Not top 4, bottom 4

Slacker

Cancelled
Joined
Aug 12, 2004
Posts
1,633
Likes
13
Location
tin shack
AFL Club
Fremantle
#26
I'm was hoping the thread title was exaggerating the point, but it appears not. I think a few of you are over-reacting quite significantly. We were just beaten by a better side (on the day) who played tactics that favoured the ground. We played a fair few young guys in fairly key roles, that made the job even tougher for us.

My main complaint about today was that Parker needed to be on Hall as he was giving the young fella a bath in the one on ones. But Connelly showed faith in him and hopefully that will be rewarded with time.

Don't mistakenly think I am happy with our efforts this year, but us dockers fans are our own worst enemy when things are looking tough. The calls for CCs sacking are premature and counterproductive. If by the end of the season we miss the 8 then come out swinging, until then I think we would all be better off keeping quiet.

On the other hand if you all want to continually voice negative points about the team and coach then go right ahead, but don't get upset when the media and greater football community treat us with disdain.

Rant over and I feel much better now :D
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

voodoo_86

Club Legend
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Posts
1,366
Likes
0
Location
Perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Pavmantle
#27
Time to start tanking and hope everyone else below us wins a few more games.. get a top 5 pick and draft a tall fast midfielder into the ranks ;)

Might get us a new coach too. Not that I have any suggestions who that could be.
 
Joined
Oct 5, 2004
Posts
2,282
Likes
32
Location
Fremantle WA
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Philadelphia Phillies
#28
It's such an even field at the moment, we could easily make it back into the 8 with a few wins. What a difference a month can make, if we get back a few players from injury it will make a lot of difference to the team.

I don't think Dodd and Polak would have done a better job than Gilmore and Schammer did today, so blaming them is ridiculous. I thought the other inclusion (Smith) did well too, all were named in the sides best players. It was the regulars that let down the team today and perhaps adapting to the SCG.
 

Plugga

Club Legend
Joined
Sep 17, 2004
Posts
1,642
Likes
4
Location
Carramar
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Manchester City, Claremont FC
#29
Re Sandi - Agreed...his best is 3 or more years away...hence he should be playing Wafl level if we had a 3rd ruckman.

Re the negativity of this thread...I've had enough with lacklustre performances. I can take a loss but not a loss when we don't take it to the opposition with fire, meaning hard tackles, aggression & hard running. When a team member does something good there should be 4-5 players telling him...not a lone player strolling across & slapping him on the arse. It appears the team has loss it's comradery.

If we are to win next week there had better be a mind change re teamwork & commitment or the Roos will kill us.
 

masai

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Jan 18, 2002
Posts
9,567
Likes
4,923
Location
A bay at Rotto
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
East Rottnest
#30
Plugga I'd hate to have you as my headmaster ...

This season 211 has improved in leaps and bounds after his week at the Gummies. I agree he aint the best ruckman in the AFL but he is making moves up the ladder.

He is marking more confidently and his kicking has been more assured. He gets alot of taps, but maybe we need to have a close look at the crumbers.

He is on the positive side of the ledger for Freo this year, along with Mundy, Johnson and Farmer.
 

marcy8811

Senior List
Joined
Oct 28, 2002
Posts
267
Likes
0
Other Teams
Fremantle
#31
Although we havn't set the world on fire, and who really could with half their side out, I still think we have performed to about where a team of our stature should be performing. Admittedly, in a few games, when we had our almost full lists, we piked. But that was only a few games. I think the rest of the games, we have performed admirably. There was no shame in sundays loss. Credit where credit is due. The young guys tried to the end, even when they were outclassed by bigger, more fancied opponents.

We should be sitting up comfortably in the 8, but isnt that how footy works? Even some of the greatest teams, when hit with a significant injury lists have fallen. What makes us so different? We were hardly a great team in the first place. For the injury list we have, I couldnt imagine having a win - loss record any greater than it is. We are a young, emerging team and as such, we have time on our side. Patience is a virtue.

On a side note, I hear Mitch Clarke at East Freo is a promicing Ruckman sized key position prospect who's being talked up as a top 3 pick. ;)
 
Joined
Jan 14, 2005
Posts
2,078
Likes
4
Location
At Work.
AFL Club
Fremantle
#32
I think some of you are missing the point. The point is most of us have been writing up that Freo COULD do this or COULD do that, and IF ONLY we will for four seasons.

There is just not enough evidence that we will do anything. We have been beaten by bottom 4 sides, we have only won over teams that had off days, we have only won 5 of our last 16, we don't display the desire required at AFL level, and we have a coach who, I think, has run his race. You only have to look at his body language in his pressers.

Sydney was probably always going to beat us but that doesn't hide the fact that week in-week out Freo gets well beaten in contested ball, has poor skills, and can't get the ball from the backline to the forward line in an efficient manner.
 

Plugga

Club Legend
Joined
Sep 17, 2004
Posts
1,642
Likes
4
Location
Carramar
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Manchester City, Claremont FC
#34
Dr Ralph Dagg said:
I think some of you are missing the point. The point is most of us have been writing up that Freo COULD do this or COULD do that, and IF ONLY we will for four seasons.

There is just not enough evidence that we will do anything. We have been beaten by bottom 4 sides, we have only won over teams that had off days, we have only won 5 of our last 16, we don't display the desire required at AFL level, and we have a coach who, I think, has run his race. You only have to look at his body language in his pressers.

Sydney was probably always going to beat us but that doesn't hide the fact that week in-week out Freo gets well beaten in contested ball, has poor skills, and can't get the ball from the backline to the forward line in an efficient manner.
brilliant - agreed fully
 
Joined
Oct 11, 2004
Posts
20
Likes
1
Location
perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Fremantle
#35
Agree with you Dr Dagg. There does not seem to be any desperation to win the ball or attack the footy hard. Players seem to be content to be second to the ball and give their opponents too much room to effectively counter them. Tackles don't stick. Lately we are outnumbered 2 or 3 to 1 in contests and no team-mate comes in to assist - the players are not prepared to run hard to create play or to help each other. Yesterday against the Swans, why continually kick to a player who had at least 2 opponents on him - where do the other forwards disappear to??????? and we are told today that we don't want to be too predictable - give me a break!
 

Dwayo

Senior List
Joined
May 8, 2005
Posts
151
Likes
0
Location
melbourne
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Fremantle
#36
Disappointing loss for a game we should have won.
Next week will be better as we get a couple of key players back.
A win against the Roos will set us up for the climb up the ladder and finals footy. It is not all lost yet for 2005 and there is still 10 mores games to go.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Rob

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Nov 8, 2000
Posts
27,186
Likes
12,679
Location
South of the river
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Peel Thunder
#37
Dwayo said:
Disappointing loss for a game we should have won.
Next week will be better as we get a couple of key players back.
A win against the Roos will set us up for the climb up the ladder and finals footy. It is not all lost yet for 2005 and there is still 10 mores games to go.
You are talking as if you expect it to happen. You haven't been following the Dockers for long have you?
 

jarman

Team Captain
Joined
Nov 6, 2004
Posts
309
Likes
0
Location
Perth
AFL Club
Western Bulldogs
Other Teams
Wallabies
#38
With a good chance that we will be in the bottom four and regardless CC will still be there, taking us on “the journey” to nowhere. What should Freo do at trade time?

- Go out and get another “ big name player” for our draft picks that will be part of CC,s magic formula for instant success.
- Use draft picks to get “quality” young players for a tilt at the GF in 2010?

IMO, accept that after 3.5 years of CC we still have an inconsistent, mediocre, middle to bottom team going nowhere. We get rid of CC and start again using draft picks.

Just totally........disillusioned. After 11 years we are still much the same.
 

jod23

TheBrownDog
Joined
Apr 2, 2000
Posts
61,486
Likes
17,879
Location
Perth, Australia
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Liverpool, Chicago Bulls.
#39
CC is the biggest problem but you do have many problems. Why you lot signed him to a longer contract at the start of the year is beyond me. As somebody mentioned you lost 5 of your last 6 at the end of last season and have gone 5-7 this year.

That is 6-13 and thats just ugly. Oh and just to rub it in WC won 8 of there last 9 and are 11-1 so far this year which would make them 19-2 :D Oh ok im just being mean now....

Seriously though your team has problems. And to be honest I think your season is already over regardless of the result against the Roo's this weekend. You still have to face Adelaide at AAMI and Melbourne at Subi. Plus your last 3 rounds are against WC, StKilda and Port at AAMI. I mean that is a tough run home.

Plus the fact that Brisbane and Port are only just waking up, competition for the 8 is only going to get a lot tougher. I expect both Bris and Port to make the 8 which means you would need 3 teams currently in the 8 to drop out. WC, Geelong and Melbourne are safe and you would expect St Kilda to make it.

With Port and Brissie pushing, Freo will need at least 3 out of Richmond, Adelaide, Sydney and North to fall over badly in the second half of the season. I cant see it happening.

Freo need a cleanout. Starting with CC.
 
Joined
Jan 14, 2005
Posts
2,078
Likes
4
Location
At Work.
AFL Club
Fremantle
#40
You can have all the optimism you want, and blame all the injuries, but we haven't played consistently good footy since mid 2003. At the end of 2003, we had an outstanding round 22 win against the Eagles but got thumped in the other two games against Essendon.

We got over the line in some early games in 2004 but we didn't play good footy. And in all the meaningful games: St Kilda, Essendon, the second derby, Kangaroos, Collingwood we got rolled pretty easily.

Same thing this year. We were pathetic against Richmond, Essendon, Hawthorn, Brisbane, and Sydney. Surely, you can all see a pattern there. At some point you have to say this isn't working. For me it was round 8 against Essendon.

Forget the Geelongs, West Coasts and St Kildas. We are now competing against last years basket cases: Adelaide, Richmond, Bulldogs, Collingwood. Doesn't that indicate something is really out-of-sync? I admire Ripper's loyalty but mate, look at the scoreboard over the last two years.
 

jarman

Team Captain
Joined
Nov 6, 2004
Posts
309
Likes
0
Location
Perth
AFL Club
Western Bulldogs
Other Teams
Wallabies
#42
Exeter said:
Cogent argument Dr Dagg.

What's the solution and how long will it take to get results?
What is for sure, CC is not the solution. He has had his opportunity to deliver and now we need to move on. Get a new coach and hope that this coach gets it right on the playing field.

The posatives of the last 3.5 years is that the club is in a good financial position and good membership numbers.

We now need a good competative football team, being lead by a competent football coach.

Look at what Whoosha has achieved in the same time.
 

Billy Hunt

All Australian
Suspended
Joined
Aug 28, 2004
Posts
707
Likes
26
Location
WA
AFL Club
GWS
#43
Question for RIPPER_46,
Would you still defend CC if we finish the season with only 9 wins? The same amount of wins we had in 2002 and 1 win less than we had in 1997.

Ric Hart, CS & CC have been selling finals to us ever since CC had his contract extended. The used car salesmen need to deliver or they have lost all credibility.
 

rickjames

Senior List
Joined
Oct 8, 2004
Posts
258
Likes
42
Location
Away....
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
LA Clippers, LA Kings, Man Utd, NYG
#44
Rob said:
You are talking as if you expect it to happen. You haven't been following the Dockers for long have you?

But its also that negative thinking and comments that riddle the club, why cant it happen?? because we are freo is crap - that excuse would have held years ago but should now.. 2 years ago we made the finals on the back of going on winning streaks of more than 3 games. Its a given this week can help arrest the slide. Win and we are 6-7 - get some cattle back on the park

Getting jimmy n haddrill back will arrest the lack of drive from the back, get carr in there and hayden n all of sudden we get the back, bench players are then allowed to come off and do their bit, some are playing now are burst players - but cant last the full game..

rant rant sorry, people should just back the club, connolly is the coach for the remainder of the year- go to the games cheer for the team...
 

rickjames

Senior List
Joined
Oct 8, 2004
Posts
258
Likes
42
Location
Away....
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
LA Clippers, LA Kings, Man Utd, NYG
#45
jarman said:
What is for sure, CC is not the solution. He has had his opportunity to deliver and now we need to move on. Get a new coach and hope that this coach gets it right on the playing field.

The posatives of the last 3.5 years is that the club is in a good financial position and good membership numbers.

We now need a good competative football team, being lead by a competent football coach.

Look at what Whoosha has achieved in the same time.

Seeing as we always compare ourselves to the eagles here it must be noted that Connolly,Schwab n co. did not come into a football club that already had 35000 members, profits out of their a$$ and established players in the squad. The entries of both these coaches were to clubs that were absolute poles apart...
 

Ripper

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Nov 6, 2002
Posts
23,162
Likes
5,954
Location
End of the Earth.
AFL Club
Fremantle
#46
Billy Hunt said:
Question for RIPPER_46,
Would you still defend CC if we finish the season with only 9 wins? The same amount of wins we had in 2002 and 1 win less than we had in 1997.

Ric Hart, CS & CC have been selling finals to us ever since CC had his contract extended. The used car salesmen need to deliver or they have lost all credibility.
If we have the majority of our players for the rest of the season , probably not.

Even so it is not really about wins as such , although winning sure beats losing. It is about setting up the club with a truely deep playing list so complacency cannot set in and the loss of a few players does not cause the wheels to fall off as happened to us in 2004 and to the West Coast in 2003.

Sometime I think that the 14 wins in 2003 was maybe the worst thing that happened to us as it raised the bar far to quickly for players and supporters alike.

The very fact that supporters are demanding and expecting finals is actually testament to what a good job the "used car salesmen" (what they have done to engender such disrespect is beyond me) have actually done so far.

Were we expecting & demanding finals before CC came along?
 

Ripper

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Nov 6, 2002
Posts
23,162
Likes
5,954
Location
End of the Earth.
AFL Club
Fremantle
#49
jarman said:
Look at what Whoosha has achieved in the same time.
Under achieved if anything. The trouble with Freo supporters is that we are constantly comparing ourselves against the mob up the road.

They have always had a better list. Lets not forget that even under Judge that they were 5th after round 11 in 2000 before thay had a horror injury run.

They had one down year in 2001 and bounced back ah la the Crows this year to be equal 4th on wins in 2002 after round 15.
Then in 2003 they were 2nd at round 15.

Round 15 is when everybody has played each other once.

You don't do that if you have a poor list. The only thing that has stopped them previously has been lack of quality depth and they have had more of that in those years than us.

Just go back and see whose WAFL players were dominating in 2001 - 2004.

It is fair to say that the bulk of the team now is made up from players that were there in 2000 with a few quality additions.
 
Top Bottom