List Mgmt. 2026 - What do we need?

[rgauci]

Coaching aside, which is my bugbear but whatever, where is the improvement actually going to come from?

Serong/Brayshaw/Young/Clark aren't getting much better, they're realistically at their peak. Yes, Young was out a lot but we did pretty well with injuries this year.

The KPPs aren't getting much better with the exception of Amiss and maybe Darcy although I think it's 50/50 if his body will let him get fitter.

Anyone else over 26 or so isn't getting better - Bolton, Ryan.

Murphy Reid is the only one I can really say yes this guy is going to absolutely get better and make us better although the floor is pretty ****ing high already.

I look at the team sheet from yesterday and who isn't in there really isn't a huge amount there to work with. There's a few things that I think absolutely have to happen though:

1. JOM must go. We have ****ed around too long with this and Erasmus/Johnson/NOD need the game time, they need the mid time and we need to know if they are actually going to be difference makers. Johnno has had probably had 15 games where he's looked like moving to genuine best 18 and needs to keep that up. Erasmus' last 6 games or so similar. NOD really hard to work out - looks like a world beater at times then just plain shit at others with no discernable reason why. 39, 55 and 38 games respectively for this trio now. Crunch time for their careers and our flag chances I reckon.

2. Banfield I mean honestly how many times have we said this. At least when he was on the forward flank it was because we had no other real prospects. But HBF is just bizzare. One of Simpson or Walker needs to fill this spot - we need someone who takes it on apart from Clark. Even a draftee in this spot be it Farrow/Whan/Whatever just for something to try and help with our stagnant movement.

3. Chapman what the ** is he? Flank as a junior. Flashes of brilliance the first two years and now seems to be a bit player who is a decent mark and a decent kick but I read his draft profile and think ** me where is that player? Could he be the wing answer? Is he the answer to help Clark? Are we actually better trying Draper there again if he isn't?

4. Small foward. Is a fit Dudley the answer? Dunno but he needs to do more than average 0.87 goals and 1.73 tackles per game. Switta kind of isn't really one even if he is probably best 22 if fit (big IF!). I don't see how we solve this issue, it's easily our weakest position on the ground. Pickett would have been a god send but that's ****ed now. Darcy Jones extended and probably just blew another ACL. Who else is there? Is this actually what we should do with the first rounder?

This next year is the year this team is not going to be in any of those 'youngest 18' lists, at best we're going to move a 27 year old out for a 22 year old and debutants will be pretty thin on the ground for the next couple of years. Time for some bold selection and position calls.

NOD, Erasmus, Chapman, Johnson, Sharp, Darcy, Young, Dudley, Bolton (2nd year with a team), Walker, Simpson, Draper could all conceivably improve immensely. Pearce had quite an injury interrupted year, so could have a better 2026.

 

[Lach72]

NOD, Erasmus, Chapman, Johnson, Sharp, Darcy, Young, Dudley, Bolton (2nd year with a team), Walker, Simpson, Draper could all conceivably improve immensely. Pearce had quite an injury interrupted year, so could have a better 2026.

I’d say that a fit Young alone this year would’ve put us top 4.

For me it’s Simpson, Erasmus and Johnson taking the next step.

If Simpson can become like Lawson Humphries we’re looking good.

I want him taking angle kicks to move the ball quicker out of the back line.

Dudley getting fit as hell and Bolton being 10% only better than this year and we’re away.

 

[s_wd6]

Michael Walters and Lachie Neale credit the discipline instilled by Ross for the careers they had.

Banfield being a fringe player 6 years after Ross left has much more to do with Banfield's limitations than anything Ross did.

Lachie Neale also stood up to Ross after he hurled abuse at a younger player and pissed him off.

I'm not here saying that Banfields whole career played out the way it did because he copped abuse from Lyon. I just thought that tidbit was interesting when you put it together with how Schultz and Langdon have spoken about him.

He seems to be a polarising coach. The good players seem to love him and he seems to love them. But if you were in the bottom half of the 22 or on the fringes then there seems to be a lot of players that hated him.

Schultz ended up being a really good player for us. In his words essentially, he wouldn't still be playing if Ross had stayed coach. You just have to accept that that style of coaching where it's straight abuse at the players doesn't fly with a lot of people.

 

[gungho]

Coaching aside, which is my bugbear but whatever, where is the improvement actually going to come from?

Serong/Brayshaw/Young/Clark aren't getting much better, they're realistically at their peak. Yes, Young was out a lot but we did pretty well with injuries this year.

The KPPs aren't getting much better with the exception of Amiss and maybe Darcy although I think it's 50/50 if his body will let him get fitter.

Anyone else over 26 or so isn't getting better - Bolton, Ryan.

Murphy Reid is the only one I can really say yes this guy is going to absolutely get better and make us better although the floor is pretty ****ing high already.

I look at the team sheet from yesterday and who isn't in there really isn't a huge amount there to work with. There's a few things that I think absolutely have to happen though:

1. JOM must go. We have ****ed around too long with this and Erasmus/Johnson/NOD need the game time, they need the mid time and we need to know if they are actually going to be difference makers. Johnno has had probably had 15 games where he's looked like moving to genuine best 18 and needs to keep that up. Erasmus' last 6 games or so similar. NOD really hard to work out - looks like a world beater at times then just plain shit at others with no discernable reason why. 39, 55 and 38 games respectively for this trio now. Crunch time for their careers and our flag chances I reckon.

2. Banfield I mean honestly how many times have we said this. At least when he was on the forward flank it was because we had no other real prospects. But HBF is just bizzare. One of Simpson or Walker needs to fill this spot - we need someone who takes it on apart from Clark. Even a draftee in this spot be it Farrow/Whan/Whatever just for something to try and help with our stagnant movement.

3. Chapman what the ** is he? Flank as a junior. Flashes of brilliance the first two years and now seems to be a bit player who is a decent mark and a decent kick but I read his draft profile and think ** me where is that player? Could he be the wing answer? Is he the answer to help Clark? Are we actually better trying Draper there again if he isn't?

4. Small foward. Is a fit Dudley the answer? Dunno but he needs to do more than average 0.87 goals and 1.73 tackles per game. Switta kind of isn't really one even if he is probably best 22 if fit (big IF!). I don't see how we solve this issue, it's easily our weakest position on the ground. Pickett would have been a god send but that's ****ed now. Darcy Jones extended and probably just blew another ACL. Who else is there? Is this actually what we should do with the first rounder?

This next year is the year this team is not going to be in any of those 'youngest 18' lists, at best we're going to move a 27 year old out for a 22 year old and debutants will be pretty thin on the ground for the next couple of years. Time for some bold selection and position calls.

Sorry, what?
The majority of our best 22 are between 22 - 25. We are one of the youngest teams in the comp. Of course improvement is going to come. Your peak is from 25 - 29 in the AFL and it's usually when you've played 100 games. Here are the guys that will improve from here: Young, Serong, Simpson, Walker Erasmus, Johnson, Draper, Clark, Noddy, Jackson, Voss, Amiss, Treacy, Reid, Chapman, Sharp, Dudley. Granted, a few of those might not make it in the AFL, or in our team, but they all should show improvement.

 

[mattis117]

I’d say that a fit Young alone this year would’ve put us top 4.

For me it’s Simpson, Erasmus and Johnson taking the next step.

If Simpson can become like Lawson Humphries we’re looking good.

I want him taking angle kicks to move the ball quicker out of the back line.

Dudley getting fit as hell and Bolton being 10% only better than this year and we’re away.

In some ways the result may help us.

1. We got a brutal finals lesson that exposed players who aren't up to it.
2. We enter our off season with extra time to build for next season.
3. We have no serious injuries to key players.

I really hope that Young and Darcy get a full pre season after not having one at all.

I can't wait to see Reid with another pre season under his belt.

I also look forward to the growth of Simpson, Erasmus, Johnson, Voss, Amiss, Dudley etc.

We may see our stars return to their best and our young players develop further.

Must get a couple of B22 players in from trades though.

Also keen to see some positional changes. Reid to mid, Simpson training as a back permanently.

Strongly consider trading Walker and Frederick if we can get anything of value for them.

 

[s_wd6]

How are we a better team immediately if we trade Frederick? Who's kicking that extra 30 goals? Unless its directly for a player to fill his spot then there is no benefit to it.

 

[fleur]

It’s top 4 or bust next season.
Nicks got 8 years and he’s top of the ladder.

Jl must push this team higher and get off to a winning start.
4-5 is never going to get the team where it should be.
7-2 or 6-3, better chance.

Finished the season losing only 3 games in the last 13.

Neil Balm started working for the crows this year. The bloke is a magician.

 

[nurries]

How are we a better team immediately if we trade Frederick? Who's kicking that extra 30 goals? Unless its directly for a player to fill his spot then there is no benefit to it.

Probably the other players that get the benefit of 80+ tackles and pressure acts that Freddy doesn’t bring

 

[88mph]

Dogs give: Bont + First Round
Freo give: Ras

 

[s_wd6]

Probably the other players that get the benefit of 80 tackles and pressure acts that Freddy doesn’t bring

That doesn't answer my question. Which player is coming in straight away to give you 80 tackles a year? And who's kicking the goals?

If you asked anyone here our best pressure forward is Switta and even he is only giving 60-70 tackles if he played every game.

Pressure acts? He's still gets more a game than all our forwards except Switta.

 

[Deathly]

As absolutely putrid as he was - and after settling down after having a go at him - Freddy is still B22. He's always been this kind of player but finals pressure football has really puts his deficiencies under the microscope.

A big thing I hated about how we went about our List Management from like 2017 to even now is we would always trade out players in his age range, and it was just shit for balance and experience. This is why we always end up in the Bottom 4 for that shit.

I think its fair for people to be emotional - but in reality he is B22 and we shouldn't be trading him.

The miss and play on aside - I recognize he's a Glass Cannon type player and has no defensive side - but JFC - I really hope he can learn and smarten up on that aspect of his game. He doesn't need to do it all the time - but he needs to have the awareness to identify when it's his turn to go for the ****ing ball and put his body in the contest like his team mates do.

Also, I'm sorry - but if he has the speed to get separation and out the back on the end of transition, he can run a couple of meters to pressure the ball carrier instead of waiting like a statue for the loose ball to be created by a team mate that's further away than he ****ing is.

100+ games and maturing now into a senior figure. He needs to just add this 10% to his game now - because we all love it and forgive those acts in games when he's hot and firing - but when he's not, it literally loses us a final and drives everyone insane.

 

[FreoRicci]

How are we a better team immediately if we trade Frederick? Who's kicking that extra 30 goals? Unless its directly for a player to fill his spot then there is no benefit to it.

Who’s next up?
Sturt.. oh that’s right, his knee.
Banfield? No thanks.

What realistically would we get for Frederick? Pick 30 at the very best.

Fremantle wouldn’t contemplate that, at all.

 

[gungho]

How are we a better team immediately if we trade Frederick? Who's kicking that extra 30 goals? Unless its directly for a player to fill his spot then there is no benefit to it.

The only way we get something good for Freddy is if some other team goes after him under contract......a bit like the Collingwood Shultz example. (How handy would Shooter have been last night?).
At absolute best, I could only see, maybe an end of first round or early second. Pick 18-25.
In a compromised draft, that apparently isn't that strong anyway, we are setting Wallsy a task to find a replacement who's better.
I reckon our only option is to trade in a decent mature ager. Someone like Callum Ah Chee.

 

[go_the_dockers]

How are we a better team immediately if we trade Frederick? Who's kicking that extra 30 goals? Unless its directly for a player to fill his spot then there is no benefit to it.

Who contributes more to fremantle's team. Switta or Frederick?

Switta kicked 11 goals, but I would prefer two of him over over Frederick, and I think the team would score more as well.

I would happily swap him with Ah Chee.

Probably the other players that get the benefit of 80+ tackles and pressure acts that Freddy doesn’t bring

Yeah, this

 

[go_the_dockers]

This is roughly our best 22.


2026 Best 23

FB L Ryan B Cox A Pearce
HB H Chapman K Worner J Clark
C M. Johnson S Bolton N Erasmus
HF I Dudley P Voss M Reid
FF J Amiss J Treacy M Frederick

Fol L Jackson C Serong A Brayshaw

b: H Young, Wagner, S Darcy , C. Simpson , S. Switta


Peel

FB: B. Waker O. McDonald Draper
HB: B Banfield H Davies
C: J O'Meara N O'Driscoll J Sharp
HF: J Carr A. Riddle
FF: C. Nicholls O. Murphy
Fol:
B: 4 draft picks

Out: Fyfe, Walters, Aish, Sturt, Reidy, Brodie, Narkle, Jones, Delean

---------------------------------------------------

If I could add improve our team, I would add a classy winger, half forward and a forward pocket.

 

[s_wd6]

Who contributes more to fremantle's team. Switta or Frederick?

Switta kicked 11 goals, but I would prefer two of him over over Frederick, and I think the team would score more as well.

I would happily swap him with Ah Chee.



Yeah, this

Actually the guy who kicks goals and doesn’t miss half the season provides more. Ah Chee isn’t another Switta and is actually a slightly worse Freddy.

Not only does he kick less goals than Freddy, but also has less tackles and pressure acts a game. He’s also 3 years older. Are we supposed to go off vibes only and pretend that Ah Chee is better for us?

 

[Cobbler]

Replacing 30 goals doesn’t need to be something we can see right now. Personally, I keep Freddy. He’s not the first flashy but inconsistent forward to flop in a final.

Back to the 30 goals. Not a single soul would’ve seen 80 goals in 2025 coming from Voss, Reid and Dudley.

Bolton scored about what I thought he might.

We’ll find ways. The whole forward line is learning together.

We only need a small improvement across that line and the 1-2 goals wins become 3-4 goal wins. The 40 point wins become proper blow outs.

 

[Spirit Level]

NOD spends the preaeason training to be a burst mid with hurt factor, it's either that or bust for him IMO

 

[The_Flood]

NOD spends the preaeason training to be a burst mid with hurt factor, it's either that or bust for him IMO

Learning to use right foot to some extent as well!!

 

[hoss]

Actually the guy who kicks goals and doesn’t miss half the season provides more. Ah Chee isn’t another Switta.

Not only does he kick less goals than Freddy, but also has less tackles and pressure acts a game. He’s also 3 years older. Are we supposed to go off vibes only and pretend that Ah Chee is better for us?

View attachment 2419961

That's some strange stats. Switta averages over 4 tackles a game, Fred under 2. There is no way Freddy averages higher defensive stats than Sam.

 

[s_wd6]

That's some strange stats. Switta averages over 4 tackles a game, Fred under 2. There is no way Freddy averages higher defensive stats than Sam.

Those stats are Freddy and Ah Chee…hence the team colours and my post comparing Freddy and Ah Chee.

Pointing out how ironic it is that people are complaining about Freddy and then in the same sentence saying we should bring in a guy who’s pressure game is even worse and kicks less goals.

 

[hoss]

Those stats are Freddy and Ah Chee…hence the team colours and my post comparing Freddy and Ah Chee.

Pointing out how ironic it is that people are complaining about Freddy and then in the same sentence saying we should bring in a guy who’s pressure game is even worse and kicks less goals.

Fair enough, I should have read the post more carefully.

 

[swanny1234]

How are we a better team immediately if we trade Frederick? Who's kicking that extra 30 goals? Unless its directly for a player to fill his spot then there is no benefit to it.

Sturt. Get him fit, he’s a significant upgrade on Flakey Freddy.

If Freddy is in the best 22 to start next season, we may as well not bother. Ditto Banfield.

 

[swanny1234]

In some ways the result may help us.

1. We got a brutal finals lesson that exposed players who aren't up to it.
2. We enter our off season with extra time to build for next season.
3. We have no serious injuries to key players.

I really hope that Young and Darcy get a full pre season after not having one at all.

I can't wait to see Reid with another pre season under his belt.

I also look forward to the growth of Simpson, Erasmus, Johnson, Voss, Amiss, Dudley etc.

We may see our stars return to their best and our young players develop further.

Must get a couple of B22 players in from trades though.

Also keen to see some positional changes. Reid to mid, Simpson training as a back permanently.

Strongly consider trading Walker and Frederick if we can get anything of value for them.

Moving Reid from the forward line is robbing Peter to pay Paul. As much as I’d like to see him play mid, can we really afford to do that?

He’s our most effective small half forward.

 

[Alfonz]

Sturt. Get him fit, he’s a significant upgrade on Flakey Freddy.

If Freddy is in the best 22 to start next season, we may as well not bother. Ditto Banfield.

Sturt has just had a knee reconstruction. He's almost certainly not playing AFL in 2026. Best case scenario is possibly a few WAFL games at the very end of the year and then we give him a 1 year minimum chips contract out of hope.