Opinion 2015 Adjustments / Improvements / Development

[EastcoastDocker]

On the run 50 out I feel more confident in sutcliffe kicking at goal than hill. Would love to see him play on a wing.

We are so one paced in the middle esp centre square.

Regarding hill it's weird to find his combination of talents. An indigenous kid with great athletic traits, good tank, terrible hands, wonderful kick n seemingly zero footy smarts. He must of the coaches heads in.

 

[Cobbler]

Should we target a couple of the talls from Melbourne who might be tempted to come to a team that will actually win a game. I know I will get slammed for saying this but maybe Watts, Garland, Pedersen, etc. We could put Watts in the back line and maybe turn him around ala Tarrant and at least Roos would trade with us and maybe take Suban, DeBoer, etc unlike trying to trade with people like Malthouse, Eagles, etc who overrate their players so much.

Watts for me. The guy can play and his disposal out of half back would be advantageous.

Is only considered a spud because he was the number 1 pick. Would gladly trade to get him to us.

 

[Cobbler]

Watts only 24 next year.

 

[Grape Bear]

Watts only 24 next year.

i understand the sentiment, but do we really want to take on another mentally scarred player from Melbourne? we haven't even managed to sort out our first one...

 

[Nickos66]

So Out: Spurr?

Yet another moronic overreaction.

Reads objective analytical opinion.

Interprets closed ended negative resolution.

Lambasts poster for something they didn't even remotely suggest.

 

[Grape Bear]

another big question - i wonder if we are drafting sean hurley as an international rookie? athletic tall, with a body that will not take so long to be ready - could be try to develop him as a tall back?

 

[E Shed]

On the run 50 out I feel more confident in sutcliffe kicking at goal than hill. Would love to see him play on a wing.

We are so one paced in the middle esp centre square.

Regarding hill it's weird to find his combination of talents. An indigenous kid with great athletic traits, good tank, terrible hands, wonderful kick n seemingly zero footy smarts. He must of the coaches heads in.

Thats a bit inaccurate. I wouldn't say Hill has terrible hands, is good with a quick handball and not the worst at picking it up cleanly.
He certainly has footy smarts, his reading of the play and ability to kick to advantage is close to the best in the team.
Where he does lack and has been the most disappointing in his development is confidence and aggression to take the game on.
So many times when he's in a tight situation he gives off a panicky handball to someone in no better position. He was the highest rated in his draft camp at agility and has a better first few steps than most yet he never backs himself to run around other players. He will if he gets a few steps and sees clear air back his pace to run and carry but he's to easy to corral by just guarding space. If he backed himself like a Yarran to simply dodge other players he could be 10 times as damaging.
He was uncharacteristically panicky around goal in the finals too. Good on him for taking the shot on the run but he missed by a lot and his other shots on goal he sprayed badly for someone who is such a good kick.
Still he improved a lot this year and will finish high in the B&F. A late bloomer, his best is still ahead and its all in his head as to whether he reaches his full potential.
If it was up to me I would have him spend a fair bit of the pre-season with a sports psychologist getting in his head to take the game on. Force him to train running around players and get it into his game. He still doesn't know how good he is.

 

[Grape Bear]

Thats a bit inaccurate. I wouldn't say Hill has terrible hands, is good with a quick handball and not the worst at picking it up cleanly.
He certainly has footy smarts, his reading of the play and ability to kick to advantage is close to the best in the team.
Where he does lack and has been the most disappointing in his development is confidence and aggression to take the game on.
So many times when he's in a tight situation he gives off a panicky handball to someone in no better position. He was the highest rated in his draft camp at agility and has a better first few steps than most yet he never backs himself to run around other players. He will if he gets a few steps and sees clear air back his pace to run and carry but he's to easy to corral by just guarding space. If he backed himself like a Yarran to simply dodge other players he could be 10 times as damaging.
He was uncharacteristically panicky around goal in the finals too. Good on him for taking the shot on the run but he missed by a lot and his other shots on goal he sprayed badly for someone who is such a good kick.
Still he improved a lot this year and will finish high in the B&F. A late bloomer, his best is still ahead and its all in his head as to whether he reaches his full potential.
If it was up to me I would have him spend a fair bit of the pre-season with a sports psychologist getting in his head to take the game on. Force him to train running around players and get it into his game. He still doesn't know how good he is.

One thing I did notice about Hill this year that I hadn't before is that there were times when he actively pushed back at opponents who went argy-bargy with him. There's a fire there, just needs to be stoked a little bit more.

 

[mike91]

One thing I did notice about Hill this year that I hadn't before is that there were times when he actively pushed back at opponents who went argy-bargy with him. There's a fire there, just needs to be stoked a little bit more.

Hilly seems to be too much of a nice guy on the field, needs more agro in him. When he pushes someone, it needs to come across as 'I'm so much better than you, wtf have you got on me'. Dustin Martin is a good example.

 

[Freomaniac]

Just a chance to go over some holes in our list, analyse some places we need to improve and look into some individuals and there roles.

Just opinions guys, happy to argue them but do it properly and dont be stupid about it.

I'm going to get it rolling with some 1x1 analysis.

Ibbotson - love him, just got to get him fit. Can be better then Johnson in that role.
Spurr - does he really offer anything? Hes tough and courageous for sure, but he doesnt shut down a small forward and doesnt provide any attacking flair.
Sutty - clearly his role isn't a small defender. Is he the Crowley replacement? Ceratinly cant play last line of defense.
Duffield - is he nearly done? do we have a replacement? we need clean creative ball users down back.
Tanner Smith - he really needs to get fit. Needs to play at least 10-12 games to see if he has a future.
Crozier - should play 22 games next year and imo needs to rotate through midfield.
Sheridan - buid that tank and prove yourself son. Can he play half back? If not i would like to see his form push Pearce out of the side.
Taberner - his injury killed us structurally saturday night, so needs to play round 1 and all year. Just needs to get stronger.
Apeness - would like to see him play 10-12 games. Think he needs to develop into a Tippett type that can pinch in ruck. Playing 2 rucks every week seems to be hurting us.

Needs -
Shut down small defender.
Creative runners across half back. (see Kangaroos)
Established swingman that can plug in and replace Pav, Silvagni or Johnson at a pinch. (see Waite)

I dont mind most of your post...

If McPharlins gone I want Tanner Smith and Alex Pearce/Vandeleur to rotate the 3rd tall defender spot and get 10 games each for the next 2 years.

I want Tabs and the Ape to get 5-10 games each rotating the key forward spot too. I am curious to see what Duffy and Grey can offer next season.

 

[duncs]

I may be reading too much into it, but in the post game presser, when Ross mentioned getting in a bona fide free agent to boost the list, it sounded like he was very confident of this. Past seasons have seen D Pearce, Goddard do all the work before the free agency period and announce it straight away, what's the chances we've actually got someone lined up already?

 

[free at last]

I may be reading too much into it, but in the post game presser, when Ross mentioned getting in a bona fide free agent to boost the list, it sounded like he was very confident of this. Past seasons have seen D Pearce, Goddard do all the work before the free agency period and announce it straight away, what's the chances we've actually got someone lined up already?

Waite?

 

[beetz]

I may be reading too much into it, but in the post game presser, when Ross mentioned getting in a bona fide free agent to boost the list, it sounded like he was very confident of this. Past seasons have seen D Pearce, Goddard do all the work before the free agency period and announce it straight away, what's the chances we've actually got someone lined up already?

Who though? More heat should be on the personnel we have. Time for the 2nd/3rd/4th year players to step up to another level.

 

[ilikepotatoes]

what was wrong with sutty last night?

Tabs didn't get injuried he just sucked.

He came off with an injured groin/hip.

 

[Wizard]

Any comments re my thoughts on guys like Duff & Sherro?

 

[beetz]

My biggest gripe with Hill is that he has no right foot!

 

[E Shed]

My biggest gripe with Hill is that he has no right foot!

well then you don't watch closely enough. He's a perfectly serviceable kick on his right. Better than the rest of the lefties.
You may be thinking of Pearce or Walters. Crozier has a right too.

 

[Nickos66]

I thought it was Suban with no right foot? And that Walters was a natural off either..?

 

[beetz]

well then you don't watch closely enough. He's a perfectly serviceable kick on his right. Better than the rest of the lefties.
You may be thinking of Pearce or Walters. Crozier has a right too.

Nope, Stephen Hill and disagree with your comments. Sure his left is probably one of if not the best in the comp and rightly so for him to always want to get on that side but times when he must use his right he flinches and looks for any other option but. Often fluffing it up.

One example at 2:55

 

[Wizard]

I thought it was Suban with no right foot? And that Walters was a natural off either..?

Suban and his lack of a right cost us dearly in a hugely important moment Saturday night.

 

[The Speaker]

Nope, Stephen Hill and disagree with your comments. Sure his left is probably one of if not the best in the comp and rightly so for him to always want to get on that side but times when he must use his right he flinches and looks for any other option but. Often fluffing it up.

One example at 2:55

There's a difference between not wanting to use your right and not being able to. He kicked it on his right against Port in a tight situation.

 

[beetz]

There's a difference between not wanting to use your right and not being able to. He kicked it on his right against Port in a tight situation.

I fail to see how he was unable to but anyway, he is an absolute gun, had a career year and can't wait for his continual development but that's just what I have noticed on the odd occasion as he is becoming smart enough to not put himself in that position.

 

[electricfeel]

Suban and D.Pearce are the players that definitely don't have a right foot and often get caught out because of it. Hill isn't too bad.

 

[beetz]

THE TAKE A BOW/GET OFF MY BACK/CARRIED THE TEAM GROUP
- Sandilands
- Pav
- Fyfe
- Mzungu
- Barlow

No comments required, enough said.

THE WELL PLAYED/SERVICEABLE HOWEVER ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT GROUP - things to work on over summer but otherwise great 2014.

- Sutcliffe: Decision making
- Neale: Disposal by foot
- Hill: Shaking the tag (almost there though)
- Spurr: Defensive pressure
- Mundy: Needs to get back to his 2013 form.
- Crowley: Getting involved when Freo are attacking
- Duffield
- Ballantyne: Not getting reported
- Johnson: Below his best due to injuries would expect to bounce back in 2015
- D.Pearce: Disposal accuracy
- Dawson: Brain farts

THE INJURIES/DEPTH HURT PUT THEM OFF THIS YEAR BUT LIKE WHAT I SAW GROUP
- Ibbotson: Such a good player when he can string some games together
- Silvagni: Maintaining his spot in the team will only make him an even better defender
- Mayne: Well below his best, apparently carrying an injury. Needs to get back to being a 40+ goal kicker though.
- Walters: Just keep doing what you're doing. Goal kicking accuracy could improve.
- C.Pearce

THE CAUSE FOR EXCITEMENT GROUP
- Crozier
- Taberner
- Duffy
- Morabito

THE PLEASE EXPLAIN / ARE YOU WITH US OR NOT GROUP
- De boer
- Suban
- Sheridan
- Clarke
- Simpson
- Sylvia

 

[StingBitten]

I feel that Fremantle goes through cycles or 'Generations' as much as society, consciousness evolves through different periods of time.

The first age or 'Generation' of Fremantle players included the inaugural team and continued through to around 2000-2001. The beginning of this time period bred guys like Allan, Kickett, McManus, Waterhouse, Callaghan and finished with guys like Pavlich, Bell, Grover, Black, Haselby, Parker and Cook,

The second age or Generation is interchangeable with the end of the first age; in that Pavlich etc simultaneously heralded the end of the first age and initiated the second age. The second age truly began around 2002 and fired through to the end of 2007. The beginning of this age bred the end of generation one players and the new breed - McPharlin, Sandilands, Farmer, the Carr brothers and towards the end guys like Crowley, Mundy, Johnson, McPhee and Duffield.

The third age began with the mass retirings of 2nd Gens and some 1st Gen lingerers - and the introduction of the Class of 08. The third generation consists of players like Fyfe, Hill, Barlow, Walters, Ballantyne, Mayne, Morabito, Clarke, Ibbotson, Suban, De Boer - the middle period yielded Neale, Sutcliffe, Mzungu, Spurr - and now in the twilight phase of the 3rd Gen we've uncovered Crozier, Sheridan, Taberner and arguably a couple of other roughies (Duffy, Hannath, Apeness etc).

The whole idea of this existential-mess is to point out that as cycles come to an end, we are now coming to the end of the third Age of Fremantle. Next year will either represent the final 3rd-Gen installment, or will mark the new and exciting Fourth Age of Fremantle. As mentioned previously, the Ages of Fremantle can 'overlap' as seen with 1st and 2nd Generation - unfortunately it is noticeable that when one Age has ended and another begins - i.e. 2000-2002 or 2007-2009 we have experienced severe turmoil.

I don't think this will happen as we move into the new Age of Fremantle - after 20 years of Football we've managed to move the pieces well. Our Captain, the lone figure from the 1st Age of Fremantle, a collection of battle-hardened 2nd Gens, some incredibly elite and experienced 3rd gens coming into their prime and exciting late-3rd Gen prospects - what we need now is the new class of 08 - the class of '14 that brings our new elite fleet, the new fourth Age of Fremantle - the future of our club; the new chemistry that will win us our first Flag.

Draft well Ross.