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From afl.com.au
Freo marching to the beat of a different Drum
6:02 PM Sun 22 July, 2007 | Back
By Geoff Dodd
for fremantlefc.com.au
THE LAST time the name Drum was associated with mid-season upheaval at Fremantle, the result was a bit different.
It was round nine, 2001, and Damian Drum was sacked as Dockers coach after 53 games in charge and a winless start to the season. Drum was replaced by Ben Allan for the rest of 2001, but unlike yesterday’s turnaround, the club recorded another eight straight losses. Allan was eventually succeeded by Chris Connolly.
This week saw the departure of Connolly, but perhaps the arrival of another Drum – Damian’s nephew, Marcus – whose four goals against the Crows helped the Dockers to a memorable 25-point win, breathing life into an ailing season.
Drafted at pick 10 in the NAB AFL Draft at the end of 2005, Marcus Drum played five matches in his debut season. He hadn’t been able to find a spot in the Fremantle side in the opening 15 rounds of 2007, but found out on Wednesday – in the middle of the drama surrounding Connolly’s resignation – that he’d be getting a chance this week.
It was an opportunity he took with both hands, with plenty of game time and four unexpected goals. In fact, he bagged four goals from four kicks (Drum’s other seven possessions were all handballs).
Drum, though, wasn’t keen to play up his role in the perhaps season-defining win.
“[Kicking four goals] was great, but it was our leaders who really stood up today. It was really their day, and a day to repay Chris and get a win,” Drum said.
“It was a pretty emotional week and at the end of it we got the four points.”
Caretaker coach Mark Harvey is clearly a rap for the 20-year-old.
“You don’t budget for Drum kicking four goals, but he’s got a great head on his shoulders,” Harvey said after the game.
“I don’t want to go over the top with him at the moment because he’s still learning, but he was a No.10 draft pick and he just handles situations really well when the moments present themselves.”
Harvey’s faith in Drum was illustrated when he assigned him the tough task of minding Andrew McLeod early. That move perhaps didn’t pay off, and Shaun McManus was switched to the champion Adelaide half-back, but Drum just shifted focus to a new role as a support forward.
“That was the role early, to watch McLeod,” Drum said. “It was off to a bit of a shaky start – he played very well. But then after that I was just predominantly playing as a forward.
“To have guys like Pav [Matthew Pavlich] and Taz [Chris Tarrant] and Solly [Dean Solomon] and Dessie Headland and these guys around you in the forward line it makes it a lot easier.”
In particular the captain was an inspiration.
“[Pavlich] was sensational. It’s been a tough week for him. And the way he stood up today away from Perth was just sensational. To kick five goals was a tremendous effort – a true skipper’s performance, leading by example.”
Drum said new coach Harvey handled the pre-game “very, very well”, keeping the message simple.
“It was just simple. Stick to our basics and make it a memorable day for Peter Bell, for his 300th official game. And just make sure we get something out of it.
“Everyone here believes our season is still alive. It was a must-win game for us, and we just had to do the job.”
Next up for Freo is the rampant Geelong.
“They’re going to be super-tough,” Drum said. “They’re in red-hot form, but we’re on our home deck. We’ll give them a lot of respect, but hopefully we can come away with a win.”
Drum says the self-belief in the Fremantle team was given a huge fillip by the win over the Crows, and the way it was achieved.
“I think we just lived up to the potential that we do have, today,” he said. “There’s a true belief that we can definitely go somewhere and that our season’s still alive.”
Freo marching to the beat of a different Drum
6:02 PM Sun 22 July, 2007 | Back
By Geoff Dodd
for fremantlefc.com.au
THE LAST time the name Drum was associated with mid-season upheaval at Fremantle, the result was a bit different.
It was round nine, 2001, and Damian Drum was sacked as Dockers coach after 53 games in charge and a winless start to the season. Drum was replaced by Ben Allan for the rest of 2001, but unlike yesterday’s turnaround, the club recorded another eight straight losses. Allan was eventually succeeded by Chris Connolly.
This week saw the departure of Connolly, but perhaps the arrival of another Drum – Damian’s nephew, Marcus – whose four goals against the Crows helped the Dockers to a memorable 25-point win, breathing life into an ailing season.
Drafted at pick 10 in the NAB AFL Draft at the end of 2005, Marcus Drum played five matches in his debut season. He hadn’t been able to find a spot in the Fremantle side in the opening 15 rounds of 2007, but found out on Wednesday – in the middle of the drama surrounding Connolly’s resignation – that he’d be getting a chance this week.
It was an opportunity he took with both hands, with plenty of game time and four unexpected goals. In fact, he bagged four goals from four kicks (Drum’s other seven possessions were all handballs).
Drum, though, wasn’t keen to play up his role in the perhaps season-defining win.
“[Kicking four goals] was great, but it was our leaders who really stood up today. It was really their day, and a day to repay Chris and get a win,” Drum said.
“It was a pretty emotional week and at the end of it we got the four points.”
Caretaker coach Mark Harvey is clearly a rap for the 20-year-old.
“You don’t budget for Drum kicking four goals, but he’s got a great head on his shoulders,” Harvey said after the game.
“I don’t want to go over the top with him at the moment because he’s still learning, but he was a No.10 draft pick and he just handles situations really well when the moments present themselves.”
Harvey’s faith in Drum was illustrated when he assigned him the tough task of minding Andrew McLeod early. That move perhaps didn’t pay off, and Shaun McManus was switched to the champion Adelaide half-back, but Drum just shifted focus to a new role as a support forward.
“That was the role early, to watch McLeod,” Drum said. “It was off to a bit of a shaky start – he played very well. But then after that I was just predominantly playing as a forward.
“To have guys like Pav [Matthew Pavlich] and Taz [Chris Tarrant] and Solly [Dean Solomon] and Dessie Headland and these guys around you in the forward line it makes it a lot easier.”
In particular the captain was an inspiration.
“[Pavlich] was sensational. It’s been a tough week for him. And the way he stood up today away from Perth was just sensational. To kick five goals was a tremendous effort – a true skipper’s performance, leading by example.”
Drum said new coach Harvey handled the pre-game “very, very well”, keeping the message simple.
“It was just simple. Stick to our basics and make it a memorable day for Peter Bell, for his 300th official game. And just make sure we get something out of it.
“Everyone here believes our season is still alive. It was a must-win game for us, and we just had to do the job.”
Next up for Freo is the rampant Geelong.
“They’re going to be super-tough,” Drum said. “They’re in red-hot form, but we’re on our home deck. We’ll give them a lot of respect, but hopefully we can come away with a win.”
Drum says the self-belief in the Fremantle team was given a huge fillip by the win over the Crows, and the way it was achieved.
“I think we just lived up to the potential that we do have, today,” he said. “There’s a true belief that we can definitely go somewhere and that our season’s still alive.”
). 
That's a bit harsh, isn't it? 
.
