Season 2009

[raiders07]

With the 2008 AFL Season coming to a close today I thought I'd have a look at the likely Fremantle squad for 2009. Peter Bell, Heath Black, Josh Carr, Matthew Carr, Ryley Dunn, Jeff Farmer, Mark Johnson, Shaun McManus, Robert Warnock and Luke Webster are gone from the club and Ryan Murphy and David Mundy have signed on for 2009 and beyond.

Josh Carr will be interesting, because I think he can be picked up in the pre-season draft, but if the dockers can get pick 38 then this would be the best option but will probably only get pick 54. Robert Warnock will be another intersting one with Carlton reluctant to give up it's 1st or 2nd round selections. However though I think it is possible that we could get a player and pick 24(Carlton's 2nd round selection). Possible players could be Paul Bower who is a key position back man and stands at 192 cm, 87 kg. He could be useful with Mcpharlin taking the best defender then Bower taing the 2nd and Grover taking the 3rd best. Paul Bower is also from Peel so there could be a go home factor.

The midfield will be boosted by the return of Paul Haselby and Des Headland and another pre-season will also benefit Rhys Palmer, Clayton Hinkley Paul Duffield, Garrick Ibbotson and Chris Mayne. Look for these players in the midfield next season along with Byron Schammer, Ryan Crowley, Andrew Foster, David Mundy and Brock O'Brien. Also if we pick up Daniel Rich then he could also play a substantial part of the season barring injury of course.

The forward line won't change much but hopefully Murphy can start to perform alongside Tarrant and Pavlich. Also if we get Haydn Ballayntne then he will probably play as our small forward and with Headland and Bradley rotating through the forward 50 we could have a pretty dangerous forward line in 2009 if used properly.

Leave your comments on what you think season 2009 could be for the Fremantle Footall Club

 

[The Night Shift]

hoping for the best but expecting the worst. We are in basically a total rebuild... perhaps a phased rebuild... but we are going to find it hard to consistantly match the pacesetters unfortuately... I hope I am wrong

 

[chook2734]

I don't think we can expect much, if anything from our draftees for '09. Another Palmer would be a dream come true, but can't see who could do it. Our best hope is if we pick up a couple of mature agers from the WAFL who can slot in. Based on what we know we've got -:

Forward line - expect Murphy (or Campbell should he stay) to get an extended run as the main focal point up forward. Hasleby &/or Headland to rotate through a half-forward flank and the middle. Taz to continue his link role and Pav to play anywhere between CHF and the midfield.

Back line - this is more hope than anything. We need to get as close to a full season out of Grover and Hayden as possible, and McPharlin needs to remain down back more often than not. At least one of Drum or Johnson to stand up, even if only as the 2nd/3rd tall defender. I've got my doubts that Johnno can do this, so we may need to find another role for him (forward line with Pav going midfield?). I think Ibbo will play off half-back and rotate through the middle, Josh Head to get more opportunity and the BF favourite Thornton to continue on his merry way.

Midfield - Perhaps the area I'm most excited about. Sandilands to take another step, he needs to improve his physicality and his kicking (not so much a skill problem as he tends to rush things too much) and his forward line work. Bradley to provide good back-up to Sandilands and rotate between the wing and half-forward.
If Palmer, Schammer, Mundy and Duffield can continue on with their form of the last 6 weeks of the season, we look ok. Solomon, Headland, Hasleby and Crowley will also need to play well. We have some unknowns in Hinkley, Foster, O'Brien and Mayne who can also play here and Ibbotson can rotate through.

Others - it's make or break for Peake and Dodd. I have a feeling Dodd will need to reinvent himself if he's to survive beyond '09. Peake I can't see changing too much and think he'll be relying on injuries to maintain a spot. Gilmore I'm not sure where he fits and never really have been. Possibly is in the same boat as Dodd.

 

[silverscope]

I don't think we can expect much, if anything from our draftees for '09. Another Palmer would be a dream come true, but can't see who could do it. Our best hope is if we pick up a couple of mature agers from the WAFL who can slot in. Based on what we know we've got -:

Forward line - expect Murphy (or Campbell should he stay) to get an extended run as the main focal point up forward. Hasleby &/or Headland to rotate through a half-forward flank and the middle. Taz to continue his link role and Pav to play anywhere between CHF and the midfield.

Back line - this is more hope than anything. We need to get as close to a full season out of Grover and Hayden as possible, and McPharlin needs to remain down back more often than not. At least one of Drum or Johnson to stand up, even if only as the 2nd/3rd tall defender. I've got my doubts that Johnno can do this, so we may need to find another role for him (forward line with Pav going midfield?). I think Ibbo will play off half-back and rotate through the middle, Josh Head to get more opportunity and the BF favourite Thornton to continue on his merry way.

Midfield - Perhaps the area I'm most excited about. Sandilands to take another step, he needs to improve his physicality and his kicking (not so much a skill problem as he tends to rush things too much) and his forward line work. Bradley to provide good back-up to Sandilands and rotate between the wing and half-forward.
If Palmer, Schammer, Mundy and Duffield can continue on with their form of the last 6 weeks of the season, we look ok. Solomon, Headland, Hasleby and Crowley will also need to play well. We have some unknowns in Hinkley, Foster, O'Brien and Mayne who can also play here and Ibbotson can rotate through.

Others - it's make or break for Peake and Dodd. I have a feeling Dodd will need to reinvent himself if he's to survive beyond '09. Peake I can't see changing too much and think he'll be relying on injuries to maintain a spot. Gilmore I'm not sure where he fits and never really have been. Possibly is in the same boat as Dodd.

Agree with most of what your saying i just have a couple of points and feel free provide "feedback" on what i say;

First point: I agree johnno isn't the best when it comes to defending one on one but his skill and precision coming out of the back line is supurb and i believe him ibbo or hayden can easily rotate through that position, as long as they play like a team then i'm sure he'll get alot of help and maybe take that "defensive" foward out of the game that alot of teams are using to quell the runners off half back.

second: thornton is a dud (doesn't even deserve a capital letter for the t) and the only reason i believe he is in the side is because all year its been mainly him and McPharlin who break the lines and get the ball moving fast. but with ibbo, johnson and hayden i dont think thornton is needed because he couldnt defend a pile of shit from a pooper scooper.

third: Totally agree with the peake/dodd/gilmore point but i would have hope for dodd because i believe with a bit more fitness and a good pre-season he could probably rotate through the middle (didn't he do some tagging roles this year? thats what i mean) peake is tricky because he is a great runner and has a little speed but just comes up short when it comes to AFL to inconsistant IMO. Gilmore...... well.... cya mate... i dont think he will be around for longer.

Finally the thing i'm looking foward to next year is not the potential players we will get or lose but the fact that even i (living in country vic) can see that not only is the game style changing but the hunger is coming and its in no small part to the coaches who i think have done a great job this year despite what some twats say in the media.

 

[salim malik]

Just a quick update from the bookies on 2009,we are on $16,same as Carlton and in the eight.WC are $35 and 15th.

 

[raiders07]

we already have 10 departures so far this season so some players that would of got cut might be saved because of the amount of players already left.

salim that evaluation is probably based on the amount of close games that the dockers lost. If we would of won those close games then we would of finished with 11 or 12 wins and maybe inside the eight

 

[Ripper]

we already have 10 departures so far this season so some players that would of got cut might be saved because of the amount of players already left.

salim that evaluation is probably based on the amount of close games that the dockers lost. If we would of won those close games then we would of finished with 11 or 12 wins and maybe inside the eight

We would have been top 4 with 14 wins if we had won all the ones We lost by <10 points.

Not really much different to 2007 where we lost 3 by <10 points which would have given us a home final.

The best performance IMO of this year was the Sydney game and probably the only player that won't be here next year that played that game is Josh.

http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/2008/081620080809.html

 

[Rob]

Our level of competitiveness will almost exclusively come down to our level of injuries. Our best 22 is well and truly good enough to make the 8. If we have more than a handful of injuries, we're going to expose the kids that are more than likely not going to be up to the standard yet. Then it could get ugly.

 

[Ripper]

Our level of competitiveness will almost exclusively come down to our level of injuries. Our best 22 is well and truly good enough to make the 8. If we have more than a handful of injuries, we're going to expose the kids that are more than likely not going to be up to the standard yet. Then it could get ugly.

Nail hammer head.

 

[E Shed]

Nail hammer head.

Indeed.

 

[Scham]

Indeed.

Yep, I'll third that.

 

[freo1]

Yep, I'll third that.

fourth'd

 

[raiders07]

True, our weakest area is now our midfield we need a couple of good midfielders in the coming draft and another key position backman and a small forward. Hopefully we get Ballantyne and Rich

 

[YALLS]

The chemistry started this year with Palmer, Mayne and Ibbo. Our new draftees will see whats possible with hard work and will have the hunger to cement a spot ala the 3 I mentioned. Mark Harvey is rebuilding earlier than he hoped but as Clarkson did he will stick it up the naysayers soon enough.
I think with the addition of Hase and DJ we will bolster that midfield which will take a heap of pressure of our young guys. Look for Ibbo to be regarded as our premier midfielder next year and poll well in the Brownlow.
I'm genuinely excited about our new direction and have faith in Mr Harvey and Mr Bond with the direction they are leading us.

 

[theGav56]

The sense of a new eginning is genuinely exciting, and I think we could finish anywhere. Well almost. Bottom 2 or finals are both on the cards.

 

[The Night Shift]

The sense of a new eginning is genuinely exciting, and I think we could finish anywhere. Well almost. Bottom 2 or finals are both on the cards.

Agreed it's exciting..

But we are goning to ride a different rollercoaster this season of the ups and down of what is a younger team. Perhaps Pav, Hase, McPharlin, Headland can help to guide the team so we are not so suseptable to dramatic form swings as seems to be the norm with young sides...

 

[theGav56]

Agreed it's exciting..

But we are goning to ride a different rollercoaster this season of the ups and down of what is a younger team. Perhaps Pav, Hase, McPharlin, Headland can help to guide the team so we are not so suseptable to dramatic form swings as seems to be the norm with young sides...

Yes, and that's a fair enough ask from those players (apart from the injnury situation with Hase and Headland). But the stability really should come from the next level down in Mundy, Johnson, Sandliands, Schammer etc. I think they have the greatest room for improvment in terms of their consistency, as well as some ability to improve their game.

 

[raiders07]

The chemistry started this year with Palmer, Mayne and Ibbo. Our new draftees will see whats possible with hard work and will have the hunger to cement a spot ala the 3 I mentioned. Mark Harvey is rebuilding earlier than he hoped but as Clarkson did he will stick it up the naysayers soon enough.
I think with the addition of Hase and DJ we will bolster that midfield which will take a heap of pressure of our young guys. Look for Ibbo to be regarded as our premier midfielder next year and poll well in the Brownlow.
I'm genuinely excited about our new direction and have faith in Mr Harvey and Mr Bond with the direction they are leading us.

don't know about Ibbo being regarded as the premier midfielder and polling well in the Brownlow. Yes next year he will be in our top 5 midfielders but is still a couple of seasons away from reaching his peak as a player but showed very promising signs this season

 

[brose]

the bookies seem to over-rate us every year, its fascinating. no other club could win as many games as we did this year, have an unproven coach, have half our list retire or ask to be traded and not be rated in serious contention for the wooden spoon. That said, a good, injury free year from our upper and middle tier players and a few youngsters coming on quicker than expected i think we can realistically make the eight. As can any club except WCE/MELB.

 

[dominguez]

the bookies seem to over-rate us every year, its fascinating. no other club could win as many games as we did this year, have an unproven coach, have half our list retire or ask to be traded and not be rated in serious contention for the wooden spoon. That said, a good, injury free year from our upper and middle tier players and a few youngsters coming on quicker than expected i think we can realistically make the eight. As can any club except WCE/MELB.

I was shocked to see the odds too Brose. I'm not predicting doom and gloom but those odds were a real surprise.

 

[Freomaniac]

the scary thing is that we all dont know where we will finish. Im still praying not the spoon.

 

[ImperialPurple]

A team that has Pav, Sandi, McPharlin, Hayden, Taz, Palmer - and to a lesser extent Hase, Headland, Ibbo, Mundy, Mayne + 2008 #3 draft pick is not a spoon side. Maybe bottom 4 (again), but not bottom bottom. I think that will again be occupied by Melbourne...

I'm suggesting ~ 10th. There ya go - out on a limb.