Mega Thread 2026 Media & Miscellaneous Thread

[Tonga Bob]

Another year is upon us.

Reminder of the site-wide rules: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/please-read-re-copyright-posting-newspaper-articles.1389553/

And here's the 2025 thread: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/2025-media-miscellaneous-thread.1391114/

 

[pK75]

and …….. go!

 

[Big Animal]

The numbers that will unveil this year's premiership contenders

We take a look at statistics indicating which teams are primed to contend in 2026..

www.zerohanger.com

saw this. makes sense why we recruited another good young HB rebounder, and all the draftees are goal kicking pressure forwards/halfs to hopefully improve in at least two of those areas we are deficient in.

 

[Paracleet]

The numbers that will unveil this year's premiership contenders

We take a look at statistics indicating which teams are primed to contend in 2026..

www.zerohanger.com

saw this. makes sense why we recruited another good young HB rebounder, and all the draftees are goal kicking pressure forwards/halfs to hopefully improve in at least two of those areas we are deficient in.

Not sure agree with their idea to rule a team as a 'pretender' based on comparisons with premiers premiership years. Shouldn't they be comparing it with the year or two before their first? E.g. What was Richmond's ball retention, transition effectiveness and scores from forward half turnovers in 2016?

This is not just because they singled us out either: Nuthin gets my dander up so much lazy use of lagging indicators as leading.

 

[Big Animal]

Not sure agree with their idea to rule a team as a 'pretender' based on comparisons with premiers premiership years. Shouldn't they be comparing it with the year or two before their first? E.g. What was Richmond's ball retention, transition effectiveness and scores from forward half turnovers in 2016?

This is not just because they singled us out either: Nuthin gets my dander up so much lazy use of lagging indicators as leading.

It's a good point. I just found it interesting that the areas of trading/drafting seemed to match our areas of weakness with respect of those stats quite well. Surely, having McVee and Simpson instead of a Clark focus will assist in transitioning out of the back half, and at least one of the many forward/halfs drafted should prove to be a winner, or at the least get a few more % out of the current lot due to competition for spots.

i did my own research:

Scoring from front-half turnover:
Rich cup 2017, 5th in 2016

Scoring from turnover (couldn't find just front-half):
2017 cup Rich - 3rd in 2017, ? in 2016 (Freo last - Lyon)
2018 cup WCE - 3rd in 2018, 15th in 2017 (Freo 15th - Lyon)
2019 cup Rich - 1st in 2019, 1st in 2018 (Freo 17th - Lyon)
2020 cup Rich - 1st in 2020, 1st in 2019 (Freo 15th - JLo)
2021 cup Melb - 4th in 2021, 11th in 2020 (Freo last- JLo)
2022 cup Geel - 2nd in 2022, 6th in 2021 (Freo 13th- JLo)
2023 cup Coll - 6th in 2023, 5th in 2022 (Freo 13th- JLo)
2024 cup bris - 2nd in 2024, 2nd in 2023 (Freo 10th- JLo)
2025 cup bris - 4th in 2025, 2nd in 2024 (Freo 9th- JLo)

Retention Rating:
2022 cup Geel - 1st in 2022, 6th in 2021 (Freo 15th)
2023 cup Coll - 4th in 2023, 7th in 2022 (Freo 8th)
2024 cup bris - 1st in 2024, 5th in 2023 (Freo 8th)
2025 cup bris - 6th in 2025, 1st in 2024 (Freo 17th)

Transition D50 to F50:
2022 cup Geel - 6th in 2022, 5th in 2021 (Freo 16th)
2023 cup Coll - 6th in 2023, 8th in 2022 (Freo 17th)
2024 cup bris - 1st in 2024, 4th in 2023 (Freo 8th)
2025 cup bris - 3rd in 2025, 1st in 2024 (Freo 11th)

so obv scoring from turnover and retention are important.
And we consistently suck at a lot of seemingly important stats.
in 2025 we were good in the ruck and contested possessions according to the many team stats available and pretty average or poor compared to everyone else in all of the others.

 

[Tonga Bob]

Vote for your favourite game preview of 2025 here: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/season-2025-game-previews.1392502/

Or else.

 

[thistimeforsure]

It's a good point. I just found it interesting that the areas of trading/drafting seemed to match our areas of weakness with respect of those stats quite well. Surely, having McVee and Simpson instead of a Clark focus will assist in transitioning out of the back half, and at least one of the many forward/halfs drafted should prove to be a winner, or at the least get a few more % out of the current lot due to competition for spots.

i did my own research:

Scoring from front-half turnover:
Rich cup 2017, 5th in 2016

Scoring from turnover (couldn't find just front-half):
2017 cup Rich - 3rd in 2017, ? in 2016 (Freo last - Lyon)
2018 cup WCE - 3rd in 2018, 15th in 2017 (Freo 15th - Lyon)
2019 cup Rich - 1st in 2019, 1st in 2018 (Freo 17th - Lyon)
2020 cup Rich - 1st in 2020, 1st in 2019 (Freo 15th - JLo)
2021 cup Melb - 4th in 2021, 11th in 2020 (Freo last- JLo)
2022 cup Geel - 2nd in 2022, 6th in 2021 (Freo 13th- JLo)
2023 cup Coll - 6th in 2023, 5th in 2022 (Freo 13th- JLo)
2024 cup bris - 2nd in 2024, 2nd in 2023 (Freo 10th- JLo)
2025 cup bris - 4th in 2025, 2nd in 2024 (Freo 9th- JLo)

Retention Rating:
2022 cup Geel - 1st in 2022, 6th in 2021 (Freo 15th)
2023 cup Coll - 4th in 2023, 7th in 2022 (Freo 8th)
2024 cup bris - 1st in 2024, 5th in 2023 (Freo 8th)
2025 cup bris - 6th in 2025, 1st in 2024 (Freo 17th)

Transition D50 to F50:
2022 cup Geel - 6th in 2022, 5th in 2021 (Freo 16th)
2023 cup Coll - 6th in 2023, 8th in 2022 (Freo 17th)
2024 cup bris - 1st in 2024, 4th in 2023 (Freo 8th)
2025 cup bris - 3rd in 2025, 1st in 2024 (Freo 11th)

so obv scoring from turnover and retention are important.
And we consistently suck at a lot of seemingly important stats.
in 2025 we were good in the ruck and contested possessions according to the many team stats available and pretty average or poor compared to everyone else in all of the others.

We should definitely bring in a couple more ruckmen and maybe another KPF

 

[Quay Club]

Looking forward to the Prime 4 part series Final Siren Inside the AFL starting on Feb 27th.

Fyfe features prominently in it apparantley.

It's by the same people who did the F1 documentary.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1460999

 

[anchor man]

A couple of Aussie former Sheffield shield, players have travelled back to England under dual citizen ships.
Sam Whiteman, former WA captain, and one time glove man that was touted as a certain keeper for Australia until he broke finger/fingers. Something he never recovered from. A very good batsman.
With the disaster of the Ashes, could they look at him for some back bone for their batting?
Also Jake Lehmann has gone to England. Jake, son of Darryn, was a pretty handy batsman for South Australia in the SS.
I wonder if both think they may be a chance to pay for the Old Foe.

 

[Purple Suit]

A couple of Aussie former Sheffield shield, players have travelled back to England under dual citizen ships.
Sam Whiteman, former WA captain, and one time glove man that was touted as a certain keeper for Australia until he broke finger/fingers. Something he never recovered from. A very good batsman.
With the disaster of the Ashes, could they look at him for some back bone for their batting?
Also Jake Lehmann has gone to England. Jake, son of Darryn, was a pretty handy batsman for South Australia in the SS.
I wonder if both think they may be a chance to pay for the Old Foe.

Surely their is a Father/son rule in World Cricket that should rule out Jake Lehmann from playing for the Poms...

 

[anchor man]

Surely their is a Father/son rule in World Cricket that should rule out Jake Lehmann from playing for the Poms...

I am not sure that is correct.
But we will see.
I always thought that the only thing was a term os residency in the adopted country.
One upon a time it was three years.But now, who knows.

 

[anchor man]

Well played Alyssa Healey. Your contribution to cricket world wide has been enormous.
By any stretch of the imagination, your contribution to Australian cricket, not just womens cricket, is legendary.
Going to be hard to replace.
Well played, and good luck for your future away from cricket.

 

[Paracleet]

I am not sure that is correct.
But we will see.
I always thought that the only thing was a term os residency in the adopted country.
One upon a time it was three years.But now, who knows.

Definitely not

 

[Big Animal]

guess this is misc so what's with the new red font on names etc? Is it just me, new general formatting, why, and how do i change the colour back? Mods?

 

[GingerDocker]

guess this is misc so what's with the new red font on names etc? Is it just me, new general formatting, why, and how do i change the colour back? Mods?

The new format is driving me bonkers.

 

[gaskin]

guess this is misc so what's with the new red font on names etc? Is it just me, new general formatting, why, and how do i change the colour back? Mods?

Ask here

Admin Announcement Thread 'Site Upgrade 2026'

Jan 1, 2026

Over the next few days we will be upgrading BigFooty's back end and then the forum software.

Site Availability: The site may be disabled for a short time on Friday 2nd Jan.

Posts and Uploads: There may be a short period of time tomorrow where anything you post will be lost: it will not persist into the upgraded system. Save your magnum opus for the weekend.

Log in: You will need to log back in after we cut over to the upgraded system. Make sure you know your password and your email address is correct.

Search: The Search Index will rebuild...

• Chief
• Replies: 316
• Forum: Suggestions, Feedback and Announcements

• 
• 

 

[Big Animal]

Ask here

Admin Announcement Thread 'Site Upgrade 2026'

Jan 1, 2026

Over the next few days we will be upgrading BigFooty's back end and then the forum software.

Site Availability: The site may be disabled for a short time on Friday 2nd Jan.

Posts and Uploads: There may be a short period of time tomorrow where anything you post will be lost: it will not persist into the upgraded system. Save your magnum opus for the weekend.

Log in: You will need to log back in after we cut over to the upgraded system. Make sure you know your password and your email address is correct.

Search: The Search Index will rebuild...

• Chief
• Replies: 316
• Forum: Suggestions, Feedback and Announcements

• 
• 

The styling and colours will change over time.

thanks.

 

[ubiquitous226]

guess this is misc so what's with the new red font on names etc? Is it just me, new general formatting, why, and how do i change the colour back? Mods?

Chief is still working on fixing the styling, the upgrade was intended to make it easier but in the short term is causing plenty of issues.
It should hopefully be addressed over the coming days.
You can try the dark style to see if it's more to your tastes, personally I'm just waiting for it to be fixed.

 

[BStaff17]

I just typed in Freo on the google search for latest news.

And we have an article about Sam Kerr and her wedding pics.

Thanks a lot Google

 

[greatgatsby]

I just typed in Freo on the google search for latest news.

And we have an article about Sam Kerr and her wedding pics.

Thanks a lot Google


View attachment 2510800

I understand she invited to her wedding a convicted felon who once played football for a club in the same broad jurisdiction as Freo. Otherwise I'm out of excuses for Google.

The piece on Sam Sturt is promising.

 

[BStaff17]

I understand she invited to her wedding a convicted felon who once played football for a club in the same broad jurisdiction as Freo. Otherwise I'm out of excuses for Google.

The piece on Sam Sturt is promising.

Last roll of the dice for Sam i suspect.

Hopefully he can get a good run

 

[anchor man]

After a very successful playing career, mostly in white ball cricket, AJ Tye has retired from the BBL.He represented three BBL clubs, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades and of course the Perth Scorchers.
He took 162 wickets in the BBL, 159 of those for the Scorchers.
He like Lehmann and Whiteman , is using his dual citizenship to play cricket in England.
Wishing him all the best and thanks for the memories.
Well played AJ.

 

[Mesc]

Last roll of the dice for Sam i suspect.

Hopefully he can get a good run

Not looking good for him imo, hasnt really had a good run since he joined us.

 

[anchor man]

I wasn't sure where to place this, but I thought it may be of interest to may here.
It gives real reasons as to why Fremantle struggled to gain young players when we first were formed.
There have been many disparaging remarks made about our recruiting in the beginning.
This is from a publication called,Behind the play, A history of football in Western Australia from 1868.
It is the official history of the WAFL.It covers the Eagles and Dockers in full, warts and all.
I have another page to post as well as this one.

 

[DragoDelph]