Round 8: Fremantle v Brisbane
Venue: Yeah right?
Despite being shut down in the Changes thread,@ PattyKwasagun, Gil yesterday gave the Freo faithful a heads up that an unplanned trip to Brisbane may be on the cards.
At time of release, speculation is rife that Gil is meeting tomorrow with John Howard to discuss the Nauru solution.
Common Traitors
Among over 300 Brisbane players and 200 Fremantle players only six have played for both clubs: John Hutton, Brendon Retzlaff, Adrian Fletcher, Des Headland, Lachie Neale and James Aish. Brisbane supporters - Mitch Crowden is a real goer. 2nd round pick and you may get lucky.
Win Loss Record
Since the Lions entered the competition in 1997, they have played Freo 29 times. Subverting the norm, this is a team for which Freo has a positive win/loss ratio – albeit marginal: 15 wins, 14 losses.
Yesterday’s Heroes
It was back in 1997 that the great Daniel Parker, precursor to Clive, Keplar and *enter name here* [my God how we are crying out for a new incarnation], monstered 3 goals 3 behinds in round 8, the first game between Fremantle and newly formed Brisbane Lions. Fremantle 14.14 (98) beat Brisbane 15.3 (93). As for Parker, he was robbed of Brownlow Votes for this, arguably his greatest AFL moment.
And we are now a decade on since bad-ass Jonathan Brown’s gutless headbutt that could have curtailed Luke McPharlin’s career, a career that was never threatened by injury... It was round one 2011 and, coming off a 3-15 2010 season, Brisbane held a 19 point lead. It was around this time that Brown, who had already kicked three goals, could foresee some burgeoning Freo magic. In his panic-stricken desperation, head-strong Brown launched his forehead into McPharlin’s knee. McPharlin, with knees made from titanium, did not yield. This could not be said for Brown’s face, however, which collapsed more with more readily thanAlex Pearce’s fibula an Iraqi dictatorship: not for the squeamish. Later likening it to going 12 months in the ring with Mike Tyson, Brown retired mid season 2014 because of ongoing episodes of concussion. His brain will make for very interesting Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy research.
Last time they played
Brisbane and Freo should feel accustomed to having their games impacted by Covid contingencies. With round one on 21 March last year, the advent of Covid meant that Freo and Brisbane did not square off until 13 June, some 13 weeks later.
A Brisbane home game, late in the fourth quarter Michael Walters kicked his second goal, bringing Freo to within range of an unlikely win. The Lions steadied, however, and won by two straight goals. Michael Walters picked up 1 vote, Fyfe 2, and Lachie Neale 3. Walters kicked 3 goals, had a team high 28 disposals and a team high 5 tackles. People saying he hasn’t played well under Longmuir take note. Fyfe? Well he had 24 disposals and 3 tackles. And, I feel like crying when I type that he kicked 3.1.
Last year’s Freo line up included Hayden Young, Luke Ryan, Brett Bewley, Brandon Matera, Adam Cerra and Bailey Banfield. Different players we fielded last week were @Joao’s lovechild Mitch Crowden, Blake Acres, Tobe Watson, Heath Chapman, Michael Frederick and Nathan Wilson.
Possible ins
With Freo crying out for defensive reinforcements, Longmuir has stated that Luke Ryan is no certainty. It is unlikely that Hamling will be good to go and Pearce, well he’s a Pearce and they are always out.
The Dockers had a good number of players feature in the WAFL over the weekend and, after such an insipid display, as well as unknown injuries, there will be changes. Josh Treacy had 18 possessions, kicked 5 goals and, encouragingly, laid 5 tackles. Meanwhile, Sam Sturt kicked 4 goals from his 14 possessions and laid 4 tackles. A number of other players – Stefan Giro, Connor Blakely, Brett Bewley and Joel Western had busy games, as did Lloyd Meek – so the match committee will at least have alternatives to discuss.
Neale is injured.
2021 – the story thus far
With both teams among the logjam of five on 16 points, they are separated by percentage, with Brisbane 17% stronger.
Going by the ladder to date, Freo has had a soft start to the year, with its wins coming against GWS, Hawthorn, Adelaide and North Melbourne, all of whom sit below Freo on the ladder. Freo have been beaten by Melbourne, Carlton and The WestAustralian Coast Eagles. So far in 2021, the words ‘honourable loss’ have worryingly been absent from Freo match reports, with good thumpings received from the latter two teams. By comparison, Brisbane have lost to the Bulldogs, Geelong and Sydney and they have beaten Collingwood, Essendon, Carlton & last week the ominously smashed Port Adelaide.
Statistics of note:
According to 2021 statistics thus far, there are many similarities between these teams. The following differences are notable:
Predictions
Changes
Out – Crowden, Hughes (inj), Chapman (inj)
In – Ryan, Treacy, Duman
Sub – Western
FyfeWatch – 2 goals 1 behind.
Venue – Brisbane
Result – Fremantle in a nail-biter.
Venue: Yeah right?
Despite being shut down in the Changes thread,
At time of release, speculation is rife that Gil is meeting tomorrow with John Howard to discuss the Nauru solution.
Common Traitors
Among over 300 Brisbane players and 200 Fremantle players only six have played for both clubs: John Hutton, Brendon Retzlaff, Adrian Fletcher, Des Headland, Lachie Neale and James Aish. Brisbane supporters - Mitch Crowden is a real goer. 2nd round pick and you may get lucky.
Win Loss Record
Since the Lions entered the competition in 1997, they have played Freo 29 times. Subverting the norm, this is a team for which Freo has a positive win/loss ratio – albeit marginal: 15 wins, 14 losses.
Yesterday’s Heroes
It was back in 1997 that the great Daniel Parker, precursor to Clive, Keplar and *enter name here* [my God how we are crying out for a new incarnation], monstered 3 goals 3 behinds in round 8, the first game between Fremantle and newly formed Brisbane Lions. Fremantle 14.14 (98) beat Brisbane 15.3 (93). As for Parker, he was robbed of Brownlow Votes for this, arguably his greatest AFL moment.
And we are now a decade on since bad-ass Jonathan Brown’s gutless headbutt that could have curtailed Luke McPharlin’s career, a career that was never threatened by injury... It was round one 2011 and, coming off a 3-15 2010 season, Brisbane held a 19 point lead. It was around this time that Brown, who had already kicked three goals, could foresee some burgeoning Freo magic. In his panic-stricken desperation, head-strong Brown launched his forehead into McPharlin’s knee. McPharlin, with knees made from titanium, did not yield. This could not be said for Brown’s face, however, which collapsed more with more readily than
Last time they played
Brisbane and Freo should feel accustomed to having their games impacted by Covid contingencies. With round one on 21 March last year, the advent of Covid meant that Freo and Brisbane did not square off until 13 June, some 13 weeks later.
A Brisbane home game, late in the fourth quarter Michael Walters kicked his second goal, bringing Freo to within range of an unlikely win. The Lions steadied, however, and won by two straight goals. Michael Walters picked up 1 vote, Fyfe 2, and Lachie Neale 3. Walters kicked 3 goals, had a team high 28 disposals and a team high 5 tackles. People saying he hasn’t played well under Longmuir take note. Fyfe? Well he had 24 disposals and 3 tackles. And, I feel like crying when I type that he kicked 3.1.
Last year’s Freo line up included Hayden Young, Luke Ryan, Brett Bewley, Brandon Matera, Adam Cerra and Bailey Banfield. Different players we fielded last week were @Joao’s lovechild Mitch Crowden, Blake Acres, Tobe Watson, Heath Chapman, Michael Frederick and Nathan Wilson.
Possible ins
With Freo crying out for defensive reinforcements, Longmuir has stated that Luke Ryan is no certainty. It is unlikely that Hamling will be good to go and Pearce, well he’s a Pearce and they are always out.
The Dockers had a good number of players feature in the WAFL over the weekend and, after such an insipid display, as well as unknown injuries, there will be changes. Josh Treacy had 18 possessions, kicked 5 goals and, encouragingly, laid 5 tackles. Meanwhile, Sam Sturt kicked 4 goals from his 14 possessions and laid 4 tackles. A number of other players – Stefan Giro, Connor Blakely, Brett Bewley and Joel Western had busy games, as did Lloyd Meek – so the match committee will at least have alternatives to discuss.
Neale is injured.
2021 – the story thus far
With both teams among the logjam of five on 16 points, they are separated by percentage, with Brisbane 17% stronger.
Going by the ladder to date, Freo has had a soft start to the year, with its wins coming against GWS, Hawthorn, Adelaide and North Melbourne, all of whom sit below Freo on the ladder. Freo have been beaten by Melbourne, Carlton and The West
Statistics of note:
According to 2021 statistics thus far, there are many similarities between these teams. The following differences are notable:
- Freo averages nearly 20 more disposals per game, the difference being in uncontested football.
- The Lions are naughty. They average 6 more frees against than we do. Nothing like this coming weekend for the umps to even the ledger.
- The Lions average 7 more tackles per game.
- Fremantle’s disposal efficiency is 4% superior and Brisbane average 8 more clangers per game.
- We average nearly four more marks inside 50 per game.
- Whilst Brisbane average 1.7 bounces per game, Freo averages 5.3.
- Tellingly, Freo conversion in 8% inferior, with Brisbane averaging 28 disposal per goral, Freo 33. Got to fix that accuracy.
- Brisbane averages 9 more turnovers per game.
- Brisbane’s averages 10.7 i50 tackles, compared with 6.4 for Freo.
Predictions
Changes
Out – Crowden, Hughes (inj), Chapman (inj)
In – Ryan, Treacy, Duman
Sub – Western
FyfeWatch – 2 goals 1 behind.
Venue – Brisbane
Result – Fremantle in a nail-biter.