Prediction 2026 Expectations

[Purpletown]

Luke Beveridge named us alongside Brisbane, Gold Coast and Adelaide as the teams everyone will be trying to catch this year.

Fantastic. Now let's make it happen Freo. It's time to utilise the talent we have.

 

[fnerd]

wHat AboUt GoLd CoaSt

Look, I'm not going to pretend that Gold Coast don't have an insanely talented list. They also have the most recent 'dynasty' coach (3 in 4 years is essentially a threepeat). On top of their absolute rort of academy systems and their millions of draft concessions and millions $$ of AFL money to get around soft caps etc, they've now secured adding Trac and JUH. I'm not stupid - I get it. I see they are a risk to our premiership hopes. But I don't think they can do it before us. In my mind, they are the equivalent of GWS from a few years ago and Freo from 2013-15. They have a fantastic list, a good coach, they are finally starting to taste some success (making finals, 2nd brownlow winner). But they are only just beginning to craft an identity. Until last season, they could barely win a game away from home. For **** sake, they can’t even get their own colours right. What with the all red, Sydney Swans white + red, West Coast yellow + blue, next thing we know they will be turning up in purple.

They have been gifted time and time again ridiculously easy fixtures. When GWS made the grand final and when we made the grand final both of our teams were 'unlucky' that we got caught up in the timings of other dynasty teams. Our inexperience on the day, without cohesive club identities to draw on and relying way too heavily on the Chosen Few in our teams, amounted both clubs to nothing in the end. The dynasty teams that overtook us had spent decades in turmoil searching for the right answers (okay, admittedly Hawks' idea of 'turmoil' is having a cry over only winning 1 premiership in the 90s and none in the noughties). It's almost as though it's time for another club, with a slow burn list, a long term 6+ year stint coach and a fanbase that is frothing at the mouth for success, to come through and pip GC at the post. We know who we are and what we stand for. And we damn well know what we want - that's blood. That's to obliterate our opposition and taste the ultimate success. The players want it, the coaches want and WE are desperate for it. Really, we will be doing Gold Coast a favour when we crush their hopes and dreams. It's called character building.

ah yeeeeaahh

Sooooo….about that whole Gold Coast thingy not being a problem?

 

[theGav56]

Yep, even as someone who still has my doubts over JLo I can't deny that our players have been developed really well to their individual potentials.

Chapman is probably the only one who comes to mind who hasn't reached or surpassed the expectations I had on him as a rookie yet.

It's preseason, but Frederick, Dudley, O'Driscoll and Johnson are players I think seem to have hit plateaus.

 

[King Huskii]

It's preseason, but Frederick, Dudley, O'Driscoll and Johnson are players I think seem to have hit plateaus.

Maybe not Johnson

 

[2big2strom]

ah yeeeeaahh

Sooooo….about that whole Gold Coast thingy not being a problem?

well we wouldn't be able to swoop in and pip them at the post if they weren't a little bit good...

 

[Quay Club]

To continue to move the ball quicker towards goal.

As the stats below show we have changed the way we play, in that the first thought is no longer sideways or back to control the ball.

The fact we now have a lot of marking targets now means we can take the shorter route to goal.

It used to be so frustrating but it is now a plan to take the game on.

Disposals towards goal

2025 - 2nd
2024 - 12th
2023 - 14th
2022 - 14th

 

[Freo Shark]

Dockers’ list ‘best and most balanced’ since GF appearance

Sometimes in sport you can be the best you have ever been, but it doesn’t guarantee the ultimate success, writes Paul Hasleby.

thewest.com.au

Commonsense piece from Hase. I think this team is the most elite talented list we've had. Our GF side was RTB maximising the list. The list was not as full with the naturally elite. We were unlucky with that GF, abit of luck we woulda won that.

Expectations are rising with this list, there are top shelf players throughout the list. Theres not too many Banners (Hes the proverbial RTB player, playing beyond his natural talent). This list is exciting! Just look at Murph hes just bloody rediculously talented. If we keep Murph they will argue who was better Him or Fyfe and Nat was also bloody rediculously good.

We need to win at least one final or make the prelims and turn up at our best.

 

[King Huskii]

Dockers’ list ‘best and most balanced’ since GF appearance

Sometimes in sport you can be the best you have ever been, but it doesn’t guarantee the ultimate success, writes Paul Hasleby.

thewest.com.au

Commonsense piece from Hase. I think this team is the most elite talented list we've had. Our GF side was RTB maximising the list. The list was not as full with the naturally elite. We were unlucky with that GF, abit of luck we woulda won that.

Expectations are rising with this list, there are top shelf players throughout the list. Theres not too many Banners (Hes the proverbial RTB player, playing beyond his natural talent). This list is exciting! Just look at Murph hes just bloody rediculously talented. If we keep Murph they will argue who was better Him or Fyfe and Nat was also bloody rediculously good.

We need to win at least one final or make the prelims and turn up at our best.

We need to sign Murphy long term. He's gonna have every vic team offering him 2 million a season soon.

 

[Paracleet]

We need to sign Murphy long term. He's gonna have every vic team offering him 2 million a season soon.

Luckily we have 4 seasons to convince him to sign.

 

[King Huskii]

Luckily we have 4 seasons to convince him to sign.

I'd rather 10

 

[Mesc]

I'd rather 10

 

[oldgoat]

Luckily we have 4 seasons to convince him to sign.

Its not luck...
In Walls&Co we trust.
THEY inked that contract before WE knew what we got.

 

[Righteo]

Tomorrow is a huge game to determine who gets that second home QF (assuming the Swans don't drop off ofc). That would give us two finals at Optus, which means a prelim at the absolute minimum. If our luck on the injury front holds then that should be the aim from here. I think Jackson as no 1 ruck and Shai into the middle has been truly transformative.

 

[King Huskii]

Tomorrow is a huge game to determine who gets that second home QF (assuming the Swans don't drop off ofc). That would give us two finals at Optus, which means a prelim at the absolute minimum. If our luck on the injury front holds then that should be the aim from here. I think Jackson as no 1 ruck and Shai into the middle has been truly transformative.

Agreed

 

[Hamann188]

What I'm struggling to get past is the the back to back to back 6 day breaks with 2 flights thrown in there for good measure.

It's gunna be a big ask to get a few tired and sore bodies up to scratch for the clash.

Being at Optus is a saving grace, but I'm tempering my expectations. Not exactly brimming with confidence.

Massive test.

 

[King Huskii]

What I'm struggling to get past is the the back to back to back 6 day breaks with 2 flights thrown in there for good measure.

It's gunna be a big ask to get a few tired and sore bodies up to scratch for the clash.

Being at Optus is a saving grace, but I'm tempering my expectations. Not exactly brimming with confidence.

Massive test.

Hawks aren't exactly at funn strength

Should be a close game

 

[Mags98]

What I'm struggling to get past is the the back to back to back 6 day breaks with 2 flights thrown in there for good measure.

It's gunna be a big ask to get a few tired and sore bodies up to scratch for the clash.

Being at Optus is a saving grace, but I'm tempering my expectations. Not exactly brimming with confidence.

Massive test.

JL owns that sniper sam mitchell, just as luke ryan owns that fake wizard.

rinse and repeat, freo win this.

 

[Cesoir]

Hawks aren't exactly at funn strength

This game is not a joke Huskii.

 

[King Huskii]

This game is not a joke Huskii.

Says the guy who accepts mediocrity you campaigner

 

[Cesoir]

Says the guy who accepts mediocrity you campaigner

I think you better have a Snickers bar mate.

 

[King Huskii]

I think you better have a Snickers bar mate.

I'm chill man I'm chill

 

[Cesoir]

I'm chill man I'm chill

Ah, so you've finally chilled out and accepted mediocrity. It is very freeing

 

[BStaff17]

What I'm struggling to get past is the the back to back to back 6 day breaks with 2 flights thrown in there for good measure.

It's gunna be a big ask to get a few tired and sore bodies up to scratch for the clash.

Being at Optus is a saving grace, but I'm tempering my expectations. Not exactly brimming with confidence.

Massive test.

Yep been my concern for 4 weeks this game was the turnarounds would just get us in the Hawks game.

We have taken care of everyone else so in a way as frustrating it would be lose we have enough ground made up from the rest.

Will have to hope Hawks slip up elsewhere down the track.

 

[Quazar2]

I'm concerned about the 6-day turn-arounds. Freo may have come back so the guys can have a sleep in their own beds, but it's a big ask - we're playing footy already....it feels a bit? Too much, too dangerous. I think if Voss is over his sickness and Amiss was quiet last week, we need bigger games from them. Amiss has to start nailing set shots again when he gets them, he missed the lot last week I think?

I guess living on the edge is what life is all about; I'm just not that confident. Hawks are a much superior team to the previous 2 or 3 they just faced, so if any battle-scarred fatigue is there, or anyone's still crook or sore, may get found out. No one has really been rested (who wants to be rested at Round 9? It's a valid point). So I don't know if anyone is banged up a bit and playing through their soreness.

I'm just...not confident. It's Freo - we're mentally anguished from previous disappointments. Obviously, Shai and Jacko and Reid have been turning it on. Young is starting to elevate to that level where he looks uber-elite. But those horrid, nagging; creeping doubts are there, like a devil on the shoulder whilst the angel is gagged and hogtied somewhere......grim imagery. And it's Hawthorn, I hate them and they just have a knack of getting under the skin. Then there's the umps and all that shenanigans. It's an intriguing match up but whatever excitement I had about it has evaporated for some reason.

I guess all I can say is, at home, Thurs night prime-time slot, home crowd buzzing....maybe that's your 'extra man', your x factor? I hope so, but not in any way shape or form confident.

 

[PrancingPony]

They're young athletes at the peak of their fitness in their 20s, I think they can handle a few six day breaks.