Our Most Important Player

[Alfonz]

It's all well and good to throw up names like Hill, D.Pearce, Walters, Crowley into the debate ... but let's be serious, they are nowhere near our most important players. Everybody has some level of importance, some more than others ... but it is still the 3 aging talls and our 2 best mids (Fyfe and Mundy) who will ultimately have the most impact on our fate.

A lot of people forget our 2012, and act like 2013 was a bolt out of the blue. In many ways it was a big leap, but I honestly think we were very close to winning the flag in 2012. Two big problems ... McPharlin and Pavlich. The former would not have let Taylor Walker go berserk. The latter tweaked something vs Geelong and was immobile vs Adelaide. If those two guys were fit (or even 75% fit), I have zero doubt we beat Adelaide. They almost beat the Hawks, so logic says we would have also been in that game. Winning 4 road games would have maybe proved too much, but on talent/form, we were right up there by the end of 2012. It just took us a while to learn the gameplan and our regular season ladder position suffered.

Anyway ... for me it is still McPharlin and Pavlich. I'd probably lean to McPharlin. We saw that Lyon thought it better to play a severely underdone (and still injured) McPharlin in the finals, rather than the alternative. And without Pavlich up front, our forward line becomes very average.

Even in their old age and perhaps reduced capacity (c.f. their prime), we desperately need the two bookends to be on the field come September. We can beat average sides without them (as we did last year), but we would need a rare midfield annihilation (admittedly this happened in the prelim) against the top sides in a big final.

 

[FreoGirl]

I agree that it's Fyfe

was secretly surprised Duffield didn't get a mention

 

[E Shed]

The big 3 for me. No one has more impact than Sandi. He is the difference when he's absolutely on song. The best big man in the game. Then Luke, then Pav.

 

[clogged]

Agree with those who nominate the big three. Of those Pavlich is the most important. There is depth in the ruck than can cover for Sandilands, the side can defend most games without McPharlin, but Pavlich improves the side by at least 3 goals.

That's not to underplay the value of McPharlin or Sandilands, but the difference between Fremantle with Pavlich and without is enormous.

Hopefully though they all become less crucial this season

 

[Righteo]

In a huge final against the very best opposition... i would still say a bloke called Aaron Sandilands can be the difference between a win and a loss. Closely followed by McPharlin

The service he gave to Barlow/Mundy/Fyfe in the Geelong final won us the game. I would love to see Sandi hit the finals this year with at least 5-6 consecutive games under his belt.

 

[go_the_dockers]

The service he gave to Barlow/Mundy/Fyfe in the Geelong final won us the game. I would love to see Sandi hit the finals this year with at least 5-6 consecutive games under his belt.

I would like to see Sandi\Pav\McPharlin be rested for 3 games each this year.

Johnson can be rested for 2-3, and anyone else who is feeling sore should be rested as well. We have unbelievable depth and we should use it.

 

[Righteo]

I would like to see Sandi\Pav\McPharlin be rested for 3 games each this year.

Johnson can be rested for 2-3, and anyone else who is feeling sore should be rested as well. We have unbelievable depth and we should use it.

Hell mate I'd go one further and double it to 6 games each, as long as those games are in the first half of the season. Player management of the older guys is the key to the flag, as good as our depth is these days the consensus here is still that the big three vets are our most important players with Mundy and Fyfe nipping at their coat tails .

 

[go_the_dockers]

Hell mate I'd go one further and double it to 6 games each, as long as those games are in the first half of the season. Player management of the older guys is the key to the flag, as good as our depth is these days the consensus here is still that the big three vets are our most important players with Mundy and Fyfe nipping at their coat tails .

We have 10 trips away a year, I would not care if each of the big thee missed 5 of those trips each.

I would not care if they were 1-2 out from the finals as long as they are being rested and are not injured.

Geelong did this brilliantly, and we have to copy them because I am going to be very pissed of if McPharlin\Johnson\Ibbotson etc come into finals carrying an injury

 

[ozzie69]

I would like to see Sandi\Pav\McPharlin be rested for 3 games each this year.

Johnson can be rested for 2-3, and anyone else who is feeling sore should be rested as well. We have unbelievable depth and we should use it.

This can create a headache if a youngun is given a game and blitzes it, it then makes it hard to drop them for the old stagers to return. Probably a good problem to have, I s'pose.

 

[Wigarus]

Geez there are some cocky fans on here.

We aren't the best team in the AFL and there will be games we barely win and games that we lose this season.

All this talk of resting players will not happen because Ross knows more than the rest of you that getting to a grand final isn't a guarantee, top 4 isn't a guarantee and finals isn't a guarantee. I personally think that while our depth is better it is still a weakness of ours especially in the ruck, key forward and key defender positions.

 

[theGav56]

I would like to see Sandi\Pav\McPharlin be rested for 3 games each this year.

Johnson can be rested for 2-3, and anyone else who is feeling sore should be rested as well. We have unbelievable depth and we should use it.

Yeah. I would like to see caution with these players and have them managed to be fresh and fit, especially if we seem destined for the finals. If we are looking good for the finals then I am keen to see some game-time given to some of the players who may get a call up for whatever reason (injury, form, suspension). Players in the 18-25 range on our depth list. make sure players like Neale, Sheridan, Crozier etc have had some opportunities. Maybe Taberner, Smith, Apeness. You really don't want to be throwing them cold into a finals situation. Keep players fresh, focussed, motivated, involved.

BUT we need to do everything we can to try to snag a top 4 berth, and then a top 2. Would not want to sacrifice any of that for a key player having a random week off.

 

[ozzie69]

I would like to see Sandi\Pav\McPharlin be rested for 3 games each this year.

Johnson can be rested for 2-3, and anyone else who is feeling sore should be rested as well. We have unbelievable depth and we should use it.

The plan will be that towards the end of the coming season, up and coming players will supplant our dependence on these three. Other options in all three of ruck, forward and defence.

 

[Righteo]

Geez there are some cocky fans on here.

We aren't the best team in the AFL and there will be games we barely win and games that we lose this season.

All this talk of resting players will not happen because Ross knows more than the rest of you that getting to a grand final isn't a guarantee, top 4 isn't a guarantee and finals isn't a guarantee. I personally think that while our depth is better it is still a weakness of ours especially in the ruck, key forward and key defender positions.

Ummm, Ross Lyon knows full well the importance of your guns being fresh for the finals, have you forgotten the Saints game last year? I haven't seen any cockiness btw SA, I see prudent player management suggestions

It's almost like you want our veterans burned out come finals time

Nobody is suggesting rest them all for the same game or paying no respect to the opposition but calculated "general soreness" omissions will become prevalent especially with the new interchange cap.

 

[Wigarus]

Ummm, Ross Lyon knows full well the importance of your guns being fresh for the finals, have you forgotten the Saints game last year? I haven't seen any cockiness btw SA, I see prudent player management suggestions

It's almost like you want our veterans burned out come finals time

Nobody is suggesting rest them all for the same game or paying no respect to the opposition but calculated "general soreness" omissions will become prevalent especially with the new interchange cap.

There's a big difference between resting players en mass when there is absolutely no chance it will adversely affect our ladder position and keeping them in Perth for half of the away games as was suggested above.

I would be surprised if they tried to rest anybody in the first half of the season at all and they would probably only give them a week or two at most to freshen up if we were secured a top four berth.

 

[Patty_Moz]

Hell mate I'd go one further and double it to 6 games each, as long as those games are in the first half of the season. Player management of the older guys is the key to the flag, as good as our depth is these days the consensus here is still that the big three vets are our most important players with Mundy and Fyfe nipping at their coat tails .

Couldn't agree more. It's pretty obvious that these guys now struggle to finish a full season and we've proven we can win without them so rotate the resting player and give them every chance to be fit for the finals.

I don't think it's cocky it's just realistic and we need all 3 fit if we're going to win the grandy. It will also give us a chance to get games into the young guys who we want to take over from these 3.

 

[Wigarus]

Couldn't agree more. It's pretty obvious that these guys now struggle to finish a full season and we've proven we can win without them so rotate the resting player and give them every chance to be fit for the finals.

I don't think it's cocky it's just realistic and we need all 3 fit if we're going to win the grandy. It will also give us a chance to get games into the young guys who we want to take over from these 3.

What's that based on? All three players had injuries that kept them out of last year. Are you suggesting that McPharlins calf injury wouldn't have happened if he was rested in round 15?


If they are in any way at obvious risk of injury there is no way the club would play them but team balance and form and winning home and away matches would be at the forefront of the match committees mind I would think.

Everyone points to teams like Geelong for examples of players being rested but they really did nothing different to what we did this year in giving players with niggles the game off. I don't consider that resting of players really.

 

[Quokka]

Mundy's poise and skill in the GF was invaluable


You have assume everyone else is fully fit otherwise you could cay Sandilands is the most important because Griffin and Clarke are injured.

But everyone isn't fully fit so pretending they are isn't very practical.

Is Griffin likely to be ready for round 1?

If not then by that criteria it has to be Sandilands. I'm at the point where I almost don't have a preference between Griffin/Sandilands/Clarke ... any two out of three fit and playing and I'm happy but if all three are out we're screwed, although Hannath and Moller probably still make the best 4th and 5th choice ruck combo in the league

I've always said Mcpharlin in these conversations but thinking on it I'll change my vote to Pavlich. Both big loses even if one's we are finally proving we can win without but if the rest of our backline is fit then with the style we play I think we can cover having even Mcpharlin out.

We're weaker obviously but at least we're so organised now that whoever comes in gets a lot of support and can just focus on shutting down one player.

But we were caught out needing a KPF more than a few times in 2014. Hopefully someone will finally step up and take a big chunk of that responsibility off Pavlich but I suppose until we can judge that on how our newer recruits are performing Pavlich is as close to irreplaceable as anyone in a Fremantle team with more depth than we've ever seen.

 

[couldhavebeen]

Pavlich for me
His ability to take on opposition defenders and kick crucial goals .
We couldn't win without him so RTB had to invent a new game plan to cover his loss .
When ever the team is struggling to score a major he is always the go to man .
You can win the centre breaks all day but without a go to man to finish it off the opposition gets a chance to get back into the game .
With the recruitment of Gumbelton we now have a 2 pronged attack and the best 2 crumbing forwards in the league .

 

[theGav56]

With the recruitment of Gumbelton we now have a 2 pronged attack and the best 2 crumbing forwards in the league .

Can I just check, are you claiming Ballantyne as one of the best 2 crumbing forwards?

 

[clivenator26]

Some goods arguments here lads & ladettes but the answer you will soon find out is Scott Gumbletonofgoals.

Fact - he has never been part of a losing team at freo.

Enough said.

 

[scon]

Come on folks you know we don't do hypotheticals!

 

[greatgatsby]

Geez there are some cocky fans on here.

We aren't the best team in the AFL and there will be games we barely win and games that we lose this season.

All this talk of resting players will not happen because Ross knows more than the rest of you that getting to a grand final isn't a guarantee, top 4 isn't a guarantee and finals isn't a guarantee. I personally think that while our depth is better it is still a weakness of ours especially in the ruck, key forward and key defender positions.

This is defeatist talk. I think there is a case to be made that we have the best, certainly most balanced list in the AFL going into 2014. I agree that's no guarantee that we win the thing but it does mean Ross has the scope to manage the personnel as you suggest. His record suggests he is capable of doing that. Also worth bearing in mind that Hawthorn had no depth in the ruck (hell, they had no ruck!) or in defence, but their list overall delivered the goods.

 

[Freo88]

Geez there are some cocky fans on here.

We aren't the best team in the AFL and there will be games we barely win and games that we lose this season.

All this talk of resting players will not happen because Ross knows more than the rest of you that getting to a grand final isn't a guarantee, top 4 isn't a guarantee and finals isn't a guarantee. I personally think that while our depth is better it is still a weakness of ours especially in the ruck, key forward and key defender positions.

Couldnt have said it better myself. People forget other teams are improving as well. We arent as good as everyone thinks we are until we show it consistently. 1 year doesnt mean consistently. Dont count 2012- it was still an early finals exit.

 

[Freo88]

This is defeatist talk. I think there is a case to be made that we have the best, certainly most balanced list in the AFL going into 2014. I agree that's no guarantee that we win the thing but it does mean Ross has the scope to manage the personnel as you suggest. His record suggests he is capable of doing that. Also worth bearing in mind that Hawthorn had no depth in the ruck (hell, they had no ruck!) or in defence, but their list overall delivered the goods.

I dont think its defeatist talk i just think it being sensible and realistic. Its probably fair to say that not many on our board really has that much of a clue what is going on at other clubs to say we have the best depth in the league. I'm sure every other club is saying that their draftees are building as well and creating pressure for spots.

 

[couldhavebeen]

Gav Are you questioning me .

Ballas and Walters mate WTF
Who else gets close