Prediction Round 2: Changes v Melbourne

[PrancingPony]

I daresay Gawn is going to pull up a wee bit sore this weekend. Virtually played the entire game on Sunday and a hard tight one at that.

Jackson and Cox would run him ragged all day.

 

[The Feeder Club]

Yep, Max Gawn

11

Max Gawn

Age

34

Ht

209cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

6.7

4star

CL

2.8

4star

HO

35.3

5star

D

18.5

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

7.0

4star

CL

3.5

4star

HO

29.2

5star

D

8.4

3star

K

3.6

2star

HB

4.8

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

15.6

5star

the best ruckman of the last 40 years is going to be run ragged by 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

 

[Lach72]

Yep, Max Gawn the best ruckman of the last 40 years is going to be run ragged by Mason Cox

No he won’t, but if he can compete to allow Luke to at least break even we’ll be fine.

Gawn just blew up De Koning. De Koning looked like he wanted to spew for half the game.

Darcy will need an ambulance

 

[The Feeder Club]

No he won’t, but if he can compete to allow Luke to at least break even we’ll be fine.

Gawn just blew up De Koning. De Koning looked like he wanted to spew for half the game.

Darcy will need an ambulance

Yeah, breaking even would be the absolute best case scenario.
Run him ragged? ****ing laughable

 

[parano1a]

Max Gawn the best ruckman of the last 40 years is going to be run ragged by Mason Cox

Watch the 2023 Qualifying Final.

 

[King Tenz]

You may be right, but I personally don't think it is fair to drop a guy who we've recently brought in after one match, he's going to take a little bit to gel with the team. We brought him in because we know he and Clark can form an elite half back duo, give him some time to build to that, he'll get there.

Yeah that's fair.

Difference of opinion here I suppose.

 

[Cesoir]

I don't recall Jackson having a poor start? or Bolton for that matter, since people keep bringing that one up as well

You mean "no action Jackson". The West was having a field day and we had people on here comparing it to the Hogan trade.

 

[sumavich]

Longmuir will persist with Darcy, he's very conservative.
Cox will have to wait.
I would've played Cox last week, and we would've been better off

 

[Cesoir]

at least these guys are proven big match premiership players

can't really say the same for McVee can we?

In fairness, we paid pick 23 for Judd, so I'm not sure we were expecting Jackson or Bolton level from him.

I think the point is that even "stars" like Jackson and Bolton take time to gel with a new team. I'd give Judd a couple of games grace providing he isn't an absolute liability. I'd be sending Heath Chapman back to Peel before Judd and I like Heath.

 

[Minz]

What I would give for 2021 Darcy and 2022 Brayshaw. Don’t know what happened to Brayshaw; he was close to best player in the league and the next season had a heap of games off for illness or something that was never clear to me… and he’s never really been the same again. Bugger. Why can’t we have nice things?

 

[schmuttt]

Relax, you'll kick a cricket score this week and be back in the hunt.

 

[stax on the mull]

What I would give for 2021 Darcy and 2022 Brayshaw. Don’t know what happened to Brayshaw; he was close to best player in the league and the next season had a heap of games off for illness or something that was never clear to me… and he’s never really been the same again. Bugger. Why can’t we have nice things?

I'm sure I'll get a laughter emoji from the clown that calls him "crabshaw" for pointing this out, but he got more votes than Caleb in the Brownlow last season.

 

[Superkoops]

I'm sure I'll get a laughter emoji from the clown that calls him "crabshaw" for pointing this out, but he got more votes than Caleb in the Brownlow last season.

He played average against Geelong. Also seemed to be down against Adelaide.

I thought he had a very good season last year so hopefully he finds form very soon. Seems to be lacking energy. He hasn’t been able to get those run down tackles and that is through no lack of trying just not his usual zip and run the past couple of games.

 

[serial_thrilla]

Relax, you'll kick a cricket score this week and be back in the hunt.

Have you ever watched a Fremantle Dockers game?

 

[Alfonz]

What I would give for 2021 Darcy and 2022 Brayshaw. Don’t know what happened to Brayshaw; he was close to best player in the league and the next season had a heap of games off for illness or something that was never clear to me… and he’s never really been the same again. Bugger. Why can’t we have nice things?

Why are people acting like Brayshaw has been playing poorly over the last few years? He isn't at MVP levels, but in the AFLCA (which I think is a pretty good measure, perhaps the best) he came 21st in 2025 and 14th in 2024. Which is pretty bloody good. He might be more of a workhorse than a match winner, but he is still an A grade midfielder.

Something seems to be up this year as he was out of sorts versus Adelaide as well, but let's not pretend this has been his formline for years.

 

[stax on the mull]

He played average against Geelong. Also seemed to be down against Adelaide.

I thought he had a very good season last year so hopefully he finds form very soon. Seems to be lacking energy. He hasn’t been able to get those run down tackles and that is through no lack of trying just not his usual zip and run the past couple of games.

He stood out to me vs Adelaide but that maybe because I was wondering anytime he zipped into the action who was this bloke we've got playing for us that looks like he should be painting portraits.

Seriously, I'm not sure if your post is an adjunct to what I wrote or if you're trying to correct what I wrote, but did you read those recent posts closely to see the context. These people running down Brayshaw aren't just complaining about his game vs Geelong - it's like he's hardly ever been anything more than bog average. Elsewhere on the forum there was a suggestion we might have been better of keeping Weller who has averaged just over 10 games a year for the past 5 seasons.

Rhetorically I'll add, where has he been finishing season after season in the Doig and is it just some anomaly when the umps have consistently picked him in the best 3 players on the ground?

 

[ubiquitous226]

Why are people acting like Brayshaw has been playing poorly over the last few years? He isn't at MVP levels, but in the AFLCA (which I think is a pretty good measure, perhaps the best) he came 21st in 2025 and 14th in 2024. Which is pretty bloody good. He might be more of a workhorse than a match winner, but he is still an A grade midfielder.

Something seems to be up this year as he was out of sorts versus Adelaide as well, but let's not pretend this has been his formline for years.

I think the difference was he had quite a bit of visual impact, including a tendency of stepping through some trouble.
His game over the last couple of years has been less flashy and less obvious, with some down periods, so it's harder to get a read on his impact.

 

[Minz]

Why are people acting like Brayshaw has been playing poorly over the last few years? He isn't at MVP levels, but in the AFLCA (which I think is a pretty good measure, perhaps the best) he came 21st in 2025 and 14th in 2024. Which is pretty bloody good. He might be more of a workhorse than a match winner, but he is still an A grade midfielder.

Something seems to be up this year as he was out of sorts versus Adelaide as well, but let's not pretend this has been his formline for years.

Oh, i wouldn’t say he’s been bad, he just hasn’t been that top 5 player in the comp that I was hopeful he could be after that year. Still obviously someone who would get a game in the starting lineup at every single side in the comp and a good player, just not that absolute star we fans always hope for!

 

[Freomaniac]

Something that was mentioned by Mark Duffield, is the midfield mix of Erasmus, Johnson, Young, Brayshaw, Serong a bit one paced and can be exposed by the quick sides.

Bolton helps offensively, but rarely pushes back. (I think, this is not his role)

Frederick is probably a big loss in this area, and this is probably why Sharp survived so long.
Having a bit more run in the legs of Young and Switta would help as well.

Is he correct?
How can we solve this situation?
Using more rotations, on midfielders may help a bit.

Do we need to play more mids through the forward line, to get more midfield rotations and fresh legs.

If Fredrick is fit and available, bring him in

 

[barreness]

Chapman to wing/midfield/half foward

Ryan back(he must of ****ed someone mrs)

Warner out, though he tries

Cox in obvs

Idk, I'll just cover my opinion on the back half at this point

 

[thistimeforsure]

Too bloody early in the year to be back at the old “ do I want too win this week and be stuck with JLo or lose a few in a row and be done with him for the greater good down the track “ dilemma

This is not really just an emotional response to losing but it seems a LOT of pretty smart footy people* think he’s a limited coach who’s holding us back

*not counting David King amongst those

Out
Amissing - when was the last time this bloke was anything other than a disappointing, no chasing joke ? “oooh he was open so many times but the players don’t look for him !!!” I’ll tell you when players look for you , when they think you’ll get the ball and make them look good , he did lay a tackle on the w/end …. I couldn’t believe it

In Scerri / Murray don’t care which

Out Ddddarcy , just when you think you’ve seen the worst of this bloke he suddenly reminds you you’ve seen nothing yet , if I had some video editing skills I’d knock up a ‘ we are essington’ style vid of Darcy trying to jump in the centre square

Make all the excuses you want he was flogged by a 1st game beanpole

In Cox we won’t gain much in increased mobility but at least he can get off the ground when he jumps , can play fwd and at least give a viable tall target contest with the invisible man Amiss gone

I agree with other posters about giving Chappy a last throw of the dice up the field on the wing or half fwd , just get him the hell out of the backline …. he’s getting the same look of abject terror on his face that Ethan Hughes

15

Ethan Hughes

Age

31

Ht

188cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.1

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

6.8

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.5

3star

MG

182.0

3star

D

10.6

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.6

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

0.9

2star

MG

133.1

2star

D

15.8

4star

K

8.4

4star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.6

5star

T

2.8

5star

MG

185.8

4star

used to get

Longmuir won’t do any of these so in the long run ….. Out JLo

 

[swanny1234]

If we don't beat Melbourne, then mumbles is cactus

He won't be though.... that's the problem.

 

[schmuttt]

Have you ever watched a Fremantle Dockers game?

I know there is a lot of pessimism but come on, you aren't losing this one.

I'm still mad you guys lost to Geelong though

 

[DocT]

To all the posters here that are down on numerous Freo players, even suggesting that they are no bettr than WAFL standard, here is the Doig Top 10 from 2025:
2025 Doig Medal Top 10

1. Caleb Serong (213 votes)
2. Andrew Brayshaw (195 votes)
3. Josh Treacy (187 votes)
4. Luke Jackson (179 votes)
5. Jordan Clark (156 votes)
6. Brennan Cox (152 votes)
7. Michael Frederick (133 votes)
8. Sam Switkowski (125 votes)
9. Pat Voss (122 votes)
10. Heath Chapman (122 votes)

Anyone like to modify their opinion in light of the facts? Or does the evil and conservative JLo manipulate all the voting coaches into toeing his line? Or do you think you are in a better position to assess players than the whoe Freo coaching department?

Just remember that in the HnA season 2025 Freo finished equal 4th, just 2 games shy of 1st place. If you are in the Top 10 players of this team then you had a way better than average season. If you are in the top 5 then you are extremely good.
Just sayin'.

 

[Retzlaff]

To all the posters here that are down on numerous Freo players, even suggesting that they are no bettr than WAFL standard, here is the Doig Top 10 from 2025:
2025 Doig Medal Top 10

1. Caleb Serong (213 votes)
2. Andrew Brayshaw (195 votes)
3. Josh Treacy (187 votes)
4. Luke Jackson (179 votes)
5. Jordan Clark (156 votes)
6. Brennan Cox (152 votes)
7. Michael Frederick (133 votes)
8. Sam Switkowski (125 votes)
9. Pat Voss (122 votes)
10. Heath Chapman (122 votes)

Anyone like to modify their opinion in light of the facts? Or does the evil and conservative JLo manipulate all the voting coaches into toeing his line? Or do you think you are in a better position to assess players than the whoe Freo coaching department?

Just remember that in the HnA season 2025 Freo finished equal 4th, just 2 games shy of 1st place. If you are in the Top 10 players of this team then you had a way better than average season. If you are in the top 5 then you are extremely good.
Just sayin'.

Daicos not even in the top 10 says the Doig rules need to be changed