Opinion Fremantle's terrible development of youth.

[Johnny Dalmas]

Obviously Hawthorn have done better than us in many areas and that is evidenced by their success. But we have changed what players do in terms of their running (Bennell) and have failed to upgrade the same players weakness and let him go (Menegola).

I had hoped for a big improvement from the relationship/facilities at Cockburn. I had hoped that as well as the best available facilities it would help us attract the best available S&C team, but we are clearly a long way from where we need to be.

If we put time into changing the way Bennell runs, that means we invested in his improving his running skill. So obviously we thought prioritising (running) skill development for Bennell would have a positive impact and was worth doing. So why wouldn't we do remedial (kicking) skill work more generally in order to maximise the recruiting investment we have made into guys like Langdon or Hughes? Doesn't make any sense to me ...

 

[Johnny Dalmas]

We could of had both Blakely and McGovern.

McGovern could have been drafted in 2013. We passed on him back then in favour of guys like Brady Grey, Michael Wood, Thomas Vandeleur, and Jacob Ballard. Funnily enough you would have thought we were looking for guys like McGovern back then.

 

[Johnny Dalmas]

So last Saturday James Worpel played midfield for the Hawks. He had 33 touches, 9 clearances, 15 contested possessions, 4 tackles, and 4 clangers. He was #45 in the 2017 draft.

Meanwhile Cerra (#5 in the same draft) had 9 touches, 0 clearances, 4 contested possessions, 2 tackles, and 3 clangers wandering around a flank somewhere. He had less clangers I suppose. And at least his tank is developing: Cerra played more game time that Worpel.

I thank Cerra could easily be a good 200 game player. Cherry picking stats like this isn't really about him. Its about whether we are really helping him become the best footballer he can be. And maximising our own investment given we spent a top 5 pick on him.

 

[Freomania]

In the early 2010s Stephen Hill used to regularly take pings from 50. But in the last few years he always looks to pass first.

A good inside 50 is most often a deep inside 50. But sometimes you want to see a player just take the shot.

Our problem isn't that our young players don't have talent the problem is Ross gives everybody a role and sucks all the instinct out of them
Only a select few are allowed to play on instinct ie Mundy Walters Fyfe and probably Wilson the rest he turns into tin soldiers

Ive played footy and probably so have many of you and alot on game day was instinctive and when that happened the players with better skills stood out
Our players seem to get the ball and get confused
When we play instinctively we actually look quite good
But it then looks like we go back to the same old poop slow down go defensive defend a lead ie Carlton it's like groundhog day

 

[Dale147]

Fremantle Dockers must plan for future with highly-rated duo Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw
Nathan SchmookThe West Australian
Saturday, 20 July 2019 2:00AM

Jeff Farmer's son Kobe dreams of AFL
2:08 | Today Tonight


Play Video

Are Fremantle doing everything in their power to develop Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw into elite midfielders as soon as they can?
Stats show they are not and it should be a discussion point entering the final stages of a four-year rebuild.
Brayshaw and Cerra arrived at Fremantle as two of the best junior midfielders in the country, but the way they have been used in their second seasons is puzzling for a team that is being overhauled and in need of quality midfielders.
When the Dockers’ rebuild ends and they enter 2020 with finals ambitions, it is possible that neither is going to have the midfield miles in their legs to break out like other prime movers from their draft class will, or already have.
Cerra, who was regarded as classy but also tough as an under-18 midfielder, attended 88 centre bounces in his debut season in 2018, but has been removed from the centre square almost completely this season, attending just nine.
Brayshaw, who was also drafted with a good balance of inside and outside capabilities, attended 89 centre bounces last year.
His return of 100 so far this season is more encouraging, but still well down on other on-ballers, who have gone on to enjoy breakout third seasons.

Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra.Picture: The West Australian
Greater Western Sydney duo Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper are two midfielders who were given significant centre-square responsibility in their second seasons and have flourished in their third and fourth respectively.
Taranto has become a star, but the Giants put the midfield minutes into the No.2 draft pick in his second season to make it happen. He attended 241 centre bounces last year, at an average of 10.5 a game, lifting that to 18.8 a game this year.
Hopper, now in his fourth season, ranks No.10 in the AFL for centre clearances. He didn’t get there overnight, attending 187 centre bounces in his second season (14.4 a game) and 318 in his third (15.1). GWS are reaping the rewards this year.
You could argue that both have benefited from the oppor-tunities that have presented at GWS, with injuries to Josh Kelly, Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio over that time. Dylan Shiel also departed at the end of 2018.
But this is still a team in its premiership window handing responsibility to second-year players. Rebuilding Fremantle refuse to. Why?

The Dockers had one of the best midfield combinations in the first half of the season, stripping their centre-square crew back to Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Michael Walters and Reece Conca.
Using only these senior players helped cover the loss of Lachie Neale, who had attended more centre bounces than any other ground-level midfielder this season in first 17 rounds (372) — but it has arguably pushed back the development of Cerra and Brayshaw.
Only six Fremantle midfielders have seen more than 20 centre bounces all season — Fyfe (329), Mundy (266), Conca (204), Walters (203), Brayshaw (100) and Darcy Tucker (57). Mitch Crowden was thrown in for 11 in his first game for the season against West Coast in round 16.
The Dockers saw first-hand last Saturday what is possible when responsibility is handed to a young midfielder.
After attending 90 centre bounces in his debut season last year, James Worpel was ready to step up in the absence of Tom Mitchell this season, attending 282 (17.6 a game) so far.
He was the leading clearance player in the game against the Dockers down in Launceston e with nine, also racking up 33 possessions through the midfield to earn 10 coaches’ votes.
Every player comes into the game differently, and they develop at different rates.
But if Taranto, Hopper and Worpel can be given opportunities to develop as young on-ballers, why can’t Brayshaw and Cerra in a shallow Fremantle midfield? You don’t have to wait for injuries to occur during a rebuild.

 

[WilloTree]

I think the mob up the road are right up there with the best so that’s not helping our perspective. We as supporters obviously look over the neighbours fence too much.

Eagles draft players for the positions they will play, then play them there.

Freo draft midfielders and play them everywhere else. Even in the WAFL. Peel had Dixon, Carter and Sturt all in their back 50 at one stage. I kid you not.

 

[eastfreo75]

Fremantle Dockers must plan for future with highly-rated duo Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw
Nathan SchmookThe West Australian
Saturday, 20 July 2019 2:00AM

Jeff Farmer's son Kobe dreams of AFL
2:08 | Today Tonight


Play Video

Are Fremantle doing everything in their power to develop Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw into elite midfielders as soon as they can?
Stats show they are not and it should be a discussion point entering the final stages of a four-year rebuild.
Brayshaw and Cerra arrived at Fremantle as two of the best junior midfielders in the country, but the way they have been used in their second seasons is puzzling for a team that is being overhauled and in need of quality midfielders.
When the Dockers’ rebuild ends and they enter 2020 with finals ambitions, it is possible that neither is going to have the midfield miles in their legs to break out like other prime movers from their draft class will, or already have.
Cerra, who was regarded as classy but also tough as an under-18 midfielder, attended 88 centre bounces in his debut season in 2018, but has been removed from the centre square almost completely this season, attending just nine.
Brayshaw, who was also drafted with a good balance of inside and outside capabilities, attended 89 centre bounces last year.
His return of 100 so far this season is more encouraging, but still well down on other on-ballers, who have gone on to enjoy breakout third seasons.

Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra.Picture: The West Australian
Greater Western Sydney duo Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper are two midfielders who were given significant centre-square responsibility in their second seasons and have flourished in their third and fourth respectively.
Taranto has become a star, but the Giants put the midfield minutes into the No.2 draft pick in his second season to make it happen. He attended 241 centre bounces last year, at an average of 10.5 a game, lifting that to 18.8 a game this year.
Hopper, now in his fourth season, ranks No.10 in the AFL for centre clearances. He didn’t get there overnight, attending 187 centre bounces in his second season (14.4 a game) and 318 in his third (15.1). GWS are reaping the rewards this year.
You could argue that both have benefited from the oppor-tunities that have presented at GWS, with injuries to Josh Kelly, Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio over that time. Dylan Shiel also departed at the end of 2018.
But this is still a team in its premiership window handing responsibility to second-year players. Rebuilding Fremantle refuse to. Why?

The Dockers had one of the best midfield combinations in the first half of the season, stripping their centre-square crew back to Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Michael Walters and Reece Conca.
Using only these senior players helped cover the loss of Lachie Neale, who had attended more centre bounces than any other ground-level midfielder this season in first 17 rounds (372) — but it has arguably pushed back the development of Cerra and Brayshaw.
Only six Fremantle midfielders have seen more than 20 centre bounces all season — Fyfe (329), Mundy (266), Conca (204), Walters (203), Brayshaw (100) and Darcy Tucker (57). Mitch Crowden was thrown in for 11 in his first game for the season against West Coast in round 16.
The Dockers saw first-hand last Saturday what is possible when responsibility is handed to a young midfielder.
After attending 90 centre bounces in his debut season last year, James Worpel was ready to step up in the absence of Tom Mitchell this season, attending 282 (17.6 a game) so far.
He was the leading clearance player in the game against the Dockers down in Launceston e with nine, also racking up 33 possessions through the midfield to earn 10 coaches’ votes.
Every player comes into the game differently, and they develop at different rates.
But if Taranto, Hopper and Worpel can be given opportunities to develop as young on-ballers, why can’t Brayshaw and Cerra in a shallow Fremantle midfield? You don’t have to wait for injuries to occur during a rebuild.

Brayshaw has done 100 with 6 games to go and therefore isn’t a valid point.

Cerra on the other hand needs to go in the middle for the remaining 6 games.

 

[Scham]

Eagles draft players for the positions they will play, then play them there.

Freo draft midfielders and play them everywhere else. Even in the WAFL. Peel had Dixon, Carter and Sturt all in their back 50 at one stage. I kid you not.

O’Reilly was with them too. Seriously.

 

[WilloTree]

O’Reilly was with them too. Seriously.

Jason Carter was told he had to leave Claremont as one of the highest rated midfielders in the state, only to get dumped behind the ball at Peel for 12 months. If he'd stayed at Claremont we would have been struggling to match a bid in the 1st Round for him.

 

[mike91]

Fremantle Dockers must plan for future with highly-rated duo Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw
Nathan SchmookThe West Australian
Saturday, 20 July 2019 2:00AM

Jeff Farmer's son Kobe dreams of AFL
2:08 | Today Tonight


Play Video

Are Fremantle doing everything in their power to develop Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw into elite midfielders as soon as they can?
Stats show they are not and it should be a discussion point entering the final stages of a four-year rebuild.
Brayshaw and Cerra arrived at Fremantle as two of the best junior midfielders in the country, but the way they have been used in their second seasons is puzzling for a team that is being overhauled and in need of quality midfielders.
When the Dockers’ rebuild ends and they enter 2020 with finals ambitions, it is possible that neither is going to have the midfield miles in their legs to break out like other prime movers from their draft class will, or already have.
Cerra, who was regarded as classy but also tough as an under-18 midfielder, attended 88 centre bounces in his debut season in 2018, but has been removed from the centre square almost completely this season, attending just nine.
Brayshaw, who was also drafted with a good balance of inside and outside capabilities, attended 89 centre bounces last year.
His return of 100 so far this season is more encouraging, but still well down on other on-ballers, who have gone on to enjoy breakout third seasons.

Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra.Picture: The West Australian
Greater Western Sydney duo Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper are two midfielders who were given significant centre-square responsibility in their second seasons and have flourished in their third and fourth respectively.
Taranto has become a star, but the Giants put the midfield minutes into the No.2 draft pick in his second season to make it happen. He attended 241 centre bounces last year, at an average of 10.5 a game, lifting that to 18.8 a game this year.
Hopper, now in his fourth season, ranks No.10 in the AFL for centre clearances. He didn’t get there overnight, attending 187 centre bounces in his second season (14.4 a game) and 318 in his third (15.1). GWS are reaping the rewards this year.
You could argue that both have benefited from the oppor-tunities that have presented at GWS, with injuries to Josh Kelly, Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio over that time. Dylan Shiel also departed at the end of 2018.
But this is still a team in its premiership window handing responsibility to second-year players. Rebuilding Fremantle refuse to. Why?

The Dockers had one of the best midfield combinations in the first half of the season, stripping their centre-square crew back to Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Michael Walters and Reece Conca.
Using only these senior players helped cover the loss of Lachie Neale, who had attended more centre bounces than any other ground-level midfielder this season in first 17 rounds (372) — but it has arguably pushed back the development of Cerra and Brayshaw.
Only six Fremantle midfielders have seen more than 20 centre bounces all season — Fyfe (329), Mundy (266), Conca (204), Walters (203), Brayshaw (100) and Darcy Tucker (57). Mitch Crowden was thrown in for 11 in his first game for the season against West Coast in round 16.
The Dockers saw first-hand last Saturday what is possible when responsibility is handed to a young midfielder.
After attending 90 centre bounces in his debut season last year, James Worpel was ready to step up in the absence of Tom Mitchell this season, attending 282 (17.6 a game) so far.
He was the leading clearance player in the game against the Dockers down in Launceston e with nine, also racking up 33 possessions through the midfield to earn 10 coaches’ votes.
Every player comes into the game differently, and they develop at different rates.
But if Taranto, Hopper and Worpel can be given opportunities to develop as young on-ballers, why can’t Brayshaw and Cerra in a shallow Fremantle midfield? You don’t have to wait for injuries to occur during a rebuild.

Probably the best and most accurate article you'll read this year. Cerra has gone from 88 to 9. No words for that, rebuild my f***ing ass, that shows how pathetic our development of him has been. GWS have been a finals team for years, yet they still played there young kids in the middle. Meanwhile we've been garbage, supposedly rebuilding and we don't play our kids through there.

 

[Scham]

Deluca making his debut today. Good on him. Hope he goes well.

 

[silverscope]

Probably the best and most accurate article you'll read this year. Cerra has gone from 88 to 9. No words for that, rebuild my f***ing ass, that shows how pathetic our development of him has been. GWS have been a finals team for years, yet they still played there young kids in the middle. Meanwhile we've been garbage, supposedly rebuilding and we don't play our kids through there.

I think our early season form really played with Ross and co's head. They must of thought holy s**t we're a chance to play finals and we haven't even needed the young guys through the middle. Then injuries and form (or lack there of) took over and all of a sudden we're in a big hole and have missed a huge opportunity to develop the players of the future for the sake of the hope of finals.

Just makes me sad tbh.

 

[silverscope]

Here is a interesting quote from May this year

Lyon praises ‘unbelievable’ young mids

Ross Lyon believes the best football of Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra is yet to come

www.fremantlefc.com.au

The 19-year-olds have handled an increase in their midfield minutes, with Brayshaw rotating from half forward to attend nine centre bounces against the Tigers and Cerra switching from half back to attend five centre bounces.

“They are eight games into their second year,” Lyon said.

“What they have done to maintain their preparation and their attitude and play when they have been physically worn out has been unbelievable.”

“We are still two years off seeing the best of them but they are already strong contributors for us.”

Interesting that of Cerra's 9 he had 5 in one game and Ross thinks their best is still 2 years away (2021).