That pop you heard over the last two rounds of football was the Fremantle bubble bursting. Perhaps it had become waterlogged given the Dockers have played their last two matches in trying conditions.
But, as the famous saying goes, when the going gets tough the tough get going. The Fremantle players stood still instead.
A 7-1 start has become 7-3, which is about to become 7-4 and probably 7-5 with Melbourne and Brisbane next up. They have played most of their gimme games this season and are no good things to make the eight.
What’s interesting is that the Dockers have lost both of their wet games in similar yet different ways.
In putrid losses to Gold Coast and Collingwood, neither of which will be remotely playing finals this year, they dominated the uncontested possession count. Too much outside football isn’t often a winning strategy when the rain has fallen and it’s slippery underfoot.
Against the Suns, Fremantle at least got the football forward, and often. They generated 65 inside 50s but could not penetrate the Gold Coast flood defence through lazy ball use, poor skill and lack of imagination or patience. To kick two goals in three and a half quarters before a couple of charities late was a poor reflection on coach and players.
As is often the way in these situations – remember Sydney won the flag in 2012 playing slingshot footy – the Suns were able to springboard enough times, and Mabior Chol and Levi Casboult enjoyed an open forward-line to kick a winning score.
The tall Docker defenders, Alex Pearce, Brennan Cox and Griffin Logue, were out-pointed by journeymen footballers. It leaves question marks on their one-on-one capabilities when finals football comes around.
(Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Against Collingwood, Freo once again dominated uncontested possession (+43 after being +56 against Gold Coast), but this time did nothing with it. Perhaps overcorrecting after finding no gain in pumping the ball forward the week before, this time they could generate only 46 inside 50s from almost 400 possessions.
This time the result was three goals in three quarters with a few consolations in the last.
It was again marking forwards that proved the difference despite the inclement conditions. Ollie Henry, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Brody Mihocek combined for 75 per cent of the Pies score, leaving Pearce, Cox and Logue bereft once more.
Meanwhile, the Dockers took two marks inside 50 for the match. Two. From 400 disposals and 46 inside 50s. The week before, they took three. That’s five marks inside their forward 50 from 240 minutes of football and 111 entries.
That’s got to be a combination of system and talent, regardless of conditions.
Should we just blame these results on the rain and write them off? Or do they speak to bigger issues that are only now being exposed? Perhaps it’s a lack of smarts or adaptability. Maybe they just need the game on their terms and have no resistance when it isn’t. Is it coaching? Is it execution?
It’s starting to look like Fremantle’s hot start to the year was just a case of getting the right teams at the right time. An unimpressive win against Adelaide. Beating rabble like West Coast, GWS, Essendon, North Melbourne. Catching Carlton on an off day and a complacent Geelong down at the Cattery.
It could of course be that there is only one good team this year, with a handful of average ones and half a competition of poor sides. Perhaps it is Fremantle’s lot to oscillate between the two latter groups.
Ultimately this season is a building block for the Dockers, and that’s okay. But if you see the words ‘Fremantle’ and ‘contenders’ in the same sentence going forward, as was ludicrously happening a few weeks back, you have absolute permission to spit your cornflakes out all over the table.
ScottD
Roar Guru
That's ok, I wasn't that confident when I wrote it :)
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Wearing a Hazmat suit...
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Delusional purple thinking.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Read above, I was clearly under the influence :laughing: Freo's my second team, I'm stoked
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I've been on holiday in Cairns, I don't even remember posting that lol :laughing:
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
I think you may have jumped the gun a bit, Cam- what do you think? That was an amazing game by the Dockers, I genuinely hope you can acknowledge that. If they can learn how to play better in the wet, they will definitely finish top 4 this season.
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
Oops…
ChrisH
Roar Rookie
Oops! That didn't age well. Another commentator drinking their own koolaid.
M. Rockatansky
Guest
Anyone eating corn flakes today?
Steve J
Roar Guru
This article aged well
M. Rockatansky
Guest
The bubble burst, but now it's reformed
Macca
Roar Rookie
Must have been brilliant in the second half
ScottD
Roar Guru
Well that was awkward :laughing: :laughing:
ScottD
Roar Guru
mmmmm
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Yeah Freo are pretty good hey
O M
Roar Rookie
Yes Donny! :laughing: :laughing: My previous post applies...in fact my previous post applies to pretty much every comment you post! :stoked:
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You magnify me by being so desperate for each of my posts. I know that, when I post, you'll be there hoping for a morsel.
O M
Roar Rookie
Once again, you over rate yourself and your importance here. Deluded Donny! :laughing:
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Perhaps it's your obsession with what I'm doing that informs your moniker. My own little fan boy. Awww.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
When is the last time Freo won a final? We’ve played the same teams except, Tigers played Bulldogs, Dees and Hawks. Dockers played North, Cats and Suns ( easier draw at this point). Beat Dees this week and I might take notice even though it is May.