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2023 - A year of regression before the final ascent...

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Brayshaw is a good inside mid. A few years ago Alistair Clarkson was calling him the best inside mid in the comp for a period early in a season. In his presser after round 1 this year, Ross Lyon was pleased to point out the Saints had reduced Brayshaw’s influence on the game in comparison to previous recent Freo v saint games. It seems to me the good coaches are making a point of limiting Brayshaw’s influence: number of clearances, inside 50s, score involvements. We seem to lack a midfield mix that can pick up Brayshaw’s slack when his influence is reduced. And on Friday night we were bullied into submission by bigger, stronger, more experienced midfielders. Now, Longmuir needs to adapt, can he get us winning clearances and contested possession again this year? If not, Melbourne are laughing all the way to the draft.
 
I was against trading for JOM, but I’ve changed my mind. Played onball in 2021 and was very good. Sam Mitchell moved him off the ball this year and his numbers dropped. He played onball against us and was exceptional.

I’m not sure we’ll drop down the ladder. At lot will depend on Treacy, Amiss, Taberner being fit and in form.

If they fire we’ll move up the ladder, if they falter we’ll drop. Also a lot riding on A.Pearce and Cox staying fit. Hopefully Hamling fires up for some much needed depth.

Disagree with myself. Should have stuck with my guns, JOM is an abysmal fail.

Right on the rest, except the worst nightmare has happened, Taberner, Pearce, Treacy not firing and Cox / Amiss doing OK.
 

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Yea except they didn’t trade away their future 1st and 2nd rounders

in fact they drafted Jackson with their first that year , along with kozzie and rivers - all of who played in their gf triumph 2 years later.
1st off we ain't Carlton.

I remember Carlton being garbage in 2002-07. They were hamstrung in 2002-4 as they had no 1st and 2nd round picks with that 1998-2000 salary cap scandal.

Yeah we got no 2023 1st and 2nd rounder. But we have a fair amount of youth drafted between 2016-19.

So there is very little chance we end up like Carlton of 2002-08.

I am looking at the short term view and long term view.

Short term view is we are likely to miss out on finals in 2023. 9th to 12 placed finish.

Long term view.... Nothing is assured. I am not saying dockers will win a flag in this period. But this playing list is good enough to contest for finals and make finals for 3-6 years.
 
1st off we ain't Carlton.

I remember Carlton being garbage in 2002-07. They were hamstrung in 2002-4 as they had no 1st and 2nd round picks with that 1998-2000 salary cap scandal.

Yeah we got no 2023 1st and 2nd rounder. But we have a fair amount of youth drafted between 2016-19.

So there is very little chance we end up like Carlton of 2002-08.

I am looking at the short term view and long term view.

Short term view is we are likely to miss out on finals in 2023. 9th to 12 placed finish.

Long term view.... Nothing is assured. I am not saying dockers will win a flag in this period. But this playing list is good enough to contest for finals and make finals for 3-6 years.
I just don’t see that killer instinct at Freo to dominate the league.
We need another assistant or head of coaching who is dog hungry, and wants players in the team with this attitude.
Some hard decisions have to be made and it looks like we are rudderless.
 

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With the trade period done and dusted it's time to reflect on where the list sits, what we were seeking to achieve and how close we are to the ever elusive maiden premiership.

I am pleased Fremantle's hierarchy identified the need to bolster the inside mid brigade, Brodie was a pleasant surprise in 2022 and will continue to build in 2023. What became more and more glaring as the year rolled on was our over reliance on Mundy to win inside ball and drive field position. Acquiring JOM will alleviate the burden on Serong/Brodie and allow Fyfe the flexibility to roll forward. With Raz and Johnson still needing a few pre-seasons to be AFL ready, when it counts, this was a pleasing acquisition.

The greatest upside of this trade is we no longer need to run Andy Brayshaw from the centre square. He just isn't capable of being a force in there and held us back, on occassion, in the two finals this year. He is much better suited as an outside runner and will be an upgrade on Acres on the wing. This is Andy's best position and will allow him to blow up his opponent, hold his width and deliver the ball inside 50.

Jackson, will improve our dynamicism from the centre-square, he is capable of roving his own tap and pushing through traffic. Too often we exited laterally, slowly and allowed opposition defenses to roll with our ball movement. Hopefully Jaeger can burst from stoppage as well. The removal of Brayshaw from the starting CB team will show up the more JOM/FYFE, Serong, Brodie with Jackson and Darcy find their groove. Corbett might be a nice guy, but he's largely irrelevant and cover - whole lot of meh on his acquisition, hopefully he proves me wrong, though, I am never wrong.

One of the unfortunate realities of a high attrition rate is the requirement to re-train running patterns, stoppage set ups and internal chemistry. We have shipped out/retired 4 genuine starters, 2 consistent rotational players, and will now inject a two starters.

Amiss is the key to our progression, he along with the emergence of another key forward (my great hope for Jackson) will decide if we mount the summit, but it will not be in 23.

The type of synergy that is necessary intra team is not concocted over-night, one may pre-season will not be enough. This group will need to gel and bond, on field and off.

For me, whilst we may have lost our leading goal-kicker campaigner lord, a top 10 B&F player, an AA calibre winger and fuzzy haired swing man, I've never been more bullish on the state of our list, whilst cautiously aware that synergy takes time to create.

We are almost there.
in retrospect. this is brilliant
 
well I hope the dockers make finals in 2024. If not, it would be a bad season and Justin Longmuir sacked.
 

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2023 - A year of regression before the final ascent...

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