2007 - Disaster, or not?

[Jetau]

Well, what can we make of this train wreck of a season?

The facts are in: 10 wins, 12 losses. We will finish 11th or 12th on the ladder.

Of those 10 wins, only 2 of them were away from home (Melbourne and Adelaide). That's a 2-8 away record.

At home, we were 8-4 (includes both derbies - I realise one is a Weagles home game). While 8-4 sounds OK, it's not really good enough. Losses to Port and the Kangaroos probably hurt the most.

So, why did it happen?

Injuries and suspension have played a major part, for sure. The list of players below would all be in our best 22 players, IMO. Take a look at this list of games missed:

Longmuir (20 - serious knee injury - possibly career ending )
Schammer (15 - missed most of the season because of botched appendix operation)
Farmer (14 - 12 through suspension )
Peake (12 - 2 broken collarbones)
Sandilands (7 - injury)
Dodd (6 - various injuries + suspension)
Headland (5 - hamstring/knee ?)
Black (5 - injuries)
Johnson (4 - suspension, then played every game from Round 5)

That's a grand total of 88 games missed. I would have thought that most of these guys would have been up and running during our 9 game winning streak at the end of last season.

We only had 5 players play all 22 games (Mundy, Bell, Hayden, Pavlich, McManus) and of those, Bell is likely to retire, and IMO McManus should be shown the door as well.

In addition to games missed through injury and suspension, the following players seem to have gone backwards in 2007, or at least didn't live up to expectations:

Murphy (trade ASAP)
Tarrant (good at times, but was he worth a four year deal? Not on last night's performance )
Mundy (debatable - personally I think he was pretty good, but definitely not up to his 2006 vintage)
Hasleby (all of a sudden, seems to be potential trade bait. I would keep him)
Crowley (he was MUCH better in 06)
Johnson (not everyone may agree with this, but I think he's been a bit of a disappointment in 2007).


Positives

OK, there was some good things as well. Here's my list of what went right in 2007:

Headland. Easily his best year for Freo.
Hayden. Played all 22 games, and back to his form of 2003.
Pavlich. 72 goals, will finish 2nd in the Coleman and would have won it but for inaccuracy (at times) and general unselfishness. I would like to know how many he gave to teammates this year.
Solomon. Absolute revelation. Bargain basement pickup - laid 107 tackles in 20 games, and also won more free kicks than any other Freo player (33).
Gilmore - went from a possible delisting to easily best 22 in the space of half a season.
Warnock - looks very agile for a big fella - needs to bulk up over summer.
Foster - 3 games, and looks like a player for the future.
O'Brien - just one game, but it was a good one. Let's hope he isn't a one-game wonder.

Then there are the players who performed about to expectations during 2007:

Bell
McManus (time's up Macca)
McPharlin
Grover (rock solid - just about my favourite player)
J Carr
M Carr
Black
Dodd - (actually he is close to my 'most improved' list)
Sandilands
Thornton (very good last night)
Peake (cruelled by injury)
Walker (delist - a waste of 10 games that could have been given to the young brigade)
Cook
Farmer (very good when available)
Parker (maybe played one season too many)
Webster (fringe player - may struggle in 2008)
Duffield (slight disappointment IMO)
Browne
Campbell (showed something at times - way more than Murphy did )
Drum
Collard
Dunn
Ibbotson

Conclusion


Terrible season overall. Discipline problems seemed to run rife, especially surrounding the debacle in Darwin, also before round 22. Coach got sacked mid-year, and Harvey has done an excellent job so far, especially regarding discipline. One wonders whether we will need to take one step back to take two steps forward. I think we should have a policy of developing our younger players by exposing them to the big time in 2008. We especially need some quick on ballers. I would trade Murphy for sure, and shop Hasleby around (but only trade him for another quality midfielder or first round draft picks). I think a first round draft pick for Hase would be acceptable, and a second round pick for Murphy.

So, do you agree or disagree with the above? Where did we go wrong in 2007, and what prospect do we have of turning it around in 2008?

NOTE: Fremantle supporters only, please! I don't care what you Weavil supporters have to say.

 

[Belnakor]

We had a fanastic run with injury in the first part of the season.. lets not kid ourselves. And that was where we lost the season. The Port and Kanga's games were the "ones that got away" teams who deserve to make the finals don't lose those type of games.

 

[collo21]

disaster or not? if thats not a loaded question i don't know what is!

Our season was the biggest disaster imaginable. i was not expecting the cup but i was hoping for a competitive season with the chance to play more finals.

i stand by my previous posts in saying that Connolly is a very good coach!
and lets face it this is how the season would have played out with Chris still there.

the only way the season could have been worse is if we were to win the spoon but still then, at least we get the best pick!

ill be there next year as i have been every other one!

i'm a sucker for punishment

 

[sumavich]

disaster or not? if thats not a loaded question i don't know what is!

Our season was the biggest disaster imaginable. i was not expecting the cup but i was hoping for a competitive season with the chance to play more finals.

i stand by my previous posts in saying that Connolly is a very good coach!
and lets face it this is how the season would have played out with Chris still there.

the only way the season could have been worse is if we were to win the spoon but still then, at least we get the best pick!

ill be there next year as i have been every other one!

i'm a sucker for punishment

Connolly is not a good coach. That is why he won't have a Head Job after the year, when there were 3 opportunities. Harvey on the other hand .....

 

[Milenko]

Connolly is not a good coach. That is why he won't have a Head Job after the year, when there were 3 opportunities. Harvey on the other hand .....

Head Job. Hyuk hyuk.

 

[dominguez]

The year has definately been a disaster. While injuries to players in our best 22 have hurt us, we were still able to field a strong side on paper each week. In many of our losses we had a lead in the third quarter and didn't go on with it, the good sides would have got over the line in atleast a couple of those games.

 

[Lach72]

Well it certainly hasn't been good...

But things have changed at the top and we'll see what that brings

 

[wehavethepassion]

It has been afailure because of not finishing in the top 6 at least.

I think it was an attitude thing - thought it was going to happen in 2007 like the run to the finals in 2006. Teh dockers had budgeted for at least 5 away wins similar to 2006 and 2005 fell way short.

The chasing pack have improved ie port/colonwood/kangas/hawks/cats we needed to improve by the little bit more- we didn't.

I think also 2006 masked our achilles heel- our midfield.

 

[sumavich]

It'll be a disaster if we don't get Harvey !

 

[Borry]

Yes, 2007 was a disaster. We headed into the season second favourites for the flag after storming into the top four last year and we did not spend one week in the top eight all year.

Our lack of brainpower in the midfield is killing us. It's too slow. Players cough up the ball under pressure when they have to make a quick decision and when they make the 'right' decision it's too late (they take too much time with the ball). Player positioning is still poor.

 

[Peel Supporter]

It was bad, but it would become a disaster if we don't learn from it and repeat the mistakes of the past.
The discipline of dropping the six players was a first, will it be the start of "winning culture" as opposed to "trying hard culture"? Hope so.
Just the idea of winning games as top priority and not "the journey".
The introduction of new blood ie Foster was a positive. I can't recall the last time a rookie listed player played seniors and looked the part from the start - can anyone else remember who did?
It seems there may be a cleanout of CC's protected players. Be it a reality check or a DCM notice is not relevant.
The support staff seem to have been put on notice too, and some may move on.
Let's not try to solve our problems by trading, lets develop Foster, Collard, O'Brien and bring them on. A history of trying to attract big names ie Modra, Croad and Tarrant has been a limited success at best.
Turn Subi back into a fortress, lesser lists have made this happen.
Do the hard thing to win away, then we will be there when it matters, not making up numbers.

GO DOCKERS!

 

[sumavich]

It was bad, but it would become a disaster if we don't learn from it and repeat the mistakes of the past.
The discipline of dropping the six players was a first, will it be the start of "winning culture" as opposed to "trying hard culture"? Hope so.
Just the idea of winning games as top priority and not "the journey".
The introduction of new blood ie Foster was a positive. I can't recall the last time a rookie listed player played seniors and looked the part from the start - can anyone else remember who did?
It seems there may be a cleanout of CC's protected players. Be it a reality check or a DCM notice is not relevant.
The support staff seem to have been put on notice too, and some may move on.
Let's not try to solve our problems by trading, lets develop Foster, Collard, O'Brien and bring them on. A history of trying to attract big names ie Modra, Croad and Tarrant has been a limited success at best.
Turn Subi back into a fortress, lesser lists have made this happen.
Do the hard thing to win away, then we will be there when it matters, not making up numbers.

GO DOCKERS!

This is on the money !! Get a good draft pick, and maybe another one if Haze wants $420 a year (R u kidding Haselby) ! Put the wiz on the most conditional contract in the world and develop what we've got !!

 

[Jetau]

@ Peel Supporter - from memory, I think Duffield was the last rookie listed player to make a big impression from the start. He looked awesome in his first few games. Not sure what's happened to him lately...

 

[wehavethepassion]

It was bad, but it would become a disaster if we don't learn from it and repeat the mistakes of the past.
The discipline of dropping the six players was a first, will it be the start of "winning culture" as opposed to "trying hard culture"? Hope so.
Just the idea of winning games as top priority and not "the journey".
The introduction of new blood ie Foster was a positive. I can't recall the last time a rookie listed player played seniors and looked the part from the start - can anyone else remember who did?
It seems there may be a cleanout of CC's protected players. Be it a reality check or a DCM notice is not relevant.
The support staff seem to have been put on notice too, and some may move on.
Let's not try to solve our problems by trading, lets develop Foster, Collard, O'Brien and bring them on. A history of trying to attract big names ie Modra, Croad and Tarrant has been a limited success at best.
Turn Subi back into a fortress, lesser lists have made this happen.
Do the hard thing to win away, then we will be there when it matters, not making up numbers.

GO DOCKERS!

Ryan crowley promoted from rookie list part of the way thru 2005 and was very good.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Disaster. Unmitigated.

I was actually feeling sick in my stomach watching the Roos taking apart the Dogs this afternoon.... our boys should be playing next week, not getting ready for an end of season piss-up (to follow the pre-end-of-season piss-up they had last week... ).

I know I've been yabbing on about all the "inconsequential" stuff... but it's all just to keep my mind off the fact that we have sucked so badly this year.... some of it has been bad luck, much of it has been self-inflicted - but I'm sick of the underachievement and all-round suckiness we have showed for 90% of our existence.... Sure it was fun in the beginning, when we had no expectations - and we could laugh at how craptacular we were but still have a good time... but it's not like that anymore (thanks to CC)... and I know I certainly wasn't buying into that whole "Premiership favourites" thing... but not for one second did I think that we would not even make the finals.

I just hope Harvey continues on with his good work (signature on contract might be a good place to start). Reward the blokes playing well and doing the right thing - and off to the WAFL with you if your form slips or you're being a w***er and breaking team rules. Club and team come first, individual comes a long way behind.

Yes, there are a few things we need to focus on to keep us form going stir crazy with frustration.... Foster, O'Brien and Warnock all look at home on the big stage. Drum and Ibbotson are class players - and we will likely add a ready-to-go midfielder (even if it's not Palmer or Masten) in this year's draft. Sandi will come back firing, Schammer will be chomping at the bit after his ruined year this year, Johnno and Mundy are still only 22 with upside, Pav and McPharlin are still only 25 with their best years ahead of them, and Solly has been a revelation and an awesome trade for us....

But by cripes this year has been crap. Disaster is the only way to describe it really....

 

[DOCKER MAN]

@ Peel Supporter - from memory, I think Duffield was the last rookie listed player to make a big impression from the start. He looked awesome in his first few games. Not sure what's happened to him lately...

He has been good but the crap old guys like Matt Carr are holding a spot in the side they don't deserve ahead of him

 

[Ripper]

Disaster. Unmitigated.

I was actually feeling sick in my stomach watching the Roos taking apart the Dogs this afternoon.... our boys should be playing next week, not getting ready for an end of season piss-up (to follow the pre-end-of-season piss-up they had last week... ).

I know I've been yabbing on about all the "inconsequential" stuff... but it's all just to keep my mind off the fact that we have sucked so badly this year.... some of it has been bad luck, much of it has been self-inflicted - but I'm sick of the underachievement and all-round suckiness we have showed for 90% of our existence.... Sure it was fun in the beginning, when we had no expectations - and we could laugh at how craptacular we were but still have a good time... but it's not like that anymore (thanks to CC)... and I know I certainly wasn't buying into that whole "Premiership favourites" thing... but not for one second did I think that we would not even make the finals.

I just hope Harvey continues on with his good work (signature on contract might be a good place to start). Reward the blokes playing well and doing the right thing - and off to the WAFL with you if your form slips or you're being a w***er and breaking team rules. Club and team come first, individual comes a long way behind.

Yes, there are a few things we need to focus on to keep us form going stir crazy with frustration.... Foster, O'Brien and Warnock all look at home on the big stage. Drum and Ibbotson are class players - and we will likely add a ready-to-go midfielder (even if it's not Palmer or Masten) in this year's draft. Sandi will come back firing, Schammer will be chomping at the bit after his ruined year this year, Johnno and Mundy are still only 22 with upside, Pav and McPharlin are still only 25 with their best years ahead of them, and Solly has been a revelation and an awesome trade for us....

But by cripes this year has been crap. Disaster is the only way to describe it really....

Mostly agree with that although it is the shakeout We probably needed to have to go forward.

I am confident We will look back on 2007 as the "turning point" where We as a club (supporters included) finally grew up.

 

[Jetau]

Yep, it was a disaster from where I stand (or sit, in actual fact )

At least Pavlich didn't leave. I was dreading this happening. The Pav has a couple of critics (hands up, please) by my assertion is that we would be a rabble without him.

I wonder what effect this abysmal season will have on membership numbers? You would think it would definitely go backwards in 2008. My wife and I signed up for the first time in 2007, and thus we are up in block 317, which appears to be full of first year members such as ourselves. Let me tell you - there are a high number of bandwagoners up there - many of whom couldn't be bothered going to the games in the second half of the year. I would suggest that many of those 'supporters' won't be renewing their memberships. Good riddance.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Yep, it was a disaster from where I stand (or sit, in actual fact )

At least Pavlich didn't leave. I was dreading this happening. The Pav has a couple of critics (hands up, please) by my assertion is that we would be a rabble without him.

I wonder what effect this abysmal season will have on membership numbers? You would think it would definitely go backwards in 2008. My wife and I signed up for the first time in 2007, and thus we are up in block 317, which appears to be full of first year members such as ourselves. Let me tell you - there are a high number of bandwagoners up there - many of whom couldn't be bothered going to the games in the second half of the year. I would suggest that many of those 'supporters' won't be renewing their memberships. Good riddance.

My parents live in Busselton, and signed up for the first time this year. Due to a number of reasons (o/s travel, distance, illness), they actually only managed to get to 4 games this year:

1. Port
2. Derby I
3. Kangaroos
4. Geelong




Poor them. They've decided to give it a miss next year. Bloody bandwagonners...

 

[Jetau]

IP, are you saying they saw all the losses and no wins? You'd have thought it was 2001 again. There should be an option to 'sell back' your seat to the club if you know in advance that you can't make it...

 

[ImperialPurple]

4 games for 4 losses....

Just as well they have decided not to join next year because I have forbidden them from ever attending another game...


They shared their cards around so the seats were never empty.

 

[shibz_1989]

IP, are you saying they saw all the losses and no wins? You'd have thought it was 2001 again. There should be an option to 'sell back' your seat to the club if you know in advance that you can't make it...

Yeah, there was a WC member on the train yesterday who was saying how she thought it was odd we don't do that. I tend to agree, because I'm a member with about 7 other people and I think there was only one game this season when all the original members attended together. We always had at least one spare ticket, and I knew quite a few people who'd want to attend but couldn't. I'm actually considering moving my seat somewhere else, the cheersquad is driving me nuts. So sick of cheering, and having people who sit behind me saying "there's nothing to cheer about" when we're down.

 

[Jetau]

Anyone want to take a guess as to how many members will pull the pin before 2008? I am guessing that most of the established members will put up with the 'craptacular' performance for another year, but some of the new members will have had enough already.

I think we will drop around 2000 members before next year.

 

[theGav56]

I think we will drop around 2000 members before next year.

Not if we trade all our draft picks and a couple of young guys, and manage to snare Fevola!

 

[Jetau]

You are kidding, I hope?