Next to debut?

[TIME IS NOW]

We blooded many youngsters over the last 2 seasons.

Question is who is next in line for their debut for Fremantle?

We have many candidates:

Jack Anthony
Peter Faulks
Jonathon Griffin
Joel Houghton
Josh Mellington
Viv Michie
Tendai Mzungu

Now some of these players have played for other clubs, and some are mature age however the question is who do you think is next in line to make debut for Fremantle?

Tendai would go close to best 22 from outset, simply by all reports.

Opinions on these blokes.

 

[PurpleGreenRed]

Think by the reports from Freo of Anthony's outing for Subi he may be up for a go...even if it's a sub!

 

[Clay Davis]

Well, you'll all be surprised, but it's me. I'm the next to debut.

 

[TIME IS NOW]

Think by the reports from Freo of Anthony's outing for Subi he may be up for a go...even if it's a sub!

Yeah he may become our lead up forward and release McPhee back into a tagging role, or defense.

Would help in our kicking at goal department.

 

[estibador]

Well, you'll all be surprised, but it's me. I'm the next to debut.

Yeah that was going to be my guess.

 

[Arcassius]

We blooded many youngsters over the last 2 seasons.

Question is who is next in line for their debut for Fremantle?

We have many candidates:

Jack Anthony
Peter Faulks
Jonathon Griffin
Joel Houghton
Josh Mellington
Viv Michie
Tendai Mzungu

Now some of these players have played for other clubs, and some are mature age however the question is who do you think is next in line to make debut for Fremantle?

Tendai would go close to best 22 from outset, simply by all reports.

Opinions on these blokes.

From that list, Gavin Roberts is next ;P

 

[leungtl]

Mzungu is close to a lock (I'm sure Harves & co haven't forgotten how dominant he was during pre-season) - the only question is whether JA or Viv can beat him to it...

 

[Nickos66]

My opinion is Mzungu & Sir Viv.

 

[prattsta]

My opinion is Mzungu & Sir Viv.

It'll be interesting with Michie. Fremantle has Peel playing him as an inside midfielder in the WAFL, where to be perfectly honest, he sucks. It's just not a role he's suited to. Peel is bad enough in the clearances; they are even worse with Michie. Plus, he's being outshone dramatically by Crichton in whatever role he's given ATM which will make it pretty hard for him to get selected.

I realise the inside midfield role is all part of the learning experience/personal development/whatever but Michie isn't exactly getting to put his best foot forward right now.

With several players set to return around mid season he'd need to get a game in the next few weeks and I just can't see it happening.

 

[Clay Davis]

Do you reckon half the motivation both WA teams want reserve teams is the utter frustration with having to put their players with Peel?

 

[Nickos66]

^Plausible!

 

[prattsta]

Do you reckon half the motivation both WA teams want reserve teams is the utter frustration with having to put their players with Peel?

LOL.

To be honest though, at a decent WAFL club Michie would have no freaking chance of playing an on-ball role. Heck, nobody at Peel wants him any where near centre bounces and there are a lot of those in games against Peel . In terms of individual development there are as many positives, as there are negatives at Peel I reckon.

 

[E Shed]

Interesting. Michie looked great inside at the centre square drills in training during the pre-season. Seems to read it well and have good hands.

 

[prattsta]

Interesting. Michie looked great inside at the centre square drills in training during the pre-season. Seems to read it well and have good hands.

Well he's not translating that pre-season work to the WAFL. I'm not saying he'll never have any ability as an inside midfielder, but right now he's a way off WAFL standard, let alone AFL standard in that regard.

I realise it's more about development and he wouldn't come into the Fremantle side as an inside midfielder but as I said, it's not exactly allowing him to stake his claim for a spot in the senior side.

 

[Man of Men]

back to the OP, it can't be houghton cause he is injured. Wont be Mellington or Shepheard or Faulks due to form/fitness. We're all hoping Griffin won't have to make his debut for freo. That leaves michie, mzungu, anthony and sibosado. Sibo is rookie listed so probably not, mzungu is injured but recovering quickly and michie isnt quite there yet apparently. Therefore its between anthony and mzungu depending on how quickly mzungu recovers and whether he plays some wafl to regain fitness

sorry, Roberts. He is playing ressies at the moment and whilst showing promise looks a fair way off

 

[Arcassius]

How does everyone forget Roberts

Chris - a little help here!

 

[Nickos66]

He might be next... If he wasn't playing half a game of ressies each week!

 

[Arcassius]

Gotta cheer for the little guys He's almost up to a full game last update - will be interesting to follow his development, next year

 

[Nickos66]

Oh yeah, definitely, I was gonna say - you & Chris need not defend against my comment, I was just telling it how it is.

It'd be good to see him crack a game for the Dees League team sometime this year. Some feedback from the club re: his progress wouldn't go astray either.

 

[theGav56]

Well he's not translating that pre-season work to the WAFL. I'm not saying he'll never have any ability as an inside midfielder, but right now he's a way off WAFL standard, let alone AFL standard in that regard.

I realise it's more about development and he wouldn't come into the Fremantle side as an inside midfielder but as I said, it's not exactly allowing him to stake his claim for a spot in the senior side.

I think we Dockers supporters have a warped expectation about players debuting. If you keep up the debut rate we have, then surely that will mean that a fair few of those who made their debut have failed to develop into best 25. No need for Mitchie to "stake his claim" this year. As you say it is about his development, and maybe the vision for their forwards involves midfield ability (seems to).


NB In addition, I think with the addition of JA, Mzungu, Lower and even Faulks we are seeing the signals of a coaching group who think we have shot in the short-term. So while those players may debut, and Pitt has, surely we can give guys time to develop.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

will be jack anthony or mellington who was awesome last week

 

[OuterWing Parrot]

will be jack anthony or mellington who was awesome last week

Prattsa makes some bizarre assertions about Michie's contribution to Peel. I watched the Falcons/Thunder game on the ABC. Viv was one of the best on ground in the first half - gathered several centre clearances, had at least a dozen clean possessions and snapped a very classy goal on his left from about 40 metres out. He was quieter in the 2nd half as his team was bulldozed by a rampant West Perth. Frankly I thought he was one of the better Peel players.

Give him a break. He's a teenager from interstate looking to make an impression in a sadly undermanned team. It's tough for any draftee at Peel to look good. How's Lycett looking???

Josh Mellington kicked one great set shot, but really only started getting the ball late in the game when Peel were shot. To be honest Ash Hansen coulda kicked four goals for West Perth last Saturday. Clive woulda kicked 10.

I think both kids are showing good signs and have a bright future with us.

 

[prattsta]

Prattsa makes some bizarre assertions about Michie's contribution to Peel. I watched the Falcons/Thunder game on the ABC. Viv was one of the best on ground in the first half - gathered several centre clearances, had at least a dozen clean possessions and snapped a very classy goal on his left from about 40 metres out. He was quieter in the 2nd half as his team was bulldozed by a rampant West Perth. Frankly I thought he was one of the better Peel players.

I'm not really sure what bizarre assertions I've made about Michie. He's not a good clearance player, Fremantle has him spending a lot of time as an inside midfielder. In terms of development, that's fine, in terms of earning a game with Fremantle, that's going to make it hard for him. That's all I'm saying.

Give him a break. He's a teenager from interstate looking to make an impression in a sadly undermanned team. It's tough for any draftee at Peel to look good. How's Lycett looking???

For a teenage recruit, looking to make an impression in an undermanned team, I'd say Lycett is looking fine.

 

[rgauci]

Have to disagree with you Prattsa. Michie was good against West Perth. He was one of Peel's leading possession winners in the first half and his disposals were clean.

His 2nd half was average, but so were the whole teams.

 

[Nickos66]

Michie's only played 1 game in & under in the clearances Prattsta, Lloyd said it himself in his weekly wrap up the other week that he looked good when thrown up in the clearances occasionally so they'd try and push him into the midfield in the coming weeks.

He's been one of their shining lights this year.

And besides, if he came into the freo lineup he wouldn't be playing the same role obviously, he'd be playing a similar role to Pitt as the outside player or across half-back or half-forward.