Mega Thread 2026 Media & Miscellaneous Thread

[DQ 4EVER]

C'mon now, you'd be struggle to find one quote during trade period that isnt at least a small lie, it's all bullshit and games. I do think Bell was at least a little weary of trading for Hogan given where he was in life (as a couple of posters on here were as well) but we dont have any real proof (and we basically never will) that he genuinely tried to stop the trade and was overruled.

If he wasn't weary at the time, he certainly was by the end of Jesse Bogan's stint with us.

 

[Joao]

Stand by my comment from last year that the moment Reid is a majority midfielder, Serong's chances of getting tagged drop by about 95%.

 

[ignoramus]

2026 AFL Season Previews: Fremantle

Justin, the handbrake is still on, mate.

www.onepercenters.net.au

 

[Big Animal]

2026 AFL Season Previews: Fremantle

Justin, the handbrake is still on, mate.

www.onepercenters.net.au

couldn't have said it better myself. pretty much spot on.

"Tactics are Fremantle’s biggest impediment to success, not talent. The defining question for them this year will be whether they can correct the lingering imbalance between risk and safety that’s held them back...

They suffocate sides rather than overwhelm them. Narrow wins over inferior teams are banked without turning into percentage spikes or statement performances." We've all been frustrated by that. Leaving the ground after a W but feeling a bit hollow about it.

The second defining question will be what happens at the end of the year if nothing changes.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Stand by my comment from last year that the moment Reid is a majority midfielder, Serong's chances of getting tagged drop by about 95%.

You could say the same about a fit Young.

If Reid, Serong, Braysahw and Young are all fit and running through the midfield 50% plus each game the impact of tagging one players drop massively.

 

[Joao]

You could say the same about a fit Young.

If Reid, Serong, Braysahw and Young are all fit and running through the midfield 50% plus each game the impact of tagging one players drop massively.

I think Reid will be better.

 

[fnerd]

2026 AFL Season Previews: Fremantle

Justin, the handbrake is still on, mate.

www.onepercenters.net.au

Absolutely bang on assessment
Kudos to the crow dude who wrote it

 

[greatgatsby]

Absolutely bang on assessment
Kudos to the crow dude who wrote it

He goes OK. He's doing club previews at about one per day and is about halfway through them. I somehow got subscribed free to his mailing list, maybe through Codesports?

 

[ignoramus]

He goes OK. He's doing club previews at about one per day and is about halfway through them. I somehow got subscribed free to his mailing list, maybe through Codesports?

Tbh, I rate his reviews of the other clubs much more than his review of Freo — not because he gets anything wrong, but precisely because it’s more or less the consensus view of where the club stands. Hence all the thumbs ups.

That’s really helpful if you don’t really follow the club closely (like me with respect to all the other clubs, which again is why I really appreciate his other previews), or if what you want from your commentary pieces is confirmation of your own viewpoint. But what I’m hoping to get from in-depth pieces is something that challenges the consensus assessment, offers a different perspective or a novel insight.

That’s my problem, of course, not his, and anyone looking to hear (yet again) that JL just needs to release the handbrake will very much enjoy what he’s written.

 

[freo84]

Tbh, I rate his reviews of the other clubs much more than his review of Freo — not because he gets anything wrong, but precisely because it’s more or less the consensus view of where the club stands. Hence all the thumbs ups.

That’s really helpful if you don’t really follow the club closely (like me with respect to all the other clubs, which again is why I really appreciate his other previews), or if what you want from your commentary pieces is confirmation of your own viewpoint. But what I’m hoping to get from in-depth pieces is something that challenges the consensus assessment, offers a different perspective or a novel insight.

That’s my problem, of course, not his, and anyone looking to hear (yet again) that JL just needs to release the handbrake will very much enjoy what he’s written.

What would you say if you were to write a preview?

How would it differ to the consensus that we need to play with more dare and take the game on?

Genuinely interested in a different POV.

 

[theGav56]

What would you say if you were to write a preview?

How would it differ to the consensus that we need to play with more dare and take the game on?

Genuinely interested in a different POV.

The thing about the season, off-season and the pre-season that I am looking for is:

• Season Review: what did/didn't work and needs to be improved
• Off-season: did the club identify and take steps to address any issues
• Pre-season: are they getting it right or are they staying the course of the previous year

What I like about where the club is sitting today, right now, is that I think they have done well through all of those steps.

We are in the tweaking mode of a finals tilt, and it is clear that steps have been taken to improve some key and strategic elements of our game:

• cohesion amongst the tall forwards
• more depth in the small forward zone designed to score higher, defend better, release Reid midfield, be less predictable.
• transition faster and less predictably. A focus on speed and disposal from defence.
• a deliberate strategy to bring more power and size into our midfield rotation with more responsibility going onto the shoulders of Jackson, MJ and Erasmus.

'Releasing the handbrake' and 'more dare' are the kind of comments fans and radio jocks make. Correct, but a little throwaway. Along the lines of 'kick the bloody thing' or 'they just need to add a Bontempelli' or 'release the handbrake'.

Good coaching puts the structure in place so that 'just kick the bloody thing' makes sense. That for me is what good season previews provide insight about.

We are absolutely primed for a good season.

 

[Jezzitizle]

I honestly don’t think JL is trying to keep a handbrake on and wasn’t last season either, we go quick when we can but teams have been able to stop it at times.

Plan A for scoring is go quick when we can and we either get out the back or give our forwards 1v1s.

Plan B if that isn’t on, is to then push numbers up and try to bottle it in (same as the rest of the league).

If we had one more real gun kick, and I mean elite, out of defense it would make a huge difference.

Clark shouldn’t be our number one rebounder, he is a good kick but not at Young/Reid levels.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Mark Duffield and Simon Garlic talked today. Here are the key points I took from it.

Looks like Cox has a calf strain. Too early to say how significant it is.

Profit - 550k. Paid 1.5m to WAFC.
Cash Reserves - 7 million.
- Invsested 5 million in footy projects over the last 5 years.

Off field we are in a strong position.

We identified a few areas, we had to close the gap between us and the top clubs.
I think he was refering to our strength, and how this has increased.

JL - Garlic loves him. Gets very good buy in from the players, which is why they commit long term very easily.

Members hit 66k. (Aiming for 70k this year)

Areas we are workin on. Score more from turn over. Quicker ball movement. Stop patches on heavy socring e.g. Gold Coast final - 2nd qtr.

WA clubs would like to be more involved in local development. Havin discussion with WAFL, WAFC and .. to work out the best path forward.

 

[ignoramus]

What would you say if you were to write a preview?

How would it differ to the consensus that we need to play with more dare and take the game on?

Genuinely interested in a different POV.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying I thought he should have said this or that. I’m an ignoramus. I wouldn’t have a clue what to write in a preview, and I rarely have anything intelligent to say about game plans, etc., etc. I wasn’t commenting on the preview because I hold a different view but only because I value novelty of insight. (Having said that, I do think similar things to what Jezzitizle says above.)

If I ever come up with anything like an interesting point, it’s usually more focused on a specific scenario or structure or role rather than a view on what as a whole JL/the team need to do.

But if you tied me to a chair and forced me to write a preview, one thing I’d do my best to do is avoid the clichés. As theGav56 said, they’re the kind of things that afl.com.au talking heads say. It’s not just that they’re worn out; being readily recognisable and easily understood, their first function is to resonate with audiences and get them nodding their heads in approval. Some people will say that the reason clichés are clichés is because they’re true, but in the context of analysis and interpretation, clichés save people the trouble of thinking — they are the enemy of novel insight.

 

[gaskin]

Points relevant to us:

Kane reckons we have the best forward line in the comp. Kingy has 4 others ahead of ours.

Both have us winning 18 games.

 

[anchor man]

It was interesting to listennto Peter Bell talking on SEN the other day about Schultz leaving.
On the announcemnet, Bells phone rang within seconds. It was Heath Chapman. Belly wondered what was up, but Chappys first words were, can I have number five.
Made me wonder, was Schultz all that well liked and was he missed around the group.

 

[s_wd6]

It was interesting to listennto Peter Bell talking on SEN the other day about Schultz leaving.
On the announcemnet, Bells phone rang within seconds. It was Heath Chapman. Belly wondered what was up, but Chappys first words were, can I have number five.
Made me wonder, was Schultz all that well liked and was he missed around the group.

Considering he still regularly catches up with a heap of Freo players I’d say so. You can tell which players are close to each other

 

[anchor man]

Mark Duffield and Simon Garlic talked today. Here are the key points I took from it.

Looks like Cox has a calf strain. Too early to say how significant it is.

Profit - 550k. Paid 1.5m to WAFC.
Cash Reserves - 7 million.
- Invsested 5 million in footy projects over the last 5 years.

Off field we are in a strong position.

We identified a few areas, we had to close the gap between us and the top clubs.
I think he was refering to our strength, and how this has increased.

JL - Garlic loves him. Gets very good buy in from the players, which is why they commit long term very easily.

Members hit 66k. (Aiming for 70k this year)

Areas we are workin on. Score more from turn over. Quicker ball movement. Stop patches on heavy socring e.g. Gold Coast final - 2nd qtr.

WA clubs would like to be more involved in local development. Havin discussion with WAFL, WAFC and .. to work out the best path forward.

All very relevant points Simon has raised.
To me what you recorded last is vital to the running of the game here in WA.I believe that both AFL clubs have to give more to the WAFL. If that dies then the game becomes taken over by the AFL. That would be a total disaster.
I believe the AFL want to take full control of the PSA, Public Shools Association.I may be wrong, but I believe they have a rather large finger in the pie in Victoria.
Both clubs are financially well off and can afford to give more back to the WAFL to keep the kids from the competion interested to want to play for their WAFL club. They have to want to play for the ten teams that make up the WAFL.
So many are cast aside when they get drafted and don't make it.

 

[mattis117]

 

[mattis117]

That interview is a great listen. I am biased because Simon speaks the same language I do, so easy for me to follow his intent.

Agree that it feels like we've had a real quietly good pre season and we're as well prepped as ever, evidenced by the health and depth of the list.

All words until we get out there, and we will need some luck along the way, but does feel like this pre season we have hit all the best possible markers. There is little that has gone wrong.

Can't wait to watch the final dress rehearsal on Saturday.

 

[oldgoat]

That interview is a great listen. I am biased because Simon speaks the same language I do, so easy for me to follow his intent.

Agree that it feels like we've had a real quietly good pre season and we're as well prepped as ever, evidenced by the health and depth of the list.

All words until we get out there, and we will need some luck along the way, but does feel like this pre season we have hit all the best possible markers. There is little that has gone wrong.

Can't wait to watch the final dress rehearsal on Saturday.

Its clear that the club is in good hands...on all fronts it would seem...
Which is a necessary precondition for success...
But...
The rest, my friends, is in the hands of the footy gods.
Choose your gods wisely.
Many of us would have it that ours are most like the cruel and vindictive rulers of Olympus.
YOKAI!

 

[Daddoo]

That interview is a great listen. I am biased because Simon speaks the same language I do, so easy for me to follow his intent.

Agree that it feels like we've had a real quietly good pre season and we're as well prepped as ever, evidenced by the health and depth of the list.

All words until we get out there, and we will need some luck along the way, but does feel like this pre season we have hit all the best possible markers. There is little that has gone wrong.

Can't wait to watch the final dress rehearsal on Saturday.

I agree with you. Loved everything Garlick had to say.

A couple thoughts.

Media narrative in the past: "Freo can't keep their players."

Now: We've got more players signed (even players from Vic) on long term contracts.

Media narrative in the past: "Freo don't have a culture that makes players want to be there."

Now: Myth busted. If you don't think we have a strong culture, you're head is in the sand.

Fan and media narrative in the past: "Freo just roll over and don't advocate for better scheduling and more equalization measures."

Now: Practically every other sentence out of Garlick's mouth for the first 15 minutes had to do with equalization. I loved his thoughts on opening round. paraphrasing, "It's about priorities. We shouldn't prioritize expansion of the game at the expense of having an equal comp." I loved his harping on the fact that Vic teams travel 3,000km a year and WA teams travel a bazillion more kms. I am confident that he's working hard behind the scenes to keep equalization at the fore front of AFL House's mind. My favorite quote was when he called out that scheduling is still rooted in the VFL. Bam! Love it.

Fans gripe in the past: Freo don't have any marquee games. Why do we have to watch Essendon vs Carlton when both teams suck?

Now: With the Len Hall going national, Freo now have an annual fixture that is uniquely theirs. Also, Freo vs Indigenous all starts, Optus hosting SOO. All this puts Freo and WA in front of Vic eyeballs. This is how you bring about change.

There is more I could highlight, but I am very pleased with what Garlic had to say and in the direction of the club. The club has been in worse shape for much of it's history. The next step is on-field success, but I think that's right around the corner. I, for one, am going to enjoy the ride!

 

[ilikepotatoes]

Anyone able to find an updated rule book for the season?

The 2026 Laws of the game document is lacking multiple rule changes in it.

Or are the rule changes part of the mysterious umpire handbook that is just about impossible to find and relates to interpretation and not the rules themselves?

 

[fnerd]

Regarding garlic….

lol ,quite a few in here I reckon have been happily sold copious amounts of magic beans over their life

 

[Doctor J]

I honestly don’t think JL is trying to keep a handbrake on and wasn’t last season either, we go quick when we can but teams have been able to stop it at times.

Plan A for scoring is go quick when we can and we either get out the back or give our forwards 1v1s.

Plan B if that isn’t on, is to then push numbers up and try to bottle it in (same as the rest of the league).

If we had one more real gun kick, and I mean elite, out of defense it would make a huge difference.

Clark shouldn’t be our number one rebounder, he is a good kick but not at Young/Reid levels.

Got it in one. A key reason we're slow (at times) is that we've only got one good kick from the back line - Clark - and even he's prone to miskicks. Simpson looms as the potential fixer, but he's still inexperienced.

Even those who aren't bad kicks are slow/poor decision makers.

We're generally pretty quick when we get past halfway, cause the skilled players take over.