Much has been made of just how insipid West Coast have been this season. They’ve been a downright disaster and with one win and a percentage under 50, they are bordering on becoming one of the worst teams in AFL history.
West Coast fans will point to injuries but that only goes far, this team is as far down the bottom as one can feasibly go.
But have they even been the most disappointing team in their own state this year? I’d argue no.
As the dominant powerhouse club in Western Australia, their struggles have commanded the local media and the plight of their cross town rivals has largely gone unnoticed.
This time last season Fremantle were in the top four, now they sit in the bottom four – above only the Eagles and fellow battlers Hawthorn and North Melbourne.
In any other season it would be an extraordinary fall from grace commanding the front page of the West Australian, but this season it’s barely rated a mention and the likes of coach Justin Longmuir and Executive General Manager Football Peter Bell are seemingly getting off scott free.
It’s clear why West Coast are a mess; poor recruitment, poor leadership, long term deals for older players, combined with a hellish run with injuries and a WAFL deal that simply doesn’t work have all combined to send the side into freefall, but this wasn’t unexpected.
(Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
It’s perhaps been worse than anticipated but no one (apart from maybe the most optimistic of fans) had them anywhere else but in the bottom four.
Freo on the other had, were considered by many as a genuine top four chance, and even a potential contender this season, but it’s never really taken off.
They’ve been plagued by inconsistency, gameplan issues and question marks around leadership as well.
What makes matters worse is they themselves backed them in for this year. They parted ways with their first round pick in exchange for Luke Jackson and that currently is pick 4 – Melbourne are laughing all the way to the bank.
They too have signed veterans onto long term deals and Nat Fyfe (as much as I love him) is showing signs of being to Freo what Nic Naitanui now is to their cross town rivals – a colossal waste of salary cap space sitting on the sidelines.
It’s hard to really pinpoint where exactly it’s gone wrong for Freo this season. This simply isn’t a bottom four list, and last season I suggested the two WA clubs were trending in exactly the opposite directions; Freo an exciting young list heading for finals, West Coast a team full of injured has beens in freefall.
Now the question has to be asked which fans you’d rather be?
The optimism at Freo is gone, replaced by the same feelings of mediocrity and status quo that have plagued this organisation for most of its time in the competition.
Not good enough to threaten and not bad enough to demand any attention from the AFL or the media.
West Coast are an extremely powerful organisation. As bad as they are they simply will not be down forever. Even as bad as they are they still are in the top 5 crowd drawing sides in the comp – say what you will about their fans, they keep turning up, which has to be admired.
With another derby upcoming in a few weeks time, it’s hard to think of one that will be more underwhelming in the history of this fixture. A Freo side basking in constant mediocrity versus a West Coast side that’s truly a basket case. A once classic rivalry turned into a Sunday afternoon time filler for Fox Footy.
WA is the second strongest football state in the country. Perth is even talked about as the most likely landing place for the 20th AFL side (god forbid it ever happens) and yet you could argue that in season 2023 it’s been home to the two most disappointing sides of the season.
So what needs to change? I think most people suspect Adam Simpson will go at the end of the year, he’s much respected at West Coast but it’s becoming clear change might be good for both parties.
(Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The future of Longmuir is more cloudy – he may have enough credits in the bank after a finals appearance last season but frankly a more ruthless club would look elsewhere.
I’m undecided at this stage – I think if an opportunity came up for a better coach Freo should take it.
Captaincy as well is possibly something that both clubs should change. Caleb Serong and Oscar Allen are both young stars that are the future of their respective clubs and it would make sense to see both take the mantle moving into next season.
As much as myself, being a mad Freo fan, would normally love seeing West Coast struggle, I think it’s even more depressing for such a proud football state to have two sides both performing so poorly.
Beyond this West Coast in particular need to sort out their dismal WAFL deal. They should align with fellow WAFL battlers Perth given they already share Lathlain Park.
The AFL needs a strong Western Australian contingent and they’ve mostly always had that. West Coasts only other small down period coincided with Ross Lyon’s Fremantle being strong and apart from this blip the Eagles have always been the superpower from out West.
Optus Stadium is usually a fortress but this season has become a place for average sides to come steal 4 points and a healthy percentage.
This cannot continue and we can only hope the powers that be at both clubs make strong decisions off season to try and turn things around.
Bunga
Roar Rookie
Pretty poor on Fremantle's behalf. West coast have been holding up W.A Footy for the last 35 years! Fremantle has not had any kind of achievement, save to say 1 x GF in 30 or so years! Cmon Freo do better!
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I’m a Freo fan mate
Micko
Roar Rookie
East Perth won their only three (consecutive) premierships (2000-2002) in nearly 40 years because of the previous host arrangement they had with WCE over that period. Perth are literally sharing their home ground with WCE now on a permanent basis. Just a daft decision for mine not to pursue it, especially since their junior zone is weak (with the exception of this year: Colts unbeaten and top of the ladder), and their country zone is incredibly poor (in a lowly populated region with no large towns).
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
And Perth would be more in line with Westies being Black n Red and probably similar amount of flags.
Nick
Roar Rookie
I think you need to take a deep breath mate.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Lucky buggers! We need that type of Devine intervention.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
You are kidding me, are you not? Have you ever looked at Central District's record. Weird as. They won nothing for like 36 years then win 9 flags in 11 years
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I hate that WA teams are down. ------- 10-6 SANFL v WAFL, in the AFL era, would indicate SA is the second strongest state. Money, membership and crowds (maybe) would likely mean WA is bigger
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Need a splash of white, mate :boxing:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Well I’d say most people in Norwood would align themselves with West Perth because they’re Red and Blue, both have very strong Italian connections and the great Johnny Wynne played for both clubs. And Red n Blue is the most successful colour combination from the 3 bigger AF cities of Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.
anchorman
Roar Rookie
Really!!!! I mean really!! Fremantle avoiding all the mheat from the Media in WA.Does this fella even live in WA? Obviosly he is clever enough to not read the the Daily Rag, other wise known as the Wesy Coast Australian. has this anonymous author nor read the sniping that comes from The Sniper!!! Maybe he is The Sniper. Has he not read the shull bit articles relating to the problems made up by their writers.I won’t call then journos , because that they aint. He bemoans the Yellas injuries, but fails to mention that most were caused bu players being unfit, out of shape , maybe due to the fact that they though that the Virus, you remember Coroa? No not the booze the boys may have beendrinking whikle they were having night out when they should have been under curfew. Quickly passes over that fact that the Yellas have many players that should have been put out to pasyure a few years ago, then they could have got out of nick without hurting the club. Is this fella a Yellas fan trying to slide the pressure away from his beloved Yellas. With Fremantle winning a place in the finals last year, it must be remembered that their draw this year was much harder than the previous season.Played more top eight teams than last season. Eagle were bottom so were fed an easier draw. A fairly light piece of tripe.
Non Serviam
Roar Rookie
Perth where the 3rd wafl club, 1 year after east Freo and 4 years after West Perth. This idea they are notoriously stubborn is a bit rich, what stubborn things has Perth engaged beyond protection of its history?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
No - but when you consider Freo were in the top 4 at this stage last season, and just how woeful West Coast are - you can probably say with confidence they’ve been the two biggest disappointments of the season.
Martin
Roar Rookie
There are ten teams which don't make the finals and so the Eagles and Dockers are not alone.
Shane
Roar Rookie
As a Port supporter I hope it long continues! Seriously though, you could argue Sydney's season has been as disappointing as Fremantle's. I got most of my picks of the ladder right so far but I expected NM to be wooden spooners, I thought WC might have won about 5 games this year. Pity NM supporters, their team plays a wooden spoon like season yet they don't get the top draft pick and even the second best guy is going to GC. Last year they missed out on Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy because they were father sons and the guy they picked left in one year! North show there isn't really such a thing as rock bottom. The rocks can keep falling on your head still.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Yeah I think he’s been great for them - but Port had masssively underperformed before this year. I think they are now finally performing at potential - and both Ken and Carr are part of that.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
It’s not the only reason - I think combine the loss of Mundy as well as Carr and you’ve lost a lot of leadership in the middle of the ground. It goes beyond that of course.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Perth are notoriously stubborn. This is as much on them as it is on west coast. They do not want an alignment.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
It sounds similar to the too much credit Mitchell gets for our '18 prem. With Ports list, you could pull random strings.
Non Serviam
Roar Rookie
If the other typical wafl powerhouse clubs wanted mass restrictions on wce then what will happen with Perth? Also Perth is of the biggest zones that gets a large amount of draftees so will their development for AFL suddenly suffer? More than likely. Sacking simmo is a good headline but considering wce will be bottom 3 next season is giving a seasoned coach a chance to develop the young guys which is certainly happening a bad idea. Keep simmo and move on over list has settled, wce is a experienced coaches job atm in a couple of years it will be a settled transition.