Watching the Dockers get pantsed by GWS on the weekend was a depressing afternoon for a nailed-on Freo fan such as myself, but what was most alarming was the manner in which it happened, and the unwillingness of either coach or captain to veer away from plan A and stem the bleeding.
The ease in which a pretty average Giants side walked the ball from coast to coast on a number of occasions was greatly concerning, and the lack of effort shown by the players to stop the rot was downright disgraceful.
A trend we’ve seen this year from Freo is one that when they have been underdogs – such as against Melbourne, Geelong and Sydney away, they’ve been successful but when expected to do the business such as against North Melbourne at home, Richmond and GWS they’ve been downright woeful.
They have won one first quarter all season, against a Hawthorn side on the road, and the slow starts are catching up with them. The great escape against the Western Bulldogs in last year’s elimination final papered over the cracks.
The reality is this side is currently a team full of front-runners, who perform well when conditions suit them, but the minute they are challenged, and faced with adversity they don’t stand up.
What really stands up is the lack of leadership – the talent is there, but the fight, will to win and pressure only turns up periodically.
Freo fans grimace every time the heavens open because they know that this team simply won’t stand up and guts it out in tough conditions. Last week Richmond simply outfought them in tough conditions.
This is a team of front-runners, and when faced with grizlled sides with foot soldiers that are prepared to be tougher in wet or slippery conditions, as we’ve seen at Optus last week and in Sydney this weekend, Freo falter.
This speaks a lot to the leadership, or lack thereof at the club currently. For everything I disliked about the Ross Lyon era, he was a hard man, took no prisoners and made no excuses. The run to the 2013 Grand Final was built upon an ‘anywhere, anytime’ mantra that saw them go down to Geelong and win against the odds.
This 2023 era side is vastly more talented, full of top-end draft pick talent, but you just know that under the same scenario they would fail badly. The excuses are already coming – ‘we missed Sean Darcy’ being a major one. Two weeks ago certain ‘pundits’ were telling Freo to trade Darcy!
I like Justin Longmuir, I want him to succeed. He’s a mild-mannered, analytical coach who has shown good tactical nous, but my big concern is his man-management, or lack of it. He isn’t a great orator, nor is he particularly inspiring and this is where the captain has to come into it.
Alex Pearce seems like a great bloke, but he just doesn’t have a presence on or off the field, like the great captains do (see Scott Pendlebury or Joel Selwood).
He isn’t a guy who is going to dish out a spray or put his team on his back and lead by example. I hate to say this as I think he’s a great defender, and is obviously very well liked by his teammates, but I don’t think he’s tough enough.
Alex Pearce of the Dockers questions a call with the umpires after the siren. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
From top to bottom, Freo are a bunch of ‘nice guys’ now with a soft underbelly. I think they’ve tried so hard to completely be rid of the Lyon era that we’ve become a bit like the England cricket team under Joe Root: an underwhelming side led by a great player, well-liked, but simply doesn’t have the presence that other leaders have to demand something extra.
The contract extensions for Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters also smack of conservatism. I love them both, they are absolute champions of the club, but it’s dangerous to carry these blokes into the future for too long. I would’ve offered both one-year, performance-based contracts on less money, and as much as it would’ve hurt if they went elsewhere, so be it.
So, where to now? The loss to GWS probably just about boomerangs their finals hopes, yes they could potentially still sneak into eighth, but what does that achieve? It just papers over more cracks.
This is a talented team, but it’s a team lacking the mongrel to get down and dirty and fight. It lacks a strong, hard-man leader who will demand more out of his teammates.
Nathan Buckley, in his assessment of the Dockers, suggested they were a team full of introverts, from coach down. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but without a few strong, extroverted types it’s easy to get a bit insular and worry more about themselves and their positions than the overall team values.
I’d look to Caleb Serong as the future captain of the side. He has that presence, that mongrel and drive and although young is probably the most inspiring of the newer brigade – more so than Andrew Brayshaw, who, despite being a great footballer, also falls into the introvert category.
It’s easy to forget that this is still a very young side, the youngest side to walk out in this round, and the future is still very bright, but the lack of leadership is looming as a major concern for this side moving forward.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Carr has nothing to do with Port not resigning Hinkley.Port and Hinkley agreed to start negotiations about a new contract in August before the season even started.People forget Port came 12th last year,still 9 games to go and Port might go 4-5 3-6 7-2 4-5 5-4.They are waiting to see how they respond after the 2022 season before committing to him.If Hinkley was to leave I would expect Port to chase Hardwick anyway,he is a proven premiership coach and Ports window is open
Cavaquinho
Roar Rookie
I am not a fan of debating leadership being the answer to a team’s problems. Good teams effectively have leadership oozing out of every player on the ground. Studies have shown that as often as not the true leader of great teams doesn’t wear the armband anyway. He or she is the one talking quietly in the change room or in the car park after training building the team ethos and identity. Introvert/extrovert, doesn’t matter, you still have to execute your skills and game plan and leave the field with a smile on your face. Something was clearly wrong with their preparation. I feel as they they all overplay the ball when they get it including trying to break tackles too much. Fyfe doesn’t even get away with that so much anymore. Young, who I think is an elite ball handler is getting caught with the ball and causing turnovers with his kicking. The fumbling from Pearce must be demoralising for team mates. I’d drop him immediately and put in Hamling until his form improves. Chapman needs to come back from injury and if Darcy is injured he needs to be replaced with the most like for like ruckman in their squad, not pinch hit with Treacy. They are clearly coached to attack with certain predetermined situations and either the forwards/midfielders weren’t providing them or the defenders/midfielders lack the skill or confidence to execute. If the situation ahead was that serious why not just chip it around the back line, switch two or three times, until the situation presents itself? They only scored 5 goals all game anyway so it is not as if there was any urgency to score…. Yes, Serong is growing in stature, not because he is a leader, an extrovert or a green-eyed Martian, but because his skills, game awareness and onfield prowess have stood up and flourished under pressure unlike a lot of others.
anchorman
Roar Rookie
I was totally shattered by the result on the weekend. But in defence, if Darcy had played, the structure of our forward line would not have been thrown out.It happened the week before as well.Darcy plays, Nankerville and Briggs don’t dominate the ruck contests.Darcy is a bulk, like the two oppositions players mentioned.Jackson was too easily pushed under the ball by their bulk.Darcy rucks 80% of the time.Jackson plays a mix of forward and mid.AND Darcy is close to our best clearance player. Jackson up forward allows Amiss and Treacy to play their roles as forwards.Treacy is not a ruckman. But a question, do we over rate our small forwards? We need them to kick more goals,They are not feared by the opposition backs.Most other clubs have small forwards who scare the bejesus out of backmen withtb heir skills and goal kicking ability, ours don’t.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Caleb may end up being the best of that draft crop - which includes Rowell, Anderson, Jackson, Cerra, Warner etc. It’s a big call.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Yep - strong WA clubs are good for the competition, as are strong SA clubs. Freo certainly aren’t the worst off of the two WA teams, and I think the underwhelming nature of this season has gone a bit under the radar in WA due to the sheer mess the cross- town rivals are in. Hopefully the loss against GWS puts a bit more acid on Freo, they tend to play a bit better when no one is talking them up.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Yeah it’s interesting - don’t underestimate what the loss of Josh Carr as the senior assistant has had to this group too, definitely was a major driver last season and there is a reason Port Adelaide think so highly of him that they haven’t even re signed Kenny yet. Combine that with the on field leadership of David Mundy and I think they’ve lost two massive cogs in there that really drove the side. Interesting point on Fyfe, I agree I don’t see his forward craft being that great, moving him to that role would also allow the return of Will Brodie, a guy who was so influential last season, but due to O’Meara and Fyfe moving back into the side has been pushed out. I’d like to see Brodie back in the guts.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Good read, 13th. I think you’re spot on with the captaincy. This may sound weird, but I’d take Fyfe and turn him into a defensive midfielder / intercepting half back flanker. He has no natural forward craft. He can’t kick. He lacks poise. What he has in spades is athleticism, marking prowess and guts. He’s smart and can read the play well. All the attributes that would serve him best back of centre. Something tells me Fyfe believes he’s too good for this role, and that mentality needs to be stowed away starting with Longmuir putting him in his place.
Realist
Roar Rookie
I think he intends on serving out his time in silence.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Home base in Ballarat. Don’t consider Marvel it’s an abomination
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Bulldogs are almost non-Victorian
13th Man
Roar Rookie
He’ll turn up and probably have a pop at me for not being a good supporter, but this comes from a place of genuine care for the footy club - continually burying your head in the sand and pretending all is well when it clearly isn’t is worse.
deadly demon
Roar Rookie
welfare check on Don please Freo are his team and I would genuinely love to hear his thoughts 2 weeks ago they weren't losing a game again this season and smashings by tigers and Giants have certainly taken the sting out of the team come on Don let's hear your assessment of the issues facing the club I watched most of their last game and their lack of effort was awful truly awful
poider
Roar Rookie
This article is way too honest and accurate for Donsy. He won't come near it.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I almost feel your pain
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Sydney chose to recruit the dud Dylan Stephens instead of Caleb Serong. How's that working out now, Kinnear ...
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Where's Don ??? :laughing:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I hate seeing WA teams down almost as much as l hate seeing SA teams down.
Drac
Roar Rookie
Fremantle is the #1 club to test the patience of supporters. :angry: I am a foundation member and joined after supporting Carlton since childhood. :sick: Enough I cried! Then I moved to NSW in 2001 and became a League fan supporting the Dragons :shocked: go figure? Thought they did win one amongst all the heartache :stoked: No matter your team, they all have ups and downs, with some like Freo focusing on the down aspect mainly. There is a positive though, they are saving a fortune on silverware polishing.
poider
Roar Rookie
Agree. Being the faux enforcer has taken his mind off the actual job he's there for. The captaincy seems to have effected his judgment in all aspects of the game.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I hope not, but we’ve been poor at home this season, there is every chance. Although you’d imagine after last week the heat will be put on them.