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Round 3 2022 – West Coast vs. Fremantle Dockers
The first derby of 2022 has arrived and the stakes could not be more different for the respective teams. There is freedom from expectation for West Coast with COVID and injury smashing them early this season. The Dockers on the other hand are in desperate need of a win to back up their claims about a return to finals. Will they be able to step up in the absence of their on-field senior leaders?
Form Guide
West Coast
Little can be made of the Eagles form with them having reached deep into the well as COVID health and safety protocols bite. Even if they get senior players back this week, doubt remains over their fitness – how do those who had COVID recover in just a week? Will Gaff return from injury? Do they suffer any further hits due to health and safety protocols?
What can be said is the Eagles were gallant in defeat to a woeful North Melbourne. They still have some of their key weapons in good form, with Rioli, Ryan, Kelly, and McGovern carrying the team. Leaving too much to too few can lead to burnout, can they remain competitive?
Fremantle
The Dockers have played two good quarters of football out of eight, dominating the crows in the first half of Round 1. Concerningly, they have conceding 12 goals to 1 in the two 3rd quarters played. There is clearly a half-time issue that needs to be addressed immediately. The positive is the Dockers have won 5 out of 8 quarters played; their best is attractive, their worst horrific, consistency remains elusive.
Fremantle have displayed an exciting brand, memorably cutting West Coast to ribbons with dashing run and handball in the 2nd derby of 2021. We know what they’re capable of when things are going their way, it’s their failure to respond to what the opposition is doing that is most concerning. Is it the lack of a clear plan b (coaching issue) or is it failure to execute under pressure (player/experience issue). The observed pre-season flair under little to no pressure indicates it is likely the latter, the inconsistency being the product of an inexperienced squad that is lacking in on field leadership.
The keys for Fremantle will be: can they sustain their effort for four quarters; and can they respond quickly to the tactics employed by West Coast during the match. A thin midfield places the Dockers on the back foot, and losing centre clearances 4 to 14 against the Saints highlights this vulnerability. Winning out of the centre will give the Dockers more opportunity to play the way they want to.
Selection
There are too many unknowns for West Coast, we will have to wait and see who is available for them on Friday.
The automatic selections for Fremantle are bringing Cox and Taberner in to provide some stability and improve structure forward and back. Hamling and Banfield to make way.
Fremantle again experimented with playing three rucks against the Saints and, unsurprisingly, it did not work, again. Meek simply does not play if Darcy is fit, with Darcy showing he is the far superior ruck prior to rolling his ankle. Darcy is a test, so assuming he plays.
Midfield depth appears shallow; an issue exacerbated by Serong have a slow start to his season. With no Fyfe or Mundy, the Dockers simply must find a way to go even in centre clearances. Unfortunately, there is no one to bring in to address the issue, with Nat Fyfe and David Mundy both unavailable. Brayshaw is peaking and desperately needs Serong and Brodie to lift if they're to break even against West Coast.
Many of the faithful on this board would love to see the back of Tucker, Acres, Walters and Banfield, but we’re unlikely to see all four dropped. The issue confronting Longmuir is how young/inexperienced can he go with selection before the cumulative effect of inexperience equates to disaster? On the other hand, this conservative selection policy has failed to deliver solid wins over the first two rounds, perhaps it's time the Dockers throw caution to the wind and select a dynamic, skillful, yet highly inexperienced side? They could opt to bring in all of Brandon Walker, Liam Henry, Josh Treacy, Joel Western, Sam Sturt, and Neil Erasmus, while retaining O’Driscoll in the starting side. While all skillful players, the major concern to emerge would be an inability to win enough contests. Fk it, I'm all in!
Walters has surely run out of opportunities and for me makes way for a Neil Erasmus debut. Frederick has shown none of his pre-season form thus far, however, deserves one more opportunity with a proper forward structure around him. Fast Freddie must work on his composure, having panicked on numerous occasions over the first two rounds. Josh Treacy is breathing down his neck. Bring in Sam Sturt for Colyer. Back Sturt in at AFL level, we know he has what it takes even though it will take several games to see his best. This genuine forward line brings so much more excitement than what was seen against the Saints.
Western is another who is close to a recall. If Western could develop himself into a genuine small forward, he becomes an automatic selection. I don’t think we’re quite at that stage yet.
The backline is mostly stable other than Cox’s return, though Brandon Walker must be close and I'd be bringing him in. Send Chapman up the ground to make room for this exciting young back.
Finally, the most controversial of positions for the Dockers, the wing. Which combination of Aish, Acres, Tucker, and Henry do the Dockers select? Perhaps none of them! The current set up is… malfunctioning. I’m calling for Henry, Tucker, Chapman, and O’Driscoll to form the quartet of wingers. This means Henry back in with Acres and Aish dropped. Acres and Tucker have similar flaws, which is an inability to think and act quickly. Tucker being the better kick gets the nod ahead of Acres. Henry on the other hand has lightening fast reflexes, is a great decision maker, and a precision kick inside 50, with his issue being he is too slight, goes missing, and offers little in the contest. On balance I prefer Henry over Acres. Finally, I drop Aish mostly because I want to see a bigger body on the defensive side winger, so O’Driscoll/Chapman to fill that role.
To summarise, it would be so easy to just bring in all the kids, however, the line must be drawn somewhere, so I'm limiting changes to a mere seven (six if you don't count O'Driscoll as an in).
In: Cox, Taberner, Henry, Erasmus, O’Driscoll, Walker, Sturt
Out: Acres, Walters, Hamling, Banfield, Meek, Aish, Colyer
B: Walker, Pearce, Ryan
HB: Young, Cox, Clark
C: Chapman, Brayshaw, Tucker
HF: Frederick, Taberner, Erasmus
F: Schultz, Lobb, Sturt
Followers: Darcy, Serong, Brodie
Int: Henry, Switkowski, Logue, O’Driscoll
Sub: Crowden/Acres/Aish/Colyer
The Game
What will transpire on Sunday? The lack of certainty surrounding West Coast makes predicting anything about the game virtually impossible. The Dockers must focus on themselves, ensuring they bring the energy to win the midfield contest, and continue to be daring when the pressure rises. Should they resort to chip kicks in the backline, don't be surprised if West Coast end up on top.
The return of Taberner brings much needed structure to the forward half and playing one main ruck should add speed and spread. Should Fremantle go even in the clearances then they will win this game, having shown they can be deadly from scores via turnover. Expose West Coast’s weaknesses, be bold, play fast from the turnover, and ensure deep entries inside 50.
And I'm fricken excited to see Erasmus play!
Prediction: Fremantle by 15 points.
The first derby of 2022 has arrived and the stakes could not be more different for the respective teams. There is freedom from expectation for West Coast with COVID and injury smashing them early this season. The Dockers on the other hand are in desperate need of a win to back up their claims about a return to finals. Will they be able to step up in the absence of their on-field senior leaders?
Form Guide
West Coast
Little can be made of the Eagles form with them having reached deep into the well as COVID health and safety protocols bite. Even if they get senior players back this week, doubt remains over their fitness – how do those who had COVID recover in just a week? Will Gaff return from injury? Do they suffer any further hits due to health and safety protocols?
What can be said is the Eagles were gallant in defeat to a woeful North Melbourne. They still have some of their key weapons in good form, with Rioli, Ryan, Kelly, and McGovern carrying the team. Leaving too much to too few can lead to burnout, can they remain competitive?
Fremantle
The Dockers have played two good quarters of football out of eight, dominating the crows in the first half of Round 1. Concerningly, they have conceding 12 goals to 1 in the two 3rd quarters played. There is clearly a half-time issue that needs to be addressed immediately. The positive is the Dockers have won 5 out of 8 quarters played; their best is attractive, their worst horrific, consistency remains elusive.
Fremantle have displayed an exciting brand, memorably cutting West Coast to ribbons with dashing run and handball in the 2nd derby of 2021. We know what they’re capable of when things are going their way, it’s their failure to respond to what the opposition is doing that is most concerning. Is it the lack of a clear plan b (coaching issue) or is it failure to execute under pressure (player/experience issue). The observed pre-season flair under little to no pressure indicates it is likely the latter, the inconsistency being the product of an inexperienced squad that is lacking in on field leadership.
The keys for Fremantle will be: can they sustain their effort for four quarters; and can they respond quickly to the tactics employed by West Coast during the match. A thin midfield places the Dockers on the back foot, and losing centre clearances 4 to 14 against the Saints highlights this vulnerability. Winning out of the centre will give the Dockers more opportunity to play the way they want to.
Selection
There are too many unknowns for West Coast, we will have to wait and see who is available for them on Friday.
The automatic selections for Fremantle are bringing Cox and Taberner in to provide some stability and improve structure forward and back. Hamling and Banfield to make way.
Fremantle again experimented with playing three rucks against the Saints and, unsurprisingly, it did not work, again. Meek simply does not play if Darcy is fit, with Darcy showing he is the far superior ruck prior to rolling his ankle. Darcy is a test, so assuming he plays.
Midfield depth appears shallow; an issue exacerbated by Serong have a slow start to his season. With no Fyfe or Mundy, the Dockers simply must find a way to go even in centre clearances. Unfortunately, there is no one to bring in to address the issue, with Nat Fyfe and David Mundy both unavailable. Brayshaw is peaking and desperately needs Serong and Brodie to lift if they're to break even against West Coast.
Many of the faithful on this board would love to see the back of Tucker, Acres, Walters and Banfield, but we’re unlikely to see all four dropped. The issue confronting Longmuir is how young/inexperienced can he go with selection before the cumulative effect of inexperience equates to disaster? On the other hand, this conservative selection policy has failed to deliver solid wins over the first two rounds, perhaps it's time the Dockers throw caution to the wind and select a dynamic, skillful, yet highly inexperienced side? They could opt to bring in all of Brandon Walker, Liam Henry, Josh Treacy, Joel Western, Sam Sturt, and Neil Erasmus, while retaining O’Driscoll in the starting side. While all skillful players, the major concern to emerge would be an inability to win enough contests. Fk it, I'm all in!
Walters has surely run out of opportunities and for me makes way for a Neil Erasmus debut. Frederick has shown none of his pre-season form thus far, however, deserves one more opportunity with a proper forward structure around him. Fast Freddie must work on his composure, having panicked on numerous occasions over the first two rounds. Josh Treacy is breathing down his neck. Bring in Sam Sturt for Colyer. Back Sturt in at AFL level, we know he has what it takes even though it will take several games to see his best. This genuine forward line brings so much more excitement than what was seen against the Saints.
Western is another who is close to a recall. If Western could develop himself into a genuine small forward, he becomes an automatic selection. I don’t think we’re quite at that stage yet.
The backline is mostly stable other than Cox’s return, though Brandon Walker must be close and I'd be bringing him in. Send Chapman up the ground to make room for this exciting young back.
Finally, the most controversial of positions for the Dockers, the wing. Which combination of Aish, Acres, Tucker, and Henry do the Dockers select? Perhaps none of them! The current set up is… malfunctioning. I’m calling for Henry, Tucker, Chapman, and O’Driscoll to form the quartet of wingers. This means Henry back in with Acres and Aish dropped. Acres and Tucker have similar flaws, which is an inability to think and act quickly. Tucker being the better kick gets the nod ahead of Acres. Henry on the other hand has lightening fast reflexes, is a great decision maker, and a precision kick inside 50, with his issue being he is too slight, goes missing, and offers little in the contest. On balance I prefer Henry over Acres. Finally, I drop Aish mostly because I want to see a bigger body on the defensive side winger, so O’Driscoll/Chapman to fill that role.
To summarise, it would be so easy to just bring in all the kids, however, the line must be drawn somewhere, so I'm limiting changes to a mere seven (six if you don't count O'Driscoll as an in).
In: Cox, Taberner, Henry, Erasmus, O’Driscoll, Walker, Sturt
Out: Acres, Walters, Hamling, Banfield, Meek, Aish, Colyer
B: Walker, Pearce, Ryan
HB: Young, Cox, Clark
C: Chapman, Brayshaw, Tucker
HF: Frederick, Taberner, Erasmus
F: Schultz, Lobb, Sturt
Followers: Darcy, Serong, Brodie
Int: Henry, Switkowski, Logue, O’Driscoll
Sub: Crowden/Acres/Aish/Colyer
The Game
What will transpire on Sunday? The lack of certainty surrounding West Coast makes predicting anything about the game virtually impossible. The Dockers must focus on themselves, ensuring they bring the energy to win the midfield contest, and continue to be daring when the pressure rises. Should they resort to chip kicks in the backline, don't be surprised if West Coast end up on top.
The return of Taberner brings much needed structure to the forward half and playing one main ruck should add speed and spread. Should Fremantle go even in the clearances then they will win this game, having shown they can be deadly from scores via turnover. Expose West Coast’s weaknesses, be bold, play fast from the turnover, and ensure deep entries inside 50.
And I'm fricken excited to see Erasmus play!
Prediction: Fremantle by 15 points.
Last edited:
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