Prediction Round 1 Changes vs. Geelong

[GingerDocker]

I'm not suggesting Dudley or Murray play Frederick's role. You don't always have like for like replacements. But coaching is about getting the best out of what is available.

If the mindset is a player like Frederick (one of my favourites) is irreplaceable then just pack the season up right now, sack the coach, start the rebuild.

Ooohhhh, I love me a good rebuild.

 

[Duz97]

Freddy is a big time front runner looks good when we look good but in big games I’m not sure I can remember a game where he stood up and rose to the occasion. Hasn’t had 1 good final out of the 3 he’s played I reckon he’s not that big of a loss and could defs find someone to play his role and be harder when needed

 

[Big Animal]

given the availability situation, I don't mind having an adrenaline fueled debut of someone like a Murray (who's not a baby faced 18yo) who might perk up the 'we're here to do our jobs' stalwarts. I saw Bullies get over Brisbane because they really wanted it more at the end and effort overtook the difference in talent on paper. Prefer that over just moving an unamed utility forward which would be like adding an extra layer to your lasagna and expecting it to taste better. Need to add a little bit of chilli instead. Wonder if JLo likes spicy food tho.

 

[Duz97]

u duz say sum dum sht

I’m just a realist. do you trust Freddy going into big games. Do you trust him in a final when he’s shown 3/3 times he crumbles under pressure and scared for contact and won’t lay a tackle. 7 touches 8 touches and 13 touches in 3 finals with 2 goals in total ( both when down 40 btw) with barely any score involvements. Thats not a player id want to persist with

 

[Joose]

Competitions Thread 'Supercoach - Win a badge'

Jan 22, 2026

Hello All,

I'm running the supercoach league again this year.

If you would like to compete for a Bigfooty supercoach badge and bask in the glory of being the board champion please post your team like i have below.

Once I've got your team name I'll PM you the league code.

League has been filled.

1) freo84 - Young Guns
2) Mattis117 - Braysong Youngs
3) Nothing- Failed Free Agent FFC
4) BigRang - Millsy's Mob
5) Moo - Moo's Marauders
6) mainroadquarry - laoslo
7) Spirit Level - Kevin's micro Dongs
8) The McManusNose - Kneale's Knavery
9)funguy1984 - donkey364
10) malpaso - High Purple...

• freo84
• Replies: 41
• Forum: Fremantle

• 

2 spots left!

Me please rockingham aces

 

[Docker82]

I'm not suggesting Dudley or Murray play Frederick's role. You don't always have like for like replacements. But coaching is about getting the best out of what is available.

If the mindset is a player like Frederick (one of my favourites) is irreplaceable then just pack the season up right now, sack the coach, start the rebuild.

I think Murray is a very good replacement for Frederick personally.

 

[Barnabus]

I’m just a realist. do you trust Freddy going into big games. Do you trust him in a final when he’s shown 3/3 times he crumbles under pressure and scared for contact and won’t lay a tackle. 7 touches 8 touches and 13 touches in 3 finals with 2 goals in total ( both when down 40 btw) with barely any score involvements. Thats not a player id want to persist with

Yeah drop 30 goal a year player for one of the players who weren't even on an AFL list 6 months ago and have been no better than ok in the pre-season. Solid selection policy there.

 

[Randomizor]

given the availability situation, I don't mind having an adrenaline fueled debut of someone like a Murray (who's not a baby faced 18yo) who might perk up the 'we're here to do our jobs' stalwarts. I saw Bullies get over Brisbane because they really wanted it more at the end and effort overtook the difference in talent on paper. Prefer that over just moving an unamed utility forward which would be like adding an extra layer to your lasagna and expecting it to taste better. Need to add a little bit of chilli instead. Wonder if JLo likes spicy food tho.

Spicy food is fun and there is no fun in JLo’s life

 

[E Shed]

I really like what Freddy brings at times. He breaks lines and is an above average kick for goal especially from distance.
What I don't like is his footy brain and physicality or lack thereof.

I'm sure he runs the patterns he's supposed to else he wouldn't be continually selected but he doesn't seem to be able to do the math, the geometry of where he is v where the ball is and where it might go next and put himself in a position to bring pressure.

Pressure is not just about intent, its anticipating how the ball is going to fall and how the opposition might use the next man in line and putting yourself somewhere to close potential gaps that might be used to exit.

It's like if Bruce is a 10 on the scale of seeing the game unfold and being ahead of everyone else with positioning and ball use Fred would be sub 5. I sometimes watch him specifically at the ground and he often seems to run the opposite way to what my rusty old footy brain sees as where the best place would be.

Maybe thats his instructions, to hold space wide and prepare to be an outlet but I find it frustrating at times.
That and the fact he can't seem to stick tackles despite having a very impressive physique. Whether this technique or intent who knows.

I could be completely wrong but I believe Sweid in particular is going to really change the pressure level inside 50, Scerri too perhaps. Murray I see more like Freddy as a link up runner with good skills and footy IQ. He seems the most like for like to me.

Fred is a very handy player but I don't think he's a deal breaker for our forward chemistry. Switta and Reid are the ones who are the connection pieces while Bolton brings the X factor. I think Murray could do just fine in his role.

 

[The Feeder Club]

Worpel out for the pussies, which can't hurt our chances.
Relly if we can't dominate centre bounce here with our ruck advantage and them missing one of their main inside mids, we aren't doing it right

 

[FreoBraddles]

Scerri debut?

'Hidden message' on his photo... but suuurely that's not the only message?

 

[pK75]

My two cents, Murray is clearly the most like for like replacement for Frederick, however I can see Dudley coming in to play close to goals and Bolton moving into the HHF role Frederick plays. Not sure how many centre bounce rotations he will get with all of Serong, Brayshaw, Reid, Erasmus, Johnson and Jackson rotating through, so HHF may see him get into the action without being a mid.

 

[Purple_Turtle]

Optimistic about this one actually. Geelong's midfield are a bit ordinary; we should be able to beat them through the midfield and capitalise on that to win.

 

[King Huskii]

Optimistic about this one actually. Geelong's midfield are a bit ordinary; we should be able to beat them through the midfield and capitalise on that to win.

Remember when the Saints had half their team out in round 1 two years ago and we still lost

 

[heavho]

mason cox

18

Mason Cox

Age

35

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

is simply better than Sean Darcy

4

Sean Darcy

Age

27

Ht

203cm

Wt

111kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.1

3star

K

3.4

1star

HB

6.6

4star

CL

2.4

4star

HO

28.8

5star

D

6.8

1star

K

2.0

1star

HB

4.8

3star

CL

1.8

4star

HO

20.3

5star

D

11.4

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

6.8

5star

CL

2.6

5star

HO

32.0

5star

at the moment needs to start.

 

[freoextra]

mason cox is simply better than Sean Darcy at the moment needs to start.

Darcy has been training fully for the last two to three weeks and looks fine, it will be a close thing on whether he plays as he is clearly considered our best ruck.

 

[DocT]

Remember when the Saints had half their team out in round 1 two years ago and we still lost

 

[FreoRicci]

Worpel out for the pussies, which can't hurt our chances.
Relly if we can't dominate centre bounce here with our ruck advantage and them missing one of their main inside mids, we aren't doing it right

Bailey Smith tore apart Fremantle’s midfield after nearly 2 years out.

Smith, Atkins and Holmes with Blicavs rotating is the sort of midfield that outworks supposedly Fremantle’s elite. Still dangerous.

Expecting a bound back from Holmes and Smith too.

 

[Daddoo]

Need to add a little bit of chilli instead. Wonder if JLo likes spicy food tho.

I heard he's more of a Vanilla kind of guy...

 

[pK75]

Bailey Smith tore apart Fremantle’s midfield after nearly 2 years out.

Smith, Atkins and Holmes with Blicavs rotating is the sort of midfield that outworks supposedly Fremantle’s elite. Still dangerous.

Expecting a bound back from Holmes and Smith too.

Yep, don’t really understand this belief we will smash their midfield, especially if Danger is back in the team, Blicavs was soundly beaten by Witts and it’ll be interesting to see if they bring in an actual ruck against us.

Edit: looks like Stanley is still on the comeback from injury and will play managed minutes in VFL so M Cox or Darcy will be up against Blicavs.

 

[theGav56]

Remember when the Saints had half their team out in round 1 two years ago and we still lost

Two more years experience for a young emerging group of players is a massive statistic.

 

[rgauci]

Worpel out for the pussies, which can't hurt our chances.
Relly if we can't dominate centre bounce here with our ruck advantage and them missing one of their main inside mids, we aren't doing it right

The opposite in fact, Worpel is the midfielder we target as poor defensively to link up midfield chains. He’s cannon fodder. The other Geelong midfielders not so much.

 

[theGav56]

Yep, don’t really understand this belief we will smash their midfield, especially if Danger is back in the team, Blicavs was soundly beaten by Witts and it’ll be interesting to see if they bring in an actual ruck against us.

Edit: looks like Stanley is still on the comeback from injury and will play managed minutes in VFL so M Cox or Darcy will be up against Blicavs.

We have a massive advantage in the ruck. The strategies of both can aches and how they handle the imbalance is going to be really interesting.

Dangerfield in the midfield is a shock tactic now. Worpel was one of their better mids and will be missed, but they were all underwhelming especially at the clearance coalface.

They may step up being at home and having blown out the cobwebs, but the loss of Worpel is still significant.

 

[Taylor]

The opposite in fact, Worpel is the midfielder we target as poor defensively to link up midfield chains. He’s cannon fodder. The other Geelong midfielders not so much.

Yes, there is a reason he was band 4 compensation moving to a four year deal as a 26 year old. That's barely in the top half of salaries to trigger that.

Worpel is a grunt ball winner and that's about it. He's a mature body and can crash in but don't expect miracles.

He's the sort of player who would be losing his spot to a guy like Murphy Reid in the middle, purely because of what he can create ahead of Worpel.

Hawks would have easily been able to afford him, he was a restricted free agent, maybe because they needed him to stick around while their midfield rebuilt... Or maybe Geelong paid him a heap outside the cap and he's actually a star.

 

[mattis117]

mason cox is simply better than Sean Darcy at the moment needs to start.

That's pretty matter of fact considering we haven't seen either play for 6 months.

How short people's memories are. Darcy at his best is an A grader and he can find that form still.