Pace

[docker_johnno]

People are saying Freo's midfield are slow. This is not the case. Last in clearances, not winning contested balls.

Fremantle look quick when Haselby gets his hands on the footy from the ruck and releases a runner by hands. This is a matter of confidence.

Often the ball is hit down directly to Carr, Bell, Hasleby, Cook etc. They then fumble the ball, tunover is forced, clearance is lost, defence is under pressure.

We dont need to draft/trade anybody, continue playing peake, crowley and dodd. Perhaps move Hayden into the midfield. Dunn to be given a chance.

 

[Scham]

It would be good to see if Hayden can become a midfielder wouldn't it.

I've always wondered how that would go, it would give us some much needed pace around the contests.

I don't agree with you on the pace issue johnno. We do have a slow midfield, Cook, Hase, Bell, and Carr are not quick by any stretch of the imagination, and if they're on the ball together we are slow at the stoppages. I agree that we need to mix it up a bit, have one maybe two of these guys on the ball at any one time and compliment their ball winning qualities with Peake, Crowley, Headland, etc's pace. on Friday night I don't believe CC had enough courage or confidence in allowing Peake or Crowley a big enough role in our midfield and it hurt us with our lack of pace.

We should draft quick midfielders this year. In the last few drafts we have focused mainly on tall lightly framed players, while the Eagles have added to their already impressive midfield, and have proved that regardless of the quality of your KPPs you can dominate games if you dominate the midfield.

 

[coasting]

People are saying Freo's midfield are slow. This is not the case.

You need to inject some height and pace into your midfield. Blind freddie can see that.

 

[Brickie]

Browne was being developed into the midfield from midway thru last season, had a shocking injury run this year, only managed a few WAFL games but hes quick, hard at it but needs to work on his kicking accuracy but if he has a injury free pre season he'll make a bit of a diffrence.

 

[Rob]

You need to inject some height and pace into your midfield. Blind freddie can see that.

Why height? Just hardness at the ball. I disagree that a lack of pace is the reason why our midfield is poor. Not that we're quick, but when only 1/4 of the midfield is prepared to put their body on the line to get the ball, you're always going to struggle in the clearances.

 

[coasting]

I did not say your midfield is poor and I do not think it is a hardness issue at all. It can be very good on its day but it has its limitations. Many of the Dockers midfielders are small or slow or both. This creates match-up problems against a side like the Eagles with plenty of quick, tall midfielders. But I agree the major problem with the Dockers midfield has been clearances and ball-winning ability at stopages, and this has been an on-going problem for a few years now - but it would be unfair to put this squarely at the feet of the midfielders because the coaching, setup and ability of the ruckman to direct taps has a large part to do with this.