Fremantle vs. North Melbourne

[dockers_bengals]

Didnt care about the last oneand dont care about this one.
You would think over the next few weeks big clumps of the team will play together in their normal places, eg.defence,forwards etc...
Oh and thanks for the reports people

 

[Moo]

Seriously chill out folks - this week and last week were just experimental games.

We got slaughtered in the middle whilst playing with a guy who probably wont be used this year and our 3rd choice back up.

To go with this we tried a midfield rotation of kids.

All I would like to see now is start to settle the line up and add a few more pieces to the puzzle.

Pav fwd - pinch hitting in the middle, if we persist with Taz down back -lets see how he goes with McPharlin and Hayden down there. Plus lets get the games most dominant ruck specialist in the middle.

Honestly its a scratch match.

 

[DOCKERZ]

Thanks very much for the reports folks

 

[silverscope]

Seriously chill out folks - this week and last week were just experimental games.

We got slaughtered in the middle whilst playing with a guy who probably wont be used this year and our 3rd choice back up.

To go with this we tried a midfield rotation of kids.

All I would like to see now is start to settle the line up and add a few more pieces to the puzzle.

Pav fwd - pinch hitting in the middle, if we persist with Taz down back -lets see how he goes with McPharlin and Hayden down there. Plus lets get the games most dominant ruck specialist in the middle.

Honestly its a scratch match.

I agree Moo. This game seems to be purely for positional changes and playing the kids... what did you expect to happen??? espically against a finals side.

 

[__aria__]

this game meant absolutely nothing
the approaches of the 2 teams couldnt have been more different

we had a pretty strong team and they were grilled during the week after the pathetic display we put on vs carlton

 

[spitlizard]

Jebus... it might only be a pre-season game, but FMD, who likes the look of getting a 100+ point arse-kicking at any time of the year???

Makes me want to puke.

Cheer up button......it's all going to be lavender and roses this year lol.

Seriously imp, wouldn't read in to it to deeply, Harves lookes like he is really trying to sort out the men from the boys.

From what I saw, looks like there are some major experiments going on and personally I prefer the committee get it right pre-season rather then when it's to late

 

[Ogrebait]

Some photos from the match.

 

[dominguez]

So why do I keep reading that Grover is not big enough to be a full-back and someone is needed to play on the gorilla forwards?

Anyone who thinks that Tarrantulla will be a better defender than Grover is on the Benny Cousins diet.

 

[Chadwiko]

Just stopping by to say hello to my good mate (and my girlfriends brother) Chris25.

Freo fans, note that Chris25 lost a bet with me a few weeks back that meant he had to change his BigFooty team affiliation to NMFC for 2 weeks, and has yet to do it. I thought you guys at Freo openly and maturely faced the music when you mess up? (Like Solomon did when he pretty much killed Ling - respect )

 

[greenred]

Anyone who thinks that Tarrantulla will be a better defender than Grover is on the Benny Cousins diet.

Did I suggest that Tarrant would be a better defender than Grover?

There are a lot of Fremantle supporters on this board who regularly question whether Grover is the right fit for some of the forwards currently playing. FWIW I believe he does a good job and an increase in support from others such as Johnson is all that is required. However, if Tarrant can play as a defender, it may be that against the players Grover struggles with, Tarrant is more effective. That doesn't make Tarrant a better defender, but the difference in playing style and strengths gives the club more options than it currently has - I don't understand why people consider that to be a bad thing?

A lack of flexibility and a few injuries to key players will see yesterday's result become a regular occurrence in 2009 for Fremantle - Harvey and co appear to be doing everything they can to prevent that.

 

[silverscope]

Pretty good leap from the young Clarke.

 

[Chris25]

Freo fans, note that Chris25 lost a bet with me a few weeks back that meant he had to change his BigFooty team affiliation to NMFC for 2 weeks, and has yet to do it.

All I needed was for you to remind me. There's no point reminding me away from the computer, as I tend to forget things involving a club like North. Something that a lot of people will do too when 'our' club folds in a couple of years.

 

[rgauci]

I was initially pretty upset about the result but then i realised all the following players weren't in the team:

Sandilands
McPharlin
Hayden
Headland
Mundy
Schammer
Johnson
Bradley
Mayne
Campbell
Hill
Ballantyne

Thats 12 players who in my books are best 22.

4 of those 12 players are under an injury (Mayne, Headland, Campbell, Ballantyne).

So dissecting who actually played:


Rookie listed players:
Hamish Shepheard
Jay Van Berlo
Greg Broughton
Casey Sibosado

1st year players:
Chris Hall
Tim Ruffles
Michael Walters
Zac Clarke
Suban

2nd year players:
Palmer
Hinkley

Senior players:
Pavlich - mainly onball
Tarrant - playing back, but not on Petrie???
Grover - playing forward
Solomon - injured 2nd half
Hasleby - playing back pocket for fitness

Players getting to the crossroads of their career (a fairly broad group):
Ryan Crowley
Garrick Ibbotson
Brett Peake
Marcus Drum
Brock O’Brien
Steven Dodd
Daniel Gilmore
Ryan Murphy
Josh Head

We have 4 rookies, 5 first year players and 4 out of our 5 senior players are playing new roles. In hindsight the result was to be expected.

I guess the big dissapointment comes from the list i've included as crossroads. All those players are heading into their 4th year or more on an AFL list and should really be establishing themselves as clear best 22 otherwise they will be making way for kids.

I wasn't at the game so i can't comment on individual performances. I think Harvey will be going over this group with a fine tooth comb to see who should be included in round 1. I Have my favourites in Crowley, Ibbotson and Drum. But it seems Drum was given a pantsing by Petrie, and i was hopeful he could hold down a key defensive post. Crowley was very dissapointing against Richmond and i wonder if he redeemed himself on the weekend.

I'd also like to point out that Palmer lead our disposal count again on the weekend. That's 2 from 2 this year. All from a 2nd year player. People are truly blind if they think we haven't got a star in the making.

 

[Palmervich]

Players getting to the crossroads of their career (a fairly broad group):
Ryan Crowley
Garrick Ibbotson

Marcus Drum


You run a pretty tight ship, I recon Crowley and Ibbo would be walk up starters to most sides, so clearly best 22, and I would lean towards Drum as a must play type player (to enhance development), but also because I believe he is best 22.

 

[54Dogs]

Couple of thoughts from the game and some stats for you blokes.

Palmer worked his guts out all day (not surprising) and finished with 23 touches + 4 marks. Burnt the ball a lot

Gilmore zoned off as he always does and got cheap outside ball. 17 touches plus 5 marks but had absolutely no impact.

Pav had 10 kicks, 6 handballs and 3 marks. No impact, played up the ground and on the ball a bit and was spent at the end but it was very hot.

Broughton had 16 touches but I didn't notice him much.

Suban burnt the ball a bit I thought. One perfect 60m pass was followed 2 mins later by a 30m turnover inside 50. Immediately dragged and you could hear screaming from the coaches box. One of the coaches went absolutely beserk 3 or 4 times and give the scoreline I'm assuming it wasn't Crocker. Clarke / Murphy tried but Murphy too short and Clarke not developed enough. Mac the dominant big man. Hase had 7 touches in the first but died away a bit after that.

O'brien came off just before HT and did not re-appear. At 3QT had his left arm strapped so looks like a shoulder.

Ibbo rolled an ankle and was off for a bit but came back on for a few mins then was off again and gone for the day. Not sure if the ankle was still no good or something else.

 

[rgauci]

Couple of thoughts from the game and some stats for you blokes.

Palmer worked his guts out all day (not surprising) and finished with 23 touches + 4 marks. Burnt the ball a lot

Gilmore zoned off as he always does and got cheap outside ball. 17 touches plus 5 marks but had absolutely no impact.

Pav had 10 kicks, 6 handballs and 3 marks. No impact, played up the ground and on the ball a bit and was spent at the end but it was very hot.

Broughton had 16 touches but I didn't notice him much.

Suban burnt the ball a bit I thought. One perfect 60m pass was followed 2 mins later by a 30m turnover inside 50. Immediately dragged and you could hear screaming from the coaches box. One of the coaches went absolutely beserk 3 or 4 times and give the scoreline I'm assuming it wasn't Crocker. Clarke / Murphy tried but Murphy too short and Clarke not developed enough. Mac the dominant big man. Hase had 7 touches in the first but died away a bit after that.

O'brien came off just before HT and did not re-appear. At 3QT had his left arm strapped so looks like a shoulder.

Ibbo rolled an ankle and was off for a bit but came back on for a few mins then was off again and gone for the day. Not sure if the ankle was still no good or something else.

Thanks for that. Its not often you get a neutral supporters view of a game. Sounds like our skills were off. Also Pavlich had a stinker. Rare as hens teeth the Pav having a bad day.

 

[Boppo]

I think you gotta give Gilmore a break. He's rucking, covers more ground than a lot of midfielders and ends up with more posessions than most of them. He's a pretty big unit, to have him deliver the ball with precision as well is asking a lot.

And i think we may have to resign ourselves to the fact that the modern game might be a bridge too far for Haze. Did you see the speed of the pies/tigers game? Its a game of sprints for the top aerobic athelethes in the country..

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

i know the season is young, and it isnt often i bag one of our players... but daniel gilmore shouldnt even get a gig for south freo reserves... honestly the guy is a joke, im gald he has recovered from his head knock, but the club will be better once he is delisted...... he is gutless, indecisive, weak and just alround shizen.... the only player who has annoyed me more in the dockers history is daniel parker..... gilly good luck, but GTFO

 

[Selggad]

i know the season is young, and it isnt often i bag one of our players... but daniel gilmore shouldnt even get a gig for south freo reserves... honestly the guy is a joke, im gald he has recovered from his head knock, but the club will be better once he is delisted...... he is gutless, indecisive, weak and just alround shizen.... the only player who has annoyed me more in the dockers history is daniel parker..... gilly good luck, but GTFO

I had high hopes for Gilmore this year because of his size and tank and a good kick but if this is a legitimate comparison the sooner he's gone the better

There's been some excellent reports on the game - thanks to everybody - and it sounds like there was a lot more to take out of the game than the scoreline indicates, but I'm still disappointed we copped a hundred point drubbing. It doesn't really do anybody much good.

I hope Haze is back in the middle soon - sounds like the back half isn't much good for him other than getting match fitness. I think the other concern that a few people have mentioned is we will be playing a lot of young kids all year - more so if we cop injuries. There may a few hidings during the season proper, which I wouldn't really like to see.

 

[newlander77]

Get off Gilmores back. He hasn't played since last June and hasn't been doing a lot of contact work at training. If I was Harvey I'd be stoked with what I got from him, even the fact that he is out there playing! It was a BIG ask in his first outing since last June! Honestly this guy has done so many laps at training it just isn't funny. He needs to get some touch and the only way for that to happen is with the ball in his hands and to play him!

I hope they play him through the remainder of the pre-season!

 

[Palmervich]

yeah thanks for that. Worrying that the senior players didn't talk much to the young guys. One of the things I have noticed at training this summer is the talk and the camaraderie... if that is missing then IMO it does not bode well. With so many young fellas, they need the senior blokes to be talking and encouraging at all times.

I guess thats what happens when so many inexperienced players are played, not as many senior players to organise/help the younger players.
My thoughts are is it benificial playing so many kids without so many of the leadership group to instruct and help the younger guys. I know I want the young kids to play, but it's hardly benificial if they arn't going to get help from the senior players.

 

[Postman_Pav]

The most worrying thing to come out of this game is the fact that people on here believe draftees who havent played a game (Hill, Ballyntyne) are best 22. Surely the list has more depth than that ?

 

[greenred]

I guess thats what happens when so many inexperienced players are played, not as many senior players to organise/help the younger players.

My thoughts are is it benificial playing so many kids without so many of the leadership group to instruct and help the younger guys. I know I want the young kids to play, but it's hardly benificial if they arn't going to get help from the senior players.

Of course it is, but only at the practice match level. It's an opportunity for the coaching staff to assess players like Murphy, Gilmore and Dodd for leadership skills. It's also an opportunity to discover which of the young players can play at the required level with minimal support.

If the results are that none of the experienced players showed any leadership it gives the coaches and players something to work on. If none of the kids stepped up in that environment, at least the coaches know that they are not ready for AFL yet.

 

[Palmervich]

The most worrying thing to come out of this game is the fact that people on here believe draftees who havent played a game (Hill, Ballyntyne) are best 22. Surely the list has more depth than that ?

Ballyntyne was drafted to play best 22, Hill has impressed so much pre season many believe that he is best 22. Nothing to do with depth. Just because they are young dosn't mean they cannot be better than older players. This year in particular you will see many first year players in best 22s.

 

[rgauci]

The most worrying thing to come out of this game is the fact that people on here believe draftees who havent played a game (Hill, Ballyntyne) are best 22. Surely the list has more depth than that ?

Ballantyne is a mature age recruit who won a sandover medal playing as a small forward in one of the worst WAFL teams going around.

He comes into our list as the only specialist small forward. So its no surprise he's included in our best 22.

Hill has just been that impressive in the 2 outings ive seen i wouldn't leave him out of the team. The combination of pace, enduance and skills are a rare find. Despite his small stature he coped pretty well against Richmond. If he continues to excel at the top level he will have passed many players on our list. We are definately in a rebuild so its no surprise that Hill is included in most peoples teams.