Prediction Is now the time for the next captain?

[Ysaye]

anxiety and nerves are not bad things to have, particularly if you have been to therapy and worked on it (which Pearce has). and he has also shown he can work through it mid-game. that is strength. fages looks like a ****ing grandpa and guess what, he's a back to back premiership coach. if you can command a room with a whisper, why would you shout?

Is that unreasonable given that he is a grandfather? His grandchildren are Freya and Kevin.

 

[mattis117]

if Brayshaw and Serong are so "on top" at the start of the game, why is the ball even getting to Pearce? How many players did the ball get through to even end up so deep in defense? Presumably more than once if Pearce is responsible for our slow starts... Why does it take Serong 3 quarters of a game to shake a tag? He should overcome it immediately otherwise how could he ever be captain. Or why does it take Brayshaw a whole half to stop bleeding very easy & obvious clearances?

Obviously I would rather a captain who plays well from quarter one in a grand final. But I would be just as happy to have a captain who can settle his (very young) team for a full season to be able to even reach finals, a captain who can stand up when awful things happen (e.g. - McCarthys suicide). A captain who can lead on and off the field, so we aren't just making excellent players whose lives fall apart the moment their football career ends. A captain who is grounded and measured in himself and his principles and shows respect to ALL of the people involved in a successful club and premiership team (families, admin staff, behind the scenes staff, fans) and can encourage other young men to be the same.

Also, are you forgetting Serong did a whole interview segment about anxiety and how he uses Lego as a coping mechanism and it took him more than half a season to adjust to his own expectations? I think it's great we have a leader who can steer from the back but also allow Serong & Brayshaw to focus solely on footy when they are at work. Being soft spoken has nothing to do with it.

I agree. Everyone is making this assumption that Serong wants to be captain, but for all we know he may be exactly where he wants to be as VC.
He can focus on being the best possible player without the added duties now.

 

[2big2strom]

Is that unreasonable given that he is a grandfather? His grandchildren are Freya and Kevin.

no it's not unreasonable at all, I was being facetious in response to comments on JLO/Pearce being mild-mannered or soft spoken

 

[anchor man]

if Brayshaw and Serong are so "on top" at the start of the game, why is the ball even getting to Pearce? How many players did the ball get through to even end up so deep in defense? Presumably more than once if Pearce is responsible for our slow starts... Why does it take Serong 3 quarters of a game to shake a tag? He should overcome it immediately otherwise how could he ever be captain. Or why does it take Brayshaw a whole half to stop bleeding very easy & obvious clearances?

Obviously I would rather a captain who plays well from quarter one in a grand final. But I would be just as happy to have a captain who can settle his (very young) team for a full season to be able to even reach finals, a captain who can stand up when awful things happen (e.g. - McCarthys suicide). A captain who can lead on and off the field, so we aren't just making excellent players whose lives fall apart the moment their football career ends. A captain who is grounded and measured in himself and his principles and shows respect to ALL of the people involved in a successful club and premiership team (families, admin staff, behind the scenes staff, fans) and can encourage other young men to be the same.

Also, are you forgetting Serong did a whole interview segment about anxiety and how he uses Lego as a coping mechanism and it took him more than half a season to adjust to his own expectations? I think it's great we have a leader who can steer from the back but also allow Serong & Brayshaw to focus solely on footy when they are at work. Being soft spoken has nothing to do with it.

I like this.
Well said.
And a skipper that makes decisions on the run, like his decisions to go forward and kick winning goals.

 

[poshman]

In all fairness, he'd be the first Freo player to show up in the first quarter of a granny if he did.

i am not sure what you mean. If you mean, he would be one of the players playing nervously in the first quarter, then yes, we know this is a persisting problem.

 

[poshman]

if Brayshaw and Serong are so "on top" at the start of the game, why is the ball even getting to Pearce? How many players did the ball get through to even end up so deep in defense? Presumably more than once if Pearce is responsible for our slow starts... Why does it take Serong 3 quarters of a game to shake a tag? He should overcome it immediately otherwise how could he ever be captain. Or why does it take Brayshaw a whole half to stop bleeding very easy & obvious clearances?

Obviously I would rather a captain who plays well from quarter one in a grand final. But I would be just as happy to have a captain who can settle his (very young) team for a full season to be able to even reach finals, a captain who can stand up when awful things happen (e.g. - McCarthys suicide). A captain who can lead on and off the field, so we aren't just making excellent players whose lives fall apart the moment their football career ends. A captain who is grounded and measured in himself and his principles and shows respect to ALL of the people involved in a successful club and premiership team (families, admin staff, behind the scenes staff, fans) and can encourage other young men to be the same.

Also, are you forgetting Serong did a whole interview segment about anxiety and how he uses Lego as a coping mechanism and it took him more than half a season to adjust to his own expectations? I think it's great we have a leader who can steer from the back but also allow Serong & Brayshaw to focus solely on footy when they are at work. Being soft spoken has nothing to do with it.

Can I borrow some of the mountains of straw you have? The ball would not get back there if they started well? Are you kidding me? The midfield can be ver yon top and the ball will still get back there.

There hasn't been one good argument about his missing games or his issues at the start of games. Yes he plays well at the end of games when we are coming from behind with nothing to lose. He also leads a team that has a history of slow starts and has admitted (which some here refused to believe until he admitted it - despite stats etc clearly showing it) that he has issues at the start of games.

I said I think he will do a fine job. He is also a strong KPD. I hope he plays 20+ games and we win a GF with him as captain. I also think we should have moved on so the pressure is off a bit and he can focus on staying on the park. It is also easier for us to rest him for long away trips. I still hope we give him some rest during the year so he doesn't break down around the 13-16 game mark.

As to his principles - I was accused of not wanting him because of his politics, which I care nothing about, he is footy player, who cares about his politics? Are you referring to his politics as a reason to keep him in the position? Surely that is a poor argument for or against?

 

[stax on the mull]

I don't think there were too many specific slow starts for Fremantle last season. There's a few games where we started badly and it got worse like the Geelong and Brisbane games, but just the odd game here and there where we were behind in the first quarter and had to fight back. The Carlton game in the wet conditions, maybe a couple of others. Against good teams like in the final vs Gold Coast you might be still in the match and a be a few points behind, or you might not convert a good start on the scoreboard (which is bad play).

The poor starts were more a 2024 thing.

 

[stax on the mull]

I don't think there were too many specific slow starts for Fremantle last season. There's a few games where we started badly and it got worse like the Geelong and Brisbane games, but just the odd game here and there where we were behind in the first quarter and had to fight back. The Carlton game in the wet conditions, maybe a couple of others. Against good teams like in the final vs Gold Coast you might be still in the match and a be a few points behind, or you might not convert a good start on the scoreboard (which is bad play).

The poor starts were more a 2024 thing.

Probably need to delineate that there's a difference between a poor start and fans melting at the start of a game.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

i am not sure what you mean. If you mean, he would be one of the players playing nervously in the first quarter, then yes, we know this is a persisting problem.

I mean that its a slippery slope judging a leader by how he will perform in the first quarter of a grand final, considering how our greatest ever players performed the only time we've ever been in that situation.

 

[Dockeroo]

i am not sure what you mean. If you mean, he would be one of the players playing nervously in the first quarter, then yes, we know this is a persisting problem.

You are being disingenuous there a bit I feel. Pearce can start slow, sure but I’ve seen equally as many slow starts from Brayshaw and Serong too. They have disappeared early in games on many occasions in recent years. Big important games too that have cost us dearly.

The very last match we played - they allowed Matt Rowell tear them to shreds for the first half of the game and by the time they woke up and got on top - it was too late.

Stop acting as if Pearce is the only one playing crap early in games and the other leaders are all playing amazing footy from the first bounce.

Also on a broader note, WTF is O’Meara still doing on that group?
Jeez even Fyfe had stepped back by the time he was JOMs age.

 

[Jezzitizle]

You are being disingenuous there a bit I feel. Pearce can start slow, sure but I’ve seen equally as many slow starts from Brayshaw and Serong too. They have disappeared early in games on many occasions in recent years. Big important games too that have cost us dearly.

The very last match we played - they allowed Matt Rowell tear them to shreds for the first half of the game and by the time they woke up and got on top - it was too late.

Stop acting as if Pearce is the only one playing crap early in games and the other leaders are all playing amazing footy from the first bounce.

Also on a broader note, WTF is O’Meara still doing on that group?
Jeez even Fyfe had stepped back by the time he was JOMs age.

I mean as much as JOM is disliked here, it is no surprise.

Fyfe stepped back because he couldn’t get on the park, not because he hit a certain age.

As much as JOM can frustrate, he is clearly very professional, intelligent and is very experienced.

Probably actually good to have around for the other leaders.

 

[2big2strom]

Can I borrow some of the mountains of straw you have? The ball would not get back there if they started well? Are you kidding me? The midfield can be ver yon top and the ball will still get back there.

There hasn't been one good argument about his missing games or his issues at the start of games. Yes he plays well at the end of games when we are coming from behind with nothing to lose. He also leads a team that has a history of slow starts and has admitted (which some here refused to believe until he admitted it - despite stats etc clearly showing it) that he has issues at the start of games.

I said I think he will do a fine job. He is also a strong KPD. I hope he plays 20+ games and we win a GF with him as captain. I also think we should have moved on so the pressure is off a bit and he can focus on staying on the park. It is also easier for us to rest him for long away trips. I still hope we give him some rest during the year so he doesn't break down around the 13-16 game mark.

As to his principles - I was accused of not wanting him because of his politics, which I care nothing about, he is footy player, who cares about his politics? Are you referring to his politics as a reason to keep him in the position? Surely that is a poor argument for or against?

I'm just matching your energy. Guess what - Pearce can be very on top and the ball can still be in defence and he can still make mistakes. By 2025 the slow starts as a team had been rectified and were essentially a non issue. I'm pointing out that individual slow starts is not just a Pearce issue.

Yes, him not being able to put together a full season is a risk. I think the balance of having Serong/Brayshaw alternate acting Captain duties kind of nullifies this risk though, it helps them continue their apprenticeship albeit in shorter more manageable stints. I agree he will need to be managed through the year.

Re his principles - I'm not referring to Pearce's politics. (Although I do believe his conviction and vocalness regarding politics is a principle.) I'm referring to things like his openness to talk about his mental health, his anxieties, to discuss suicide & suicide prevention, to address racial inequalities, his support and involvement with women's football. He is grounded and knows who he is and what he stands for. Did you know Alex Pearce was the ONLY current male AFL player to publicly acknowledge Mitch Brown's coming out? You might consider all of this to be politics but I do not. For me, it's significant qualities of leadership.

 

[2big2strom]

I mean as much as JOM is disliked here, it is no surprise.

Fyfe stepped back because he couldn’t get on the park, not because he hit a certain age.

As much as JOM can frustrate, he is clearly very professional, intelligent and is very experienced.

Probably actually good to have around for the other leaders.

Yeah I agree w this. He has been selected for his professionalism and insight, that applies across so many more aspects than just on field on game day.

 

[Nodgey]

8 man leadership group, soon they will just be listing who isn’t in it for brevity.

‘Leadership group’ is an oxymoron.

 

[Cesoir]

‘Leadership group’ is an oxymoron.

Isn't an oxymoron a really dumb welder,

 

[mattis117]

‘Leadership group’ is an oxymoron.

 

[oldgoat]

Probably need to delineate that there's a difference between a poor start and fans melting at the start of a game.

thats fans having a poor start

 

[oldgoat]

Great question.

I would happily have Brayshaw, Serrong or Treacy as the captain.

I still think Pearce brings strong leadership and can perform his role to a high level though. Not the end of the world.

I "feel" that Fyfe was a better captain for waiting for Mundy to have a go.
I "feel" that this thread is all about the "fans feels", which are, after all, less important than the "teams feels".
Fortunately, I "feel" we have a team bursting with Leadership Talent!
Feeling good.
YOKAI!

 

[stax on the mull]

thats fans having a poor start

Every f----- round of the season.

 

[mad about it]

Can I borrow some of the mountains of straw you have? The ball would not get back there if they started well? Are you kidding me? The midfield can be ver yon top and the ball will still get back there.

There hasn't been one good argument about his missing games or his issues at the start of games. Yes he plays well at the end of games when we are coming from behind with nothing to lose. He also leads a team that has a history of slow starts and has admitted (which some here refused to believe until he admitted it - despite stats etc clearly showing it) that he has issues at the start of games.

I said I think he will do a fine job. He is also a strong KPD. I hope he plays 20+ games and we win a GF with him as captain. I also think we should have moved on so the pressure is off a bit and he can focus on staying on the park. It is also easier for us to rest him for long away trips. I still hope we give him some rest during the year so he doesn't break down around the 13-16 game mark.

As to his principles - I was accused of not wanting him because of his politics, which I care nothing about, he is footy player, who cares about his politics? Are you referring to his politics as a reason to keep him in the position? Surely that is a poor argument

I'm just matching your energy. Guess what - Pearce can be very on top and the ball can still be in defence and he can still make mistakes. By 2025 the slow starts as a team had been rectified and were essentially a non issue. I'm pointing out that individual slow starts is not just a Pearce issue.

Yes, him not being able to put together a full season is a risk. I think the balance of having Serong/Brayshaw alternate acting Captain duties kind of nullifies this risk though, it helps them continue their apprenticeship albeit in shorter more manageable stints. I agree he will need to be managed through the year.

Re his principles - I'm not referring to Pearce's politics. (Although I do believe his conviction and vocalness regarding politics is a principle.) I'm referring to things like his openness to talk about his mental health, his anxieties, to discuss suicide & suicide prevention, to address racial inequalities, his support and involvement with women's football. He is grounded and knows who he is and what he stands for. Did you know Alex Pearce was the ONLY current male AFL player to publicly acknowledge Mitch Brown's coming out? You might consider all of this to be politics but I do not. For me, it's significant qualities of leadership.

Great post this. Poshman & his mates have had an issue with our Captain for a while now ?? No doubt they will AGAIN try to justify their thoughts. Let’s move on, we have our leadership group, good list , now just get results we all crave ?