Changes for Gold Coast

[Dirty_banchez]

BS. Why would GWS want Barlow??

He barely got a run in our midfield rotations last year, FFC would have preferred to offer a first rounder and Barlow than 2 x first rounders.

As a trade last year Barlow would have been worth a pick in the 30-50 range.

I don't know. Experience perhaps? To provide leadership? Just what I heard. His name was being thrown around for a reason.

 

[se17enteen]

Mayne is the Starlight Purple Haze ambassador and is doing media rounds today. So he isn't getting dropped this week.

Let's be honest he was never getting dropped anyway.

 

[DudleyDocker]

I'm sure the players would rather win 11.9.75 v 10.5.65 than lose 16.9.105 v 18.12.120.

I'm sure the players would rather win 18.12.120 v 16.8.105 than 11.9.75 v 10.5.65 - see we can play this game for hours

Every man and his dog, including our players, knows that in today's game you need to average more than 100 points per game if you want to be a serious contender for the premiership. It's self evident that the guys would rather win than lose, but in the second half of last season even when we were winning I didn't see the enthusiasm and enjoyment in our players that they get when they were really firing - e.g. late 2013, early 2015.

If we continue to grind out hard fought, low scoring games, we will go nowhere. It is hard on the players, hard on the supporters and the AFL does not want to see this style played. Hence the constant disparity in free kicks against and constant rule changes to encourage higher scoring. The winning scores this week were all over 100 points except Melbourne and Richmond. 6 of the 8 losing scores were more than double our score - if you don't see the writing on the wall you're looking at the wrong wall dominguez.

 

[DudleyDocker]

I don't know. Experience perhaps? To provide leadership? Just what I heard. His name was being thrown around for a reason.

His name was thrown around because people make stuff up in the trade period, full stop. I would say maybe 10% of trade rumours actually have some truth in them the others are just people with agendas making stories up.

GWS were never interested in Barlow.

 

[dominguez]

I don't know. Experience perhaps? To provide leadership? Just what I heard. His name was being thrown around for a reason.

His name was thrown around because he's a fringe player Fremantle supporters would have been willing to part with to land a key forward.

I'm sure his name wasn't being thrown around by GWS.

 

[Dirty_banchez]

His name was thrown around because people make stuff up in the trade period, full stop. I would say maybe 10% of trade rumours actually have some truth in them the others are just people with agendas making stories up.

GWS were never interested in Barlow.

Fair enough. I only post what I hear, and sometimes that is wrong and sometimes it is right.

 

[Dirty_banchez]

His name was thrown around because he's a fringe player Fremantle supporters would have been willing to part with to land a key forward.

I'm sure his name wasn't being thrown around by GWS.

The trade thread from 2015 was aghast at the thought of trading Barlow.

 

[DudleyDocker]

Fair enough. I only post what I hear, and sometimes that is wrong and sometimes it is right.

As we all do buddy

 

[ydraw]

I don't know. Experience perhaps? To provide leadership? Just what I heard. His name was being thrown around for a reason.

His name was being thrown about because he was and still is kind of surplus to our needs given our midfield depth (Lachie Neale is basically now playing the inside mid role that Barlow starred at when he first arrived at Freo). I severly doubt GWS would have been interested in him in a trade for McCarthy. Maybe for a pick in the 40's, but if a pick in the 40's would have gotten the McCarthy trade done we would have surely done it.

 

[stax on the mull]

I'm sure the players would rather win 18.12.120 v 16.8.105 than 11.9.75 v 10.5.65 - see we can play this game for hours

Every man and his dog, including our players, knows that in today's game you need to average more than 100 points per game if you want to be a serious contender for the premiership. It's self evident that the guys would rather win than lose, but in the second half of last season even when we were winning I didn't see the enthusiasm and enjoyment in our players that they get when they were really firing - e.g. late 2013, early 2015.

If we continue to grind out hard fought, low scoring games, we will go nowhere. It is hard on the players, hard on the supporters and the AFL does not want to see this style played. Hence the constant disparity in free kicks against and constant rule changes to encourage higher scoring. The winning scores this week were all over 100 points except Melbourne and Richmond. 6 of the 8 losing scores were more than double our score - if you don't see the writing on the wall you're looking at the wrong wall dominguez.

But did we actually see any of that trademark Fremantle grind against the Western Bulldogs.

The rugby scrums that last for minutes until someone finally flips the ball out and there's a break. If anything the pressure was all on us when it kept returning into our forward 50m.

We had free flowing high scoring football at the beginning of the century and everyone got fed up with all the unconsted possessions - they craved some tackling and pressure and lock down football. That's probably why those horrible looking Grand Finals between Sydney and West Coast are regarded as classics.

There's only so much you can do on a football field. Win the ball. When you have it, get it on to a player on your team. There's only so much space on the football field. Maybe the player of today can run and cover more than they could 15 years ago - so there's less space and time to deliver the ball - but the fundamentals are the same.

When Western Bulldogs had the ball on Sunday, we couldn't get it off them, and when we had it we gave up possession. When it was in dispute, they were better than us. That's all there was to it.

You make some team changes to improve, but its not just a matter re-inventing the game plan with youth. The young players at Peel are supposed to be playing our current game style.

Just to p155 everyone off, I wouldn't think it would be a bad idea if DeBoer is picked to tag Ablett this week.

 

[DudleyDocker]

But did we actually see any of that trademark Fremantle grind against the Western Bulldogs.

The rugby scrums that last for minutes until someone finally flips the ball out and there's a break. If anything the pressure was all on us when it kept returning into our forward 50m.

We had free flowing high scoring football at the beginning of the century and everyone got fed up with all the unconsted possessions - they craved some tackling and pressure and lock down football. That's probably why those horrible looking Grand Finals between Sydney and West Coast are regarded as classics.

There's only so much you can do on a football field. Win the ball. When you have it, get it on to a player on your team. There's only so much space on the football field. Maybe the player of today can run and cover more than they could 15 years ago - so there's less space and time to deliver the ball - but the fundamentals are the same.

When Western Bulldogs had the ball on Sunday, we couldn't get it off them, and when we had it we gave up possession. When it was in dispute, they were better than us. That's all there was to it.

You make some team changes to improve, but its not just a matter re-inventing the game plan with youth. The young players at Peel are supposed to be playing our current game style.

Just to p155 everyone off, I wouldn't think it would be a bad idea if DeBoer is picked to tag Ablett this week.

Agree with that stax on the mull, and I think that is the problem. The game is moving beyond the grinding, contested footy of the mid 2000s to a faster, higher scoring game. Look at the rule changes about keeping the ball in play, guarding the protected area, less rotations, not sub - all designed to open the game up.

We can't stick to the old plan, we have to change and I think we are in the "transition" where nobody knows quite what they are doing yet. Hence the confusion, indecision and even players getting angry with each other. I am sure this will change as they get used to the new game plan, whether it is the current players or some of the new ones.

Unfortunately, after watching Peel on the weekend I think they are in the same process, because they were doing exactly the same things as the AFL guys - short lateral kicks, missing targets, looking confused.

Hopefully the whole group, from top to bottom are undergoing this change, and that may be why Hale stayed back for the Peel game - to make sure that the new plan was implemented.

This is all just guesswork and supposition, but it gives me a faint hope that things might be on the improve - otherwise it is going to be a long, long season.

 

[Phlanispo]

All Dockers should fear for their spots, says Mayne

 

[meima]

All Dockers should fear for their spots, says Mayne

Then he is lock in for this match, I remember d.Pearce said the same thing last year after he had a bad match.

 

[Boppo]

DeBoer couldn't tag Gazz's dry cleaning. he must get up every day and thank the lord that he got to play in an AFL grand final.

 

[Clems Knee]

Okay, I'll have a go. Attitude is the main thing that needs to change.

Out: Clarke (inj), Griffin (dropped), Pearce C. (dropped), Ballantyne (rested)

In: Sandilands, Johnson, de Boer, Langdon.

 

[darkshines]

Love to see Brady get a crack at Gaz, for giggles.

 

[blue shark]

Agree with that stax on the mull, and I think that is the problem. The game is moving beyond the grinding, contested footy of the mid 2000s to a faster, higher scoring game. Look at the rule changes about keeping the ball in play, guarding the protected area, less rotations, not sub - all designed to open the game up.

We can't stick to the old plan, we have to change and I think we are in the "transition" where nobody knows quite what they are doing yet. Hence the confusion, indecision and even players getting angry with each other. I am sure this will change as they get used to the new game plan, whether it is the current players or some of the new ones.

Unfortunately, after watching Peel on the weekend I think they are in the same process, because they were doing exactly the same things as the AFL guys - short lateral kicks, missing targets, looking confused.

Hopefully the whole group, from top to bottom are undergoing this change, and that may be why Hale stayed back for the Peel game - to make sure that the new plan was implemented.

This is all just guesswork and supposition, but it gives me a faint hope that things might be on the improve - otherwise it is going to be a long, long season.

Im hoping the hawks guys stay around long enough to develop our Peel boys, besides trading for established
players who have been developed, this is where our future lies. The sooner we have a system in place to ease
transition into seniors the better.

 

[chinggis77]

Lyon should take some responsibility for the current mindset of the best 22. He is the one that constantly put "stability" ahead of developing youth and stuck with his best 22 through thick and thin, even going with the best 22 throughout almost all preseason games since he got here.

Its led to a mindset that "I am best 22, Ross isn't going to drop me". For some players, they deserve their spot, but for others who have constantly underperformed - Ross needs to become ruthless.

He also needs to stop overlooking below par skills, just because someone gives "100% effort".

I always thought this season was a crossroad. Either we would get found out by young, fast, desperate teams like the Bullies, which is exactly what happened, and need to reassess our list, or we would blunder our way through to another top 8 finish, but not actually challenge again.

Crunch time for players like Barlow, D Pearce, Suban, Mzungu, Spurr, perhaps C Pearce and Zarke.

Bennell, Weller, Crozier, Morabito, Langdon, Yarran and co may have a lot of opportunities this year if Ross finally realises the gig is up for some players.

Its also time to end the Mayne forward role and put him down back. He is undoubtedly a good footballer and insanely intense and better than Brady Grey, so lets use him to shut down these pesky small forwards that continually get under our skin.

How much longer is the current team better then the following team for example?

Ibbo Dawson Mayne
Hill Johnson Sheridan
Sutcliffe Mundy Bennell
Walters Pavlich Weller
Ballas A.Pearce Yarran

R: Sandi, Neale, Fyfe
IC: Mora, Crozier, Langdon, Hughes/Apeness/Collins

 

[salim malik]

A lot on here seem to have a lot of info on players that the coaching staff don't have. Hope one of the coaches reads BF , could make all the difference in selection policy.

 

[jerms]

Its also time to end the Mayne forward role and put him down back. He is undoubtedly a good footballer and insanely intense and better than Brady Grey, so lets use him to shut down these pesky small forwards that continually get under our skin.

Going back is the only way he should stay in the side.

 

[meima]

A lot on here seem to have a lot of info on players that the coaching staff don't have. Hope one of the coaches reads BF , could make all the difference in selection policy.

If they read BF they will shout BS

 

[Banker]

The Bulldogs were probably the best opponent to play against, it seems everyone is talking about our lack of pace and that some of the older players are just not up to it.

If Ross responds with Weller dropped, I don't think he will ever change his ways.

Sure we will win lots of games but come finals if we can't beat the attacking teams we're just a number.

 

[Deveraux]

Genuinely curious, has GC beaten us yet at all? GWS? If not we must be one of the only teams to still be unbeaten by these 2.

Might be the year for both though.

 

[ChimpaWompa]

Love to see Brady get a crack at Gaz, for giggles.

The media would hate us even more if a docker broke their golden child.

 

[Righteo]

Genuinely curious, has GC beaten us yet at all? GWS? If not we must be one of the only teams to still be unbeaten by these 2.

Might be the year for both though.

Neither have beaten us but Gold Coast have come very close on two occasions. This might be their best chance to date.