Fremantle cannot win the Flag with their current list

[ImperialPurple]

It's a long season, and I do believe we are a chance at a flag within the next couple of years... but we are nowhere, and I mean not in the same galaxy, near winning one with the team we put on the park last week. Any Freo fan who says otherwise is looking through decidely purple coloured glasses.

We don't have a lot of young players, but that can be rectified fairly quickly within a few drafts.

This year, we will lose Bell, McManus, Matt Carr as well as Browne, Duffield, Webster and Dunn (rookie). Bell might hurt; but the sooner we get rid of McManus and MCarr, the better. We are going nowhere while they get picked each week. I just don't get it. They were both decent players in their time, but they are not the way forward, and the sooner we get games into Ibbotson and Palmer the better. Browne, Duffield and Webster are handy but certainly only depth players at best. None are in our top 30.

Next year we will lose Mark Johnson, Farmer if he doesn't go this year, hopefully Kepler.

That's a lot of youth to bring in over the next couple of years. And you'd expect that a few of them will be decent players.

Ages of other players on the list now:

Pav - 26
McPharlin - 26
Sandilands - 25
Tarrant - 27
Solomon - 28
Headland - 27
Josh Carr - 27
Black - 28
Mi Johnson - 23
Mundy - 22
Peake - 24
Crowley - 23
Mundy - 22
Dodd - 24
Grover - 28
Hayden - 27
Schammer - 22
Foster - 22
Campbell - 23
Murphy - 22

The bolded guys could all still be around and playing in 5 years time. But we desperately need to get some games into our game ready 18-21 year olds - Warnock (12 games), Drum (10 games), Palmer, Mayne, Ibbotson (1 game), O'Brien (1 game). There's also Hinkley who needs some WAFL time, as well as rookies Smith, Mourish and Connelly who all look likely types. With Pav, McPharlin, Sandi, Mundy, Johnson, Dodd, Schammer, Crowley, Peake all still with time on their side the time is now to get the games into the youngsters. The window is till open but it is closing fast - the young fellas need to be given the opportunity to get some experience - and quick.

We will not win a flag - or get anywhere close with Macca, MCarr, Mark Johnson in the side. We could win a flag with the core of the bolded players above, plus game time and experience into the young blokes listed.

But as long as we are playing a no risk selection policy each week, we can be guaranteed of no rewards. Someone needs to take a few risks and play a mix of youth and experience, or else we will most likely all die wondering...

 

[Scotland]

Yay, a proper post.

It raises a couple of questions. You don't think Freo's current side can win a flag, either do I actually. What do the club think? Does the club genuinely think the side that took the park last Saturday can win the flag?

If no, why did the club recruit Johnson and Bradley for 2008? I have always maintained that recruiting Tarrant was a mistake (I can't believe Campbell doesn't get a game), but Solomon seems to have worked out OK. Bradley and Johnson are bit part players, tops. Matt Carr and Mcmanus were already under pressure, and the guys you mentioned like Webster, Browne, Duffield etc. are already outside the 22. Adding Johnson and Bradley has just bolstered the 'spud to handy contributor' stocks, and hasn't addressed any of the team's immediate deficiencies, which have been well documented.

Rowan Jones played in our 2006 premiership side. So did Steven Armstrong & Drew Banfield. Every great side has unspectacular &/or older players in it. Hell, even Byrnes got a run for Geelong last year and he is a spud. Fremantle could easily win a flag with a Mcmanus, Johnson or Carr in the side. The problem is that all 3 are (currently) considered first choice selections, and are not adding much to the side, and that the mix of players with regard to both age and skill set isn't right. It's not just the oldies that are letting the team down, Schammer, Peake, Crowley etc. are hardly setting the world on fire of late. While someone has to make way for the likes of Palmer & Foster to get into the side, Freo need a lot more from their 21-25 year olds if they are going to be a flag threat.

 

[West Coast 06]

Right.

I thought i had shown that WC list in 2004 had neither the depth, nor talent to win a premiership.

I must be missing something here. Did we win win the flag in 2004???

If not, then Worsfold was right, we didn't have the list to win a premiership. At least he admitted it, and developed the players on his list.

Yes but the "faith" and the "opportunity" was only given after JW declared that he didn't have the KPP to win a flag, and would trade aggressively to obtain them.

Missed something else. Which KPP did we trade agressively to get on our list in 2004?

We drafted Glass, Hansen, Seaby, Staker and Hunter. Lynch, Graham and Cox came off the rookie list.

The only KPP player I can remember trading for in Worsfolds era is Kennedy and that was forced upon us.

 

[bomba4eva]

You havent answered the question.

Harvey Norman has got it spectacularly wrong. Fremantle are not in the best position to win their first ever flag, they are far from it.

The cleanup needs to begin sooner rather than later.

Been saying that for a while
Mediocre list and the future looks terrible. Need to begin to play kids so there fall isnt as long as painful as it will be if they continue to persist with some of the duds in their team. Was geuinely shocked when I saw McManus playing last week. Surely he should have retired? And being in the best 22 also! Wish Mark Harvey all the best, but if he makes stupid decisions like that on a continual basis, Fremantle are going to struggle immensely over the next few years. Slow, boring list that would instantly plummet to the bottom 4 without Pavlich. Need to get Palmer, Warnock etc in the team if only to add some much needed enthusiasm. Could be another long and frustrating year for Freo fans.

 

[kiroshi]

all youse naysayers will be washing down a big cup of you know what when the dockers start their run. we have a good developing defence, a workmanlike midfield and the best forward line in footy EVER. we will win the flag this year, dont doubt it. people said geelong were done this time last season. let the renaissance begin!!!

 

[Juddy88]

all youse naysayers will be washing down a big cup of you know what when the dockers start their run. we have a good developing defence, a workmanlike midfield and the best forward line in footy EVER. we will win the flag this year, dont doubt it. people said geelong were done this time last season. let the renaissance begin!!!

The definition of NFI.

Workman like midlfield is another way of putting a below average skilled midfield

 

[Haydos]

Mark Harvery is a new coach, he therefore has a grace period as coach before he will start to be judged on results alone. He would be silly not to use this time effectively by blooding as many youngsters as possible over the course of this season, if they lose to Hawthorn and then West Coast in the next few weeks, then I think that urgency to look at there next generation will be unavoidable.

This season should be a re-building season for fremantle, the sooner they embrace that the better things will be for them. Missing the finals this year with the team they fielded against Collingwood would be inexcusable, but missing the finals this year while playing as many youngsters as they have will be a much better long term move and much more acceptable to there fans.

 

[SpecialComments]

The only time you mention Farmer and Gun in the same sentence would be when a judge would be hearing a court case against him

 

[Mutant]

Jeez this ones been done to death on quite a few occasions, however just my 2 cents worth, even though Peake plays for Fremantle and I hate questioning any put down levelled at them, I don't think you can classify him a hack, some times you go backwards to go forward, still young and may yet prove to be an extremely good player.

From memory he's had a few pretty serious injuries hasn't he?

 

[wce4premiership]

Fremantle supporters trying to say we should be worried for nearly losing to brisbane ... what are you on about?

Many have tipped brisbane as big improvers and with j. brown and simon black that's already 1 more superstar then fremantle have.

 

[SA HAWK]

Good kp stocks but they desperately need some young and quick legs in the midfield.

 

[sabre_ac]

Can't help but have a smirk at an eagle supporter assessing the freo side, but I suppose this is a public forum.

Though I wonder if the eagle supporters in this thread still consider their backline better than freos?

We have the guns down either side of the field to win a premiership around.

Pavlich one end
McPharlin the other

Certain players like Schammer, Peake and Headland have to put their hand up as consistent performers (That is nothing new, Geelong had a list of players at the end of 2006 that had to step up and they did).

Tarrant trade has been a debacle (regardless of who the pies picked), but can't do anything about that now.

 

[emuboy]

This would have to be pretty obvious. The majority of the team has been together since 2002/3 and if they haven't clicked by now, they never will.

 

[Quinz]

Though I wonder if the eagle supporters in this thread still consider their backline better than freos?

Open the other eye Sabre- Ask non-biased supporters, and our backline will easily be rated higher than yours, i'm confident. Just one example.

Also, can you get a card for derailing a thread like that?

 

[estibador]

If the eagles backline is better it's only due to Glass. Take him out and we've got you covered.

People underestimate our backline. They do a fantastic job considering our midfield leaks like a sieve. We're just lacking a monster full back to contain the gorillas like Rocca.

 

[Juddy88]

If the eagles backline is better it's only due to Glass. Take him out and we've got you covered.

People underestimate our backline. They do a fantastic job considering our midfield leaks like a sieve.

But he is there?
That's like saying take Pavlich out of your forward line.

B.Jones, Waters, Hunter, Selwood, Wirra also have them all covered.

 

[estibador]

But he is there?
That's like saying take Pavlich out of your forward line.

Yeah I know. Just pointing out that you've only got us covered at full back - not the whole backline.

B.Jones, Waters, Hunter, Selwood, Wirra also have them all covered.

Grover, Mundy, Michael Johnson, Dodd and Hayden stack up pretty well. And your backline doesn't have to contend with a midfield who pretty much let the opposition clear the ball at will.

 

[sabre_ac]

But he is there?
That's like saying take Pavlich out of your forward line.

B.Jones, Waters, Hunter, Selwood, Wirra also have them all covered.

This is my point about bias, how can you honestly critique a side when you come from such a negative view point to begin with.

Glass > Grover (Granted)
McPharlin > Hunter
Hayden > Wira
Mundy/Johnson/Dodd > Waters/Jones/Selwood

As previously mentioned, considering how thoroughly smashed we get out of the middle, its amazing we can match it with anyone...Backline carries our side allot of the time.

 

[Specs]

Settle down kids... the derby's coming up.

 

[estibador]

Settle down kids... the derby's coming up.

Funny how eagles supporters reckon every player on their list is more talented than their opposite number in purple - yet somehow they still struggle to beat us.

 

[Juddy88]

Yeah I know. Just pointing out that you've only got us covered at full back - not the whole backline.



Grover, Mundy, Michael Johnson, Dodd and Hayden stack up pretty well. And your backline doesn't have to contend with a midfield who pretty much let the opposition clear the ball at will.

This is my point about bias, how can you honestly critique a side when you come from such a negative view point to begin with.

Glass > Grover (Granted)
McPharlin > Hunter
Hayden > Wira
Mundy/Johnson/Dodd > Waters/Jones/Selwood

As previously mentioned, considering how thoroughly smashed we get out of the middle, its amazing we can match it with anyone...Backline carries our side allot of the time.

Negative?
I rate Freo.. i just don't rate the choices they have made in regards to drafting/team selections.
They seem to be reading BF this week though...

Grover is a third defensive tall in most teams at best.

Mundy is young, will get better, definitely no Waters or Brett Jones though; two of the toughest defenders you'll come accorss in the modern game.

I read somewhere that Johnson hasn't been playing down back lately? Not sure how correct that is..

McPharlin is very good on his day I'll pay that.. but like Hunter is inconsitent... both can be thrown up forward as somewhat as a "wildcard" and has paid off on several occasions.
The difference is when Hunter goes down forward he can swing the game in a half of football.. Yet to see McPharlin do that.
He is a very good player don't get me wrong.

Haven't seen a lot of Dodd.. from what I've seen he hasn't really shown a lot IMO..

Wirra in his day provded more run than Hayden.. but your probably right there..

 

[wal]

I must be missing something here. Did we win win the flag in 2004???

If not, then Worsfold was right, we didn't have the list to win a premiership. At least he admitted it, and developed the players on his list.


Missed something else. Which KPP did we trade agressively to get on our list in 2004?

We drafted Glass, Hansen, Seaby, Staker and Hunter. Lynch, Graham and Cox came off the rookie list.

The only KPP player I can remember trading for in Worsfolds era is Kennedy and that was forced upon us.

Always suspected you were a sanctimonious success slopping bandwangonner.
Thanks for proving it.

 

[Juddy88]

Funny how eagles supporters reckon every player on their list is more talented than their opposite number in purple - yet somehow they still struggle to beat us.

Struggle to beat you..? Have a look at the derby record?
We don't place extra values on Derbys, they aren't our most important fixture. Finals are, something you'd know very little about I'm guessing?

Funny how over half the time a thread is made by a West Coast supporter regarding Freo, that the thread turns into the Freo supporters attempting to bag out West Coast in some way or another, rather than answer the actual question.

 

[estibador]

The difference is when Hunter goes down forward he can swing the game in a half of football.. Yet to see McPharlin do that.

You obviously don't watch enough of Freo then. I've seen McPharlin tear games apart in a single quarter several times. Ask Melbourne what they think of his ability up forward.

Funny how over half the time a thread is made by a West Coast supporter regarding Freo, that the thread turns into the Freo supporters attempting to bag out West Coast in some way or another, rather than answer the actual question.

That's because you lot have a habit of creating condescending trolling threads telling us all about what's wrong with our team and how we can improve to be more like the mighty eagles. Do you really expect us to take them seriously?

Honestly, we just don't care what you think - so it's much more fun turning it into a derby bitchfight.

 

[wal]

Struggle to beat you..? Have a look at the derby record?
We don't place extra values on Derbys, they aren't our most important fixture. Finals are, something you'd know very little about I'm guessing

Yes have a look at the derby record.
If the Eagles weren't so focussed on winning derbies and beating up on little brother in the nineties, they might have won another flag or two.
Derbies only lost their significance to IPL when they started losing them.

Funny how over half the time a troll is made by a West Coast supporter regarding Freo, that the thread turns into the Freo supporters attempting to bag out West Coast in some way or another, rather than answer the actual question.