement a Hawthorn-like short-kicking game plan. At the same time, Lyon was to become more "hands off". * A whole mess of kinks in the new game plan (e.g. holes in the centre bounce structure) as a result of the above, compounded by a general deficiency across the playing list in the elite kicking skills required to implement it. * The retirement of Luke McPharlin, which wrought untold devastation on Freo's backline (witness Ibbotson's fall from 2015 AA squad member, on the basis of playing loose, to 2016 fringe player, struggling to succeed in a more accountable checking role). * The continuing lack of a marking target inside 50 other than Pav (and general lack of forward depth) * A horror run of injuries across the early rounds of the 2016 season. * The glare of the media spotlight after the resulting woeful start to the 2016, which led to the premature implementation of a rebuild strategy — "premature" because... * The club's recruitment position and strategy during the 2015 off-season. Coming off a minor premiership, the club was left with pick 16 (not pick 1 or 2) and no reason to believe that they wouldn't be pushing for a GF appearance in 2016 (hence Lyon's "we're not planning on falling off a cliff" comment at the start of 2016). Accordingly, they happily traded their first pick down (to 22) in order to get the deal for Bennell done with the Suns. (And of course no one would have been anticipating that Bennell wouldn't even make an appearance for Freo in 2016). That's 2016 in my view. 2017 was the start of the rebuild proper, in the sense of Freo's position in the 2016 draft being more that of a rebuilding club. (Even so, it wasn't unreasonable (in my view) to test the waters in the first couple of rounds of the 2017 to see if the talent returning from injury (notably Fyfe and Sandi) could turn around the club's fortunes.) For all the talk of Freo doing so badly, 8 wins was a pretty decent result for the first season of a rebuild, and it might have been one or two more wins than that if the injury curse hadn't struck again (Walters, Blakely, among others). Unfortunately that curse hasn't lifted for 2018, but even so, we've seen a lot to like across the season (if not also a lot to despair over).

Unfortunately life outside of footy had me tied up this weekend... boo!

That is delayed!

I took it more as him throwing his players under the bus. The variable dismissed was age. They were good enough as young, inexperienced players. It was the team balance that made them uncompetitive - whether that's the fault of injury, recruitment,or Lyon's inflexible thinking is debatable, but to hang it all on their shoulders speaks to his lack of accountability to the point of belligerent delusion.

Delayed reading here. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. Mine - I was surprised we made it into the 2014 GF. It felt a year too early. I hated the slow grind of 2015. Some of the most uninspiring, soulless footy I've ever watched. Yet we were minor premiers so go figure...

Can someone explain to me their fall from grace and a GF team are few seasons ago. ? Probably, but would you hear it?

"...preaches harmony"? Have you been out on the turps with Slane? I have always dismissed non-Freo fans who make silly comments re: Freo. I don't want harmony with those filled with hate for what they know nothing about. I am a great fan of Freo and there is everything to be positive about. If silly people can't see that playing without Sandi, Fyfe, Blakely, Ballas and Taberner might limit possibility, they can expect to be told. This, "I have had enough of losing" despair is pathetic. This is a losing streak of 2 (two)...one more than only one.

Jesus, Don. For someone who preaches harmony within the forum, your sarcasm and dismissiveness gets out of hand regularly.

Oh, wouldn't say that there's no positives at all, 13th. Last night was largely terrible, but there's always stuff to be pleased with. Sorta. Look, there's a heap of positives within the squad - I'm continually delighted with our younger players, and hopefully Cerra resigns sooner rather than later + Fyfey's still awesome (when he plays). That said, my mind keeps wandering to a "what if" scenario, though - what could happen with another coach at the helm? And that's a killer.

Can't necessarily disagree re: Lyon's way of speaking. I'll be honest, I used to thoroughly enjoy the way he was somewhat quiet and dismissive of questions. It mimicked me in real life, and I thought it was quite funny. He was the most deadpan coach out there. I'm getting a little sick of it now, though. Last night's presser saw a little opening into something more though. I was pleased (if this doesn't sound too odd) with the way he recognised that we "weren't good enough". I appreciate when coaches can simply acknowledge when a team - ignoring all variables - just isn't competitive. It shows to me that he's no longer trying to deflect, and hopefully will see that we as fans are demanding so much more.

Strnadica is not that good. I expect him to be delisted at the end of the year. Just off the pace. Apeness and Darcy are both wonderful tacklers. The rest of Freo's kids are not making tackles stick so Darcy and Apeness are keepers. Apeness and Cox are wonderful marks and all 3 are good on the ground. Watch them and enjoy.

Yes, thats right, thats what i heard on the tele and radio. Both repeated during the news by channel 7 and 6pr.

Is Peel only kicking 2 goals just a Ross Lyon inspired flood the defence routine and then hope for a quick break soccer style. I was actually at the game ( WP V Subi) last week and both teams kicked plenty of goals with Subi eventually pulling ahead, but it was a good game to watch. Subi are a good team but for Peel to only kick 2 goals is pretty disgraceful, i am also guessing they have kicked the least amount of points for the year. Are the Dockers aware that you need to kick goals to win and attacking football can give teams plenty of confidence.to back themselves, you have to let them play and not hamper players all the time. Sorry, but was not a Ross Lyon fan when he coached St Kilda and they played ugly football to get to the GF a few years ago, Freo fans hardly noticed as they were rapt with any form of success, but chickens have come home to roost it appears.

Apeness has been ok but I don't think him and Darcy can play in the same side, both slow lumbering big fellas. Strnadica is a bit more athletic but having said that hasn't done much in Peel recently, had a good patch but Peel only kicked 2 goals yesterday. Dark times at FFC. No positives at all. Been watching the world cup instead At least Footballs coming home i guess!

I agree, i've had enough of seeing this cr*p dished up week after week from Ross Lyon and Freo. The thing which annoys me the most is he gives no answers in his presser, just same old same old. It doesn't work! Time for the board to grow a set of balls and sack Lyon

Is that what you 'heard'. Rather than repeat what you heard and forming opinions based on hearsay, you could always try finding out and thinking independently.

Melbourne should have won by 150 points. I understand that Freo had some good players out, but i heard on the radio that they had 3 stars out ..... which included Ballantyne !! .... gee thats scraping the barrel. Fyfe is the only star they had out. I think the end is nigh for Ross the boss, million $$ contract payout aside. Can someone explain to me their fall from grace and a GF team are few seasons ago. ?

Probably more a case of acknowledging...nothing to do with accepting. Your response is probably the reason why you are so despairingly defeated by every breath you take. Very sad.