2016 Shut the window

[blue shark]

Now that most of the important playmakers are signed up, Pav has agreed till 2015, is the premiership
window closed, and a mini rebuild required for 2016?
Will Freo lose Elvis, Pavlich, Sandi in one hit, like the Aussie cricket team losing Marsh, Lillee, Chappell?
Do we only have two years left to lift the cup?

 

[Cobbler]

Yep it is a difficult one. You can't just replace those types of players. What you hope is the likes of Apeness develops and that by 2016 he is stronger and can become a target. I still have great belief in Taberner, really think he can become an endurance forward who just keeps presenting.

Clarke will naturally take Sandilands spot and Apeness or Hannath will take Clarkes.

McPharlin is a difficult one, but I feel we have Silvagni who is learnnig from the best and Johnson and Zac who will remain.

Our midfield is still relatively young and this is where the real excitement is. Fyfe won't be going backwards nor will Hill and a few others, but the real development of Sutcliffe, Sheridan, Neale could be explosive and at worst no worse then it is now.

What is now known is we aren't a rely on Pav, Sandi or McPharlin team anymore.

So long as the replacements can compete, so will we.

That all said a Frawley type who is ready made, young and could fill a position would help keep the window open for longer.

 

[ilikepotatoes]

Free agency and trades.
Also a few posters seem to have high hopes for A. Pearce.

 

[TheMcManusNose]

I'm not so sure it will hurt that much. Silvagni in for McPharlin, with A.Pearce the smokey. The ruck stocks are there. Really it is all about the Pav. Can Apeness or another recruit become a primary target in the forward line? That is the question that will make or break us in 2016 IMO.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

Free agency and trades.
Also a few posters seem to have high hopes for A. Pearce.

Yep. It would be silly to shut up shop with the midfield we've got. In a year and half's time, Tabs, Apeness, A Pierce could have come on. We could even recruit someone like a Nick Reiwoldt, elite players in the twilight of their careers, who would have immediate impact and buy us time to develop the kids some more.

 

[peppy la pew]

As you are all fully aware 12 months is a long time in football, so predicting where we will be at in 2 years is pointless IMO.

Look at Hawthorn now, they were missing 9 players from last years GF. It all comes down to the development and subtle changes to the list.

Mora is a beast and if fit could be a brand new top 4 pick next year.

The transformation under Rosco has been incredible, I have faith with him at the helm and Bondy looking after the footy dept.

 

[Freomaniac]

Its not just Pav, Sandi and McPharlin I'm worried about. Crowley and Johnson are at the near end of their careers as well and are contracted until the end of 2015. I reckon both will stay until 2016.

We could potentially lose 5 of our best 22 via retirement. It could impact Freo like it did in 2008 or what Carlton went through in that 2002-2004 period.

 

[Clems Knee]

This scenario is probably why McPharlin is likely to finish up this year. Pav the following year, and I reckon Sandilands has at least two more years left in him, if he stays healthy. That way the loss of the big three is staggered, and Fremantle are more able to ease their replacements in.
I also think Crowley will go before Johnson. Crowley's role must take its toll on him as a player; he has commented on getting headaches after every match.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Griffin, Clarke, Silvagni, Ibbotson, Apeness etc. should have all their positions covered in various forms. 2 years extra development in to some of the younger/less experienced guys will be great as well - especially guys like Hannath, Tabener, Wood, Moller etc.

Let's re-visit this thread later on shall we? No use panicking about it now when the club has clearly began addressing a future without "The Big 3"

 

[Cobbler]

I'm not so sure it will hurt that much. Silvagni in for McPharlin, with A.Pearce the smokey. The ruck stocks are there. Really it is all about the Pav. Can Apeness or another recruit become a primary target in the forward line? That is the question that will make or break us in 2016 IMO.

You don't even need a Pav.

Just a big body who competes and if our midfield is healthy that's where our scores will come from and Walters and Ballas.

Not ideal, but not the end of premiership mode either. The end of premiership mode will be when we lose Fyfe, Hill, Walters and co.

I see a good 4-6 years at the top end and that's the sort of window you require to win a premiership.

 

[tofushark]

i don't necessarily subscribe to this, but what genuinely worries me more is the expansion teams. essentially two teams made exclusively of first round picks all hitting their peak at the same time with an expanded salary cap, nothing like this has happened before in the AFL. it is no guarantee but it is a scary prospect.

 

[blue shark]

Yep. It would be silly to shut up shop with the midfield we've got. In a year and half's time, Tabs, Apeness, A Pierce could have come on. We could even recruit someone like a Nick Reiwoldt, elite players in the twilight of their careers, who would have immediate impact and buy us time to develop the kids some more.

This scenario is probably why McPharlin is likely to finish up this year. Pav the following year, and I reckon Sandilands has at least two more years left in him, if he stays healthy. That way the loss of the big three is staggered, and Fremantle are more able to ease their replacements in.
I also think Crowley will go before Johnson. Crowley's role must take its toll on him as a player; he has commented on getting headaches after every match.

Forward line has several options to maintain scoring pressure, Apeness, Tabs, Clarke, Griffen, etc.
Plus the dynamic duo of Balla, Sonny to re-unite.
The backline is the unknown, Pearce, Smith are inexperienced, Silvagni plays a kamikaze style,
may require Mayne to play the swingman role.
We will lose one ruckman this year, but should be a win win for both clubs.

 

[pokerspiv]

i don't necessarily subscribe to this, but what genuinely worries me more is the expansion teams. essentially two teams made exclusively of first round picks all hitting their peak at the same time with an expanded salary cap, nothing like this has happened before in the AFL. it is no guarantee but it is a scary prospect.

They won't be able to hold onto them all unless the AFL doubles their salary cap. Lots of those kids are playing purely to increase the value of their next contract at a different club.

 

[freoextra]

The midfield is always the key so I am hopeful of staying a while, but the talent held at Gold Coast and GWS is scary and thats more my concern.

 

[Cobbler]

The midfield is always the key so I am hopeful of staying a while, but the talent held at Gold Coast and GWS is scary and thats more my concern.

Actually that's a great point.

We don't need to be better then we are now, just better then others.

Gold Coast are going to be scary good in 2 years time. I'd imagine Hawks and Swans will drop off a little as they have many mature bodies who will be retiring.

We really did have an opportunity to 'pinch' one last year. In 2016 it may become difficult, but that's 2 years away and only 2 years ago we had Harvey at the helm, so things change quickly!