Yes, yes, I know it’s Round 1. I’m not going to make any outlandish calls, but that Fremantle effort on Sunday was the most important game under Ross Lyon’s tenure.
The Dockers were brilliant on Sunday night. They were led by stars Nathan Fyfe, David Mundy and Brad Hill but, more importantly, their youngsters stood up. Darcy Tucker was brilliant in the midfield and across half back with 24 disposals and seven tackles, Ed Langdon was good after a much-improved season last year and Matthew Taberner was brilliant taking nine marks.
This was all without their two highest-rated young players, Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw, having much of an impact, with only 34 disposals between them. That will obviously change throughout the season.
Their recruits from both this year and last year were also brilliant. Cam McCarthy kicked five goals and gave the Dockers that vital presence up forward in the absence of Jesse Hogan. Rory Lobb was fantastic in a swing-man-like role, kicking two goals and competing well in the ruck, and Reece Conca did a good job off half back.
This effort was still without some of their best players. Big-name recruit Jesse Hogan was missing for obvious reasons; Brennan Cox, who was impressive last year, missed out with a hamstring injury, as was promising defender Griffin Logue; and experienced speedster Stephen Hill is out with a quad injury.
Importantly, Fremantle played a better brand of football, which is uncharacteristic of Ross Lyon-coached football teams. Admittedly they still took their time with possession on occasion, but when the opportunity was there to run and put pressure on North Melbourne’s supposedly strong defence, they did, and with great success.
The defence was brilliant, with players up the ground to thank for the poor service coming in. That defence comprises two of the most underrated defenders in the game. Alex Pearce is only 23 but is one of the best key defenders going around. He did some brilliant work on some of the best key forwards in the game in 2017 when he had no help from his other defenders or midfielders before missing 2018 due to an ACL injury. This year could be when he bursts onto the scene to take the mantle as the best defender in the competition or at the very least get the media recognition he deserves to be in the conversation.
Joel Hamling also does a good job on opposition forwards and should love Pearce coming back into the fold. The premiership player from the Western Bulldogs comes on a big contract, and it’s hard to say he hasn’t been worth the money. Luke Ryan and Nathan Wilson provide good run out of defence but can also be very inconsistent.
Basically the defence wasn’t the issue in recent years at Fremantle; the lack of scoring was. They scored over 100 points only three times last year and scored under 60 points nine times, so to score 141 in Round 1 is huge for both the club and the team.
It was a big win for Fremantle, and with the inclusions of Cox, Hill and hopefully Hogan in the coming weeks, if they keep playing attacking football, they’ll be 3-0 and on their way to the finals after getting an easy draw.
The green shoots are growing quickly in the west, and opposition teams might have to get the rubber out for the games they’d pencilled in against Fremantle.
Pete
Guest
Blakely will be back in 4 weeks, so he would've missed the first 5 games
Lroy
Guest
Hes a good player Lobb, I was hoping the Eagles would get him...but c'est la vie.
Downsey
Roar Pro
*snort laugh*
Steve J
Roar Guru
So Dangerfield is rubbish ... got it
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'd love to comment more. The mods have reduced me to likes.
anon
Roar Pro
Richmond and Hawthorn have got the better players and not had to give up much to acquire them. Richmond and Hawthorn do not have high draft picks yet still find a way to make a trade happen. Hawthorn got Scully for a 3rd round pick for crying out loud.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
we'll see no more of anon in this topic.
Steve J
Roar Guru
Mundy is 34 this year and will be over 310 games by season end. He has rejected advances from the club everyone supposedly wants to go to in Hawthorn for the past decade. I can't see the Lions with a bunch of great young kids coming through wanting to add a bloke who will be 35, just as much as I can't see Freo not offering Mundy another 1-2 year contract throughout this season.
Steve J
Roar Guru
here's some Vic go-home significant player movements (first round selections or champion players) - all wanted to go to Richmond or Hawthorn according to you Hawthorn - Scully, Scrimshaw (1st rnd), T Mitchell Collingwood - Adams, Hoskin-Elliott, Treloar Carlton - Marchbank, Docherty, Setterfield Dogs - Boyd, Tigers - Prestia, Lynch, Caddy (see below) Cats - Dangerfield, Caddy (who then left to go to Tigers), Rohan Dees - Lever, May Norths - no one Saints - Hanneberry, Steele Bombers - Shiel, Saad, Smith 23 players without looking only at significant draft selections Here's some WA player movements that didn't go home recently - O'Meara, M McGovern, Ryder, Pickett, Marley Williams, Buddy, Marcus Adams, Charlie Cameron, Fasolo to name a few I really do think that you don't understand the game
ren
Guest
Alex Pearce has never injured his ACL. Not sure that Hamling is on a "big contract".
pete
Guest
Mate, Luke Ryan is ultra consistent. Even when they get touched up, he is generally good. He's been a huge pick-up from Coburg
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
I don’t know much about anything, but I’m pretty sure that the way that rumours work is that one person says it then someone else repeats it and so does someone else. Hearing it from more than one source doesn’t confirm the accuracy of the rumour; it just confirms it’s status as rumour.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Anyone else heard the rumour Brisbane are already into Mundy to join Neale as a free agent at the end of the year? Heard it from more than one source now.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Crow away. Cerra has already signed.
anon
Roar Pro
As Iron Mike said, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth". It's interesting that three of the poorest coaches in the league from a tactical perspective had huge wins on the weekend. I think the new rules gave them the courage to throw the old methods out of the window and be bold. Other teams are going to adjust quickly to negate a side like Fremantle. Fremantle looked good last year when they towelled the Bulldogs up by 10 goals early in the season.
anon
Roar Pro
Of course they fell into their laps. You VIC-born players demanding they be traded to St Kilda or North Melbourne. Very rare. Everyone wants to go to Richmond or Hawthorn. Fremantle is one of two clubs in WA with West Coast running a tight ship. Fremantle has incredible natural advantages that most other teams don't have. No excuse for not be constantly contending for the finals much like West Coast.
anon
Roar Pro
Fremantle have swapped picks to get ready-made players like Lobb, Hamling, Wilson, Brad Hill. There's no guarantee that a pick will turn into anything. Just look at Logue. What a waste of a first round pick. Are you seriously trying to argue that Fremantle doesn't come out way ahead when WA-born players demand to be traded there.
anon
Roar Pro
He has family on the Gold Coast. Very rare for someone to be demanded to be traded to Gold Coast. About 20 players have demanded they be traded from there.
Steve J
Roar Guru
Players that fell in their laps? Right Freo finally goes to the trade table after ignoring it for years and suddenly players that they pursue for years like Hogan and McCarthy fall in their laps. salty much
Steve J
Roar Guru
yeah, Lachie Weller demanding to be traded to Gold Coast didn't happen