General player improvement: amazeballs

[Sweetback]

After we didn't trade much to top up our list at the end of 2014, most people wondered where our improvement was going to come from, with the usual concerns about our ageing superstars.

How was our midfield going to get better? Who was going to kick the goals?

Well, last week it was the midfielders and this week it was the forwards (except for Pav, who should have had at least two). The general improvement of some players has been a pleasant surprise. Lachie Neale is heading into elite territory, stepping into Barlow's breach, who is chopping out as a winger/forward; D. Pearce has stopped fumbling and is kicking the goals he used to miss; Fyfe has gone up another cog; Mayne has just rediscovered his form; as has Sonny; Tabs is coming on nicely; Zac Clarke is kicking goals and setting them up; McPharlin is back to carving up the dangerous opposition forwards. We've found another 5% internally and are looking really good at the moment.

 

[samFFC]

Sandi dominating around the ground too is a big plus.
And the defensive unit- outstanding.

 

[calaisking]

Everyone's stepping up to the plate and it's great to see

Having a healthy Mcpharlin and Johnson is key too. Every time the ball goes into our back 50 I feel confident the guys down there will do the job. Spurr's been great also

That being said, when Dawson is fit, does he come straight into the team? Our back line has been working fine without him and I don't see who we drop

 

[Sweetback]

Everyone's stepping up to the plate and it's great to see

Having a healthy Mcpharlin and Johnson is key too. Every time the ball goes into our back 50 I feel confident the guys down there will do the job. Spurr's been great also

That being said, when Dawson is fit, does he come straight into the team? Our back line has been working fine without him and I don't see who we drop

Dawson will have to build up his match fitness, surely. I wonder if he'll cop the Mzungu treatment or if he's an automatic. If we keep winning I'd say the former.

For the first time ever, think we've got the depth to put pressure on the positions of the entire senior squad, except for perhaps KPF.

 

[Dockernut]

After we didn't trade much to top up our list at the end of 2014, most people wondered where our improvement was going to come from, with the usual concerns about our ageing superstars.

How was our midfield going to get better? Who was going to kick the goals?

Well, last week it was the midfielders and this week it was the forwards (except for Pav, who should have had at least two). The general improvement of some players has been a pleasant surprise. Lachie Neale is heading into elite territory, stepping into Barlow's breach, who is chopping out as a winger/forward; D. Pearce has stopped fumbling and is kicking the goals he used to miss; Fyfe has gone up another cog; Mayne has just rediscovered his form; as has Sonny; Tabs is coming on nicely; Zac Clarke is kicking goals and setting them up; McPharlin is back to carving up the dangerous opposition forwards. We've found another 5% internally and are looking really good at the moment.

So much positivity SA. You should do a review on how great Perth is while you're up.

 

[Sweetback]

So much positivity SA. You should do a review on how great Perth is while you're up.

Why do you keep thinking that I'm Silent Alarm? Surely he's not the only one who's given you a serve on this site?

 

[Dockernut]

Why do you keep thinking that I'm Silent Alarm. Surely he's not the only one who's given you a serve on this site?

Don't recall him (pretty sure it's a him) giving us a serve. But you're definitely the same poster.

 

[Sweetback]

Don't recall him (pretty sure it's a him) giving us a serve. But you're definitely the same poster.

I'm afraid you're wrong.

 

[clogged]

42 possessions and three goals from a side's fifth best midfielder is a pretty phenomenal improvement.

 

[settingthebarLOW]

I think Danyle Pearce needs to be mentioned here. I found it interesting that this was mentioned in his player bio regarding preseason:

"[Danyle's] having plenty of shots on goal and lots on inside 50 entry work. He wants to improve his efficiency in that area. He’s also looking to add to his goal tally this year."

After a tough opening 3 rounds (mostly), the much-maligned veteran has displayed a considerable improvement over 2014 in his ball use going inside 50 and in general, plus with his one-touch football/miscellaneous carelessness with the ball. I know Ross doesn't normally read to much into stats, and we are only 3 rounds into the season (enough for a fantasy price increase ), but his great form is arguably reflected in:

• 1.3 goals/game
• 0 behinds (certainly a turnaround at face value from 0.8 behinds a game last year)
• 24.3 disposals/game
• 2nd in the league for I50s/game

Some have validly cautioned against vehement optimism: yes, it remains to be seen whether Pearce can maintain this for a considerable period of time, especially in finals. However, early signs are encouraging after an interrupted NAB season saw many of us (me included) automatically rule him out from best 22. Well done to him, and only good news for Fremantle especially if he maintains this rich vein of form.

Out: Out Pearce

 

[derPy]

I think Danyle Pearce needs to be mentioned here. I found it interesting that this was mentioned in his player bio regarding preseason:

"[Danyle's] having plenty of shots on goal and lots on inside 50 entry work. He wants to improve his efficiency in that area. He’s also looking to add to his goal tally this year."

After a tough opening 3 rounds (mostly), the much-maligned veteran has displayed a considerable improvement over 2014 in his ball use going inside 50 and in general, plus with his one-touch football/miscellaneous carelessness with the ball. I know Ross doesn't normally read to much into stats, and we are only 3 rounds into the season (enough for a fantasy price increase ), but his great form is arguably reflected in:

• 1.3 goals/game
• 0 behinds (certainly a turnaround at face value from 0.8 behinds a game last year)
• 24.3 disposals/game
• 2nd in the league for I50s/game

Some have validly cautioned against vehement optimism: yes, it remains to be seen whether Pearce can maintain this for a considerable period of time, especially in finals. However, early signs are encouraging after an interrupted NAB season saw many of us (me included) automatically rule him out from best 22. Well done to him, and only good news for Fremantle especially if he maintains this rich vein of form.

Out: Out Pearce

Totally agree.

There is one noticeable difference in pearces' kicking, instead of his usual bombing away up and under kicks, he's finally lowering his eyes and kicking low accurate drop punts, which are so important for i50 marks and subsequent goals!

 

[nurries]

How good is Ibbo going to

 

[masai]

Ibbo is all class.

Danyle Pearce is playing like he's got Ross's game plan, ......... run, tackle, tackle, tackle, run. Big Elephant stamp.

 

[pavsbootlace]

Don't recall him (pretty sure it's a him) giving us a serve. But you're definitely the same poster.

I think you're off the mark 'Nut. Two quite different posting styles.

 

[pavsbootlace]

It's early days yet, so it's a small sample size, but...

Compared with last year, Stephen Hill is averageing 3 more disposals, twice as many goals, almost twice as many marks and 50% more tackles. And even more i50s than last year. His DE% has gone from 66.1 to 73.7.

Danyle Pearce is averageing 24.3 disposals. 5 more than last year and a career best number by a mile. At 1.3 goals per game he's well ahead of his career average of 0.5. He's averageing 4 clearances a game which is way ahead of last years 2.5 and he's 1st in the comp for i50s with a whopping 7.0

Yeah, yeah, small sample size. But, something has definitely shifted in the Freo midfield.

 

[Schauermann]

2nd in the league for I50s/game
Out: Out Pearce

Agree. After he was first in league last year that is disappointing...

PS Is only 2nd because Swan had a lazy 15 this week anyway.

 

[Taylor]

How is Stephen Hill finding so much space? Every club has at least one player who can run, even if he is the most uninteresting superdud he can run.

 

[FreoGirl]

I've backed Ibbo for ages (first person I added to my dream team) so am thrilled to see him doing so well. Danyle and Clancee have also been playing so much better this tear! Clarke was awesome yesterday.

 

[rodney hoo]

I just love the way Clancee goes about it, hard as nails & kicks it long & staight. Clarke doing good as well some good marks around the ground.

 

[free at last]

I always knew we would improve in 2015 with the likes of Tabs,neale,fyfe,hilly,Walters etc etc still possessing a good amount of upside.
Pretty handy having a fit ibbo,Clancy,maca and jonno too.

I reckon RTB has taken stock over the summer, identified how he can evolve with the modern game too.
The guy is such a ****ing gun coach.

 

[FreoGirl]

We are very lucky with our depth and local recruiting finally paying off. It's hard to entice any of the 'big guns' to move across to WA, so it's going to be even harder for WCE to suddenly attract a formidable midfield now. They are back to where we were 10 yrs ago. It's encouraging to see players future stars like Neale and Taberner improving to cover for our veterans.

 

[freoextra]

I just love the way Clancee goes about it, hard as nails & kicks it long & staight. Clarke doing good as well some good marks around the ground.

Clancee is the interesting one to me. He was sooooooo physical on the weekend absolutley had them looking sideways and mopped up well in defence.

With Danyle playing his best football and Alex fit and looking for a game we might shortly be a team that is all about taking the Pearce

 

[JamFrank]

Could it have something to do with "no Crowley"?
Midfielders aren't worrying about helping him out, just about getting the ball. And we effectively have an extra midfielder at every contest rather than one negator.

Obviously not the main reason for our improvement, but maybe it has had some small effect.

 

[_007_]

If playing without Crowley has been a revelation, imagine what could be achieved if we removed our other negating midfielders (Suban + De Boer + C. Pearce) and started playing Mzungu, Sheridan and Crozier for example.....

Pre emptive edit: I am aware Sheridan is injured. Take your pick of Blakely, Weller or Duffy in that case.

 

[manpurple]

I think we have been saying for years but this year its really true. Its hard to work out who to drop for returning "star" players.