Fremantle fascinates and bewilders me, there always seems to be a level of drama in play or brewing.
This club’s history, albeit short, makes fascinating reading. No other club has done it quite like Fremantle, they have the capacity to make the easy look difficult, and on occasions, the impossible look possible.
Fremantle has morphed into a successful club from a corporate perspective but to the outside world they still appear to struggle with their on-field persona and performance.
Fremantle’s coaching and recruitment strategies from day one have hung over the club like a rain-bearing depression.
After a period of success in 2013-2015 the pundits were telling us that this was the beginning of a period of sustained success for Fremantle, but like the GFC, the Docker’s fortunes in 2016 and beyond caught everyone off-guard.
In 2019 there seems to be a quantum change in the attitude and approach of Ross Lyon. He appears to have finally realised that his stoicism and intractability will not bring about the change Fremantle is crying out for.
Ross Lyon, Senior Coach of the Dockers addresses his players (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
There’s little doubt that this shift can be attributed to the appointment of Peter Bell who has shown early on that he wants to do things differently, but collaboratively.
He has a genuine passion for the club, and leaks allegedly from within the inner sanctum confirm that he won’t be a pawn of Lyon, an overt weakness that plagued his predecessor.
Lyon has gone from enjoying a stranglehold on his tenure to what could now best be described as “fragile, handle with care”.
There’s no denying Lyon’s footy smarts, and to his credit, he appears, at long last to have finally accepted that the same game plan can’t be applied in perpetuity.
This will be music to the ears of the Freo faithful who at the end of last year were proposing a funeral pyre for their beleaguered coach as a reward for the 2018 season.
Five months on, and changes to personnel and players at the club seem to have assuaged the disenfranchised.
My Fremantle-supporting friends are not getting carried away with what might be, they’ve been down that path too many times and just want to see an improvement in game plan, continued development of the younger players, and a stable personnel structure guiding the club.
Hats off to Peter Bell for overseeing arguably the best trade period in the Dockers’ history.
The acquisition of Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb was the result of some astute trading and there’s every reason to believe they could help transform Fremantle into a serious top eight contender.
If Hogan can stay fit and on the park he will be a tremendous asset, but given his past injury and health issues it’s not unreasonable to classify him as medium risk, high return.
This is not a case of caveat emptor, just a realistic assessment of the player and his history. I hope Jesse can give Fremantle what they’ve been crying out for, both he and Fremantle deserve that.
Lobb truly is the dark horse, tall, athletic, great pair of hands and a nightmare for any back man. He needs to work on his consistency, but if he is allowed to settle into the forward line and apply his craft then he becomes a genuine weapon.
If I was a Fremantle supporter I’d really be looking forward to 2019. Indications are that it will be a season of improvement and there is much to like about the younger brigade and the thought of Hogan and Lobb plying their trades in the forward line should have you responding like Pavlov’s dog.
NB: not to be confused with Pav’s dog, assuming he has one!
GregK
Guest
Bennell ???
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'm referring to the implied 'but'. I've already sent the other silliness to the boundary...over the fence. Just put your tail between your legs and let it go. There is no criticism of Freo to be made with the Lachie Neale deal. Whose words do you think we will believe; Lachie Neale's or 1der's?
1DER
Guest
What part of "yes they did well at the trade table" do you not understand! I also stated that the initial trade pick swap with Port was a bargain then highlighted the net outcome. Conca and Colyer had nothing to do with the outcome Neale, pick 6 and the 4th round draft pick. Clearly you are unable to draw to a logical conclusion to my last comment and obviously need tutoring with regard to comprehension.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You make no sense. Freo lost Neale and turned Neale and 2 draft picks into the rest. You keep throwing a 'but' around and follow up with blancmange. Freo, if they were not able to do this would be enjoying another season of Lachie in purple. You still haven't signalled what you are trying to argue. I think you are trying to say that because Lachie took up a lucrative offer, Freo will fold as a club. You look silly.
1DER
Guest
Yes they did well at the trade table in 2018 to land the two playmakers they were interested in to bolster the forward line together with adding another two selections. The big steal was the initial selection swap trade with Port Adelaide. The net result being Neale, Pick 6 and future 3rd round pick for Hogan, Lobb, and selections 17, 32 and 59. On points basis pick six is 1751 + future say 345 = 2096 points Selections 17, 32, and 57 = 1767 points Reece Conca was drafted as free agent. Travis Colyer was traded for future 4th round.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Neale actually requested a trade to Brisbane chiefly because he liked the anonymity of the city. Your invective is some years out of date. We have one of the best coaches in the business, the best captain of any football side of the last 20 years helping drive improvement in standards and are well on the way to recovery. Additionally, you can say whatever you like about Brisbane but the truth of the matter is the fault lies with the AFL for the awful mess Brisbane found themselves in throughout much of the 2010's - I know that to be fact.
IAP
Guest
Yes, because you live in a bubble over there. You've no idea what real media pressure is. It's the same in Adelaide for their teams.
anon
Roar Pro
Since I have been here you have been wrong about your team: 2015 2016 2017 2018 Spectacularly wrong.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Oh it is. Try telling me what it was. I'll bet you didn't read it. If you ask a question and want an answer, guess what you have to do? Read or listen.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Aah. So now your last argument was revealed as having no substance, you make up another plan of attack. The reality is that Freo only had a first round and a 5th round pick. They turned Lachie into Hogan, Lobb, Conca, Colyer, Sturt, Valente, Bewley, Shultz... Impressed? It would ve worth your while to know what you're talking about if you want to say something. I doubt you can explain any point you were trying to make in the first place.
1DER
Guest
Players have managers and clubs generally deal via managers. Ever heard of mobile phones?
1DER
Guest
Yet he landed at Brisbane for season 2019 and Hogan and Lobb arrived at Freo.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Neale laughed at that suggestion. He said that there wasn't even a conversation at that stage. That was that comical stuff about a coffee with Brissy people in Darwin. Anyone with only half a brain can work out that such meetings could never happen when he is travelling as part of the leadership group in a premiership game. Where is the spare time? during one of the interchanges? Half time? Did he jump off the plane and join them again mid-flight? Cartoon theories.
1DER
Guest
It was in July after Freo got thumped by the Dees in Darwin and it showed with his worst game for the year that that he wanted out. Whether Freo had put him on the trade table to land Hogan and Lobb after plenty of interest shown by Brisbane is the question that will remain unanswered.
Downsey
Roar Pro
For you Jonboy ;) https://i.imgsafe.org/4e/4ee24e042a.jpeg I've been reading along but I'm so tired of these circular discussions that I usually can't be bothered commenting.
anon
Roar Pro
You haven't offered an adequate explanation, Donny boy.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I have many times. Try reading.
1DER
Guest
Fremantle's 2018 season can be split in two halves pre and post round 14 bye. They were virtually full strength from rounds 1 to 13 and then decimated by injury to key players thereafter. - The first part they were very competitive at home with only one poor performance at Optus when eventually overrun by the Kangaroos, however, on the road they were not able to score only averaging 54 points per game in 5 losses including 4 losses in excess of 50 points. - Will need their forward line to gel fairly quickly as there fixture is tough one following a 50/50 contest against the Kangaroos and rounds 2 and 3. - - Freo had a very soft draw at home 2018 in the early rounds playing the Bombers, Suns, Bulldogs, and Saints. - Every reason for Freo to reach out to Hogan and Lobb to arrest the scoring deficiency. - May just fall short of the finals in 2019 with say 10-12 wins.
anon
Roar Pro
They haven't made a profit in a decade and are a shambles on on field. Brisbane are a mess.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Brisbane’s a basket case organisation? News to me. Also, you’ve hit the nail on the head, Rob.