Season preview

[Lach72]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/73248/default.aspx

By Nathan Schmook and Matt Burgan 8:08 AM Mon 16 March, 2009
LAST YEAR
Played: 22
Won: 6
Lost: 16
Finished: 14th
Best and fairest: Matthew Pavlich

2009 IN BRIEF
Coach: Mark Harvey
Captain: Matthew Pavlich
Coaching staff: Chris Scott, Dean Wallis, Barry Mitchell, Todd Curley (assistants), Michael Prior (skills and development), Steve Malaxos (development)

ARRIVALS & DEPARTUES
Arrivals
NAB AFL Draft: Hayden Ballantyne (Peel Thunder), Ben Bucovaz (Geelong Falcons), Zach Clarke (Oakleigh Chargers), Chris Hall (Woodville West Torrens), Stephen Hill (West Perth), Tim Ruffles (North Ballarat Rebels), Nick Suban (North Ballarat Rebels), Michael Walters (Swan Districts)
NAB AFL Rookie Draft: Greg Broughton (Subiaco), Casey Sibasado (Oakleigh Chargers), Matthew DeBoer (Claremont), Clancee Pearce (Swan Districts), Hamish Shepheard (East Perth), Jay van Berlo (West Perth)

Deletions
Retired: Peter Bell, Heath Black, Matthew Carr, Jeff Farmer, Mark Johnson, Shaun McManus (veteran – outside list), Luke Webster
Exchange period – traded: Robert Warnock (Carlton)
Delisted: Josh Carr, Ryley Dunn (rookie), Calib Mourish (rookie), Chris Smith (rookie)

FIXTURE
Fremantle gets the chance to open its season in style when it plays at home against preliminary finalist the Western Bulldogs.

The following week it travels to Docklands to take on Essendon – one of four trips there.

Of last year's finalists, Fremantle plays the Western Bulldogs, Adelaide and Geelong twice – including a trip to the Cattery to round off their home and away season.

INJURY LIST
Hayden Ballantyne (wrist) – may be available round one
Des Headland (calf/achilles) – expected to play round two or three
Chris Mayne (ankle) – may be available round one
Luke McPharlin (calf/achilles) – should play round one
Brock O'Brien (shoulder) – available round one
Brent Connelly (hip) – will miss 6-8 weeks

MATT BURGAN’S PLAYER RATINGS
5 – Luke McPharlin, Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands (3 players – 15 points)
Pavlich is quite simply among the best in the business, Sandilands will again vie for All-Australian honours as one of the game's top rucks, and few can play key back or forward like McPharlin. On the back of his NAB AFL Rising Star winning season, Rhys Palmer is roaring up the standings at Freo. Roger Hayden is a highly valued small defender.

4 – Ryan Crowley, Daniel Gilmore, Antoni Grover, Paul Hasleby, Roger Hayden, Garrick Ibbotson, Michael Johnson, David Mundy, Rhys Palmer, Byron Schammer, Dean Solomon, Chris Tarrant (12 players – 48 points)
Hasleby must find his feet quickly after a year out with a knee injury. Ibbotson had a breakout 2008 and will only get better. Solomon and Tarrant may have their critics, but remain firmly in Freo's best 22. Gilmore’s blistering finish to 2007 was ruined by injury in 2008, but his pre-season form suggests he will bounce back.

3 – Hayden Ballantyne, Kepler Bradley, Adam Campbell, Steven Dodd, Marcus Drum, Paul Duffield, Josh Head, Des Headland, Stephen Hill, Clayton Hinkley, Chris Mayne, Ryan Murphy, Brett Peake, Nick Suban, Scott Thornton, Greg Broughton (rookie) (16 players – 48 points)
First-year players Hill and Suban look ready to go, while rookie Broughton is also on target to play regularly. Ballantyne has been groomed for the big time but must overcome pre-season wrist surgery, with Headland another to have had injury concerns over the summer. Dodd, Peake and Thornton could improve with further input. Campbell and Murphy have talent, although the former had a recent knee set-back. Mayne should continue to show plenty in 2008.

2 – Andrew Browne, Zac Clarke, Andrew Foster, Chris Hall, Brock O'Brien, Michael Walters, Matthew DeBoer (rookie), Clancee Pearce (rookie), Casey Sibasado (rookie), Jay van Berlo (rookie) (10 players – 20 points)
Browne has had a wretched run with injury, but he is rated within the club despite approaching his sixth AFL-listed season with just 27 matches under his belt. O'Brien is also on the cusp of pushing up. Recruits, including 203cm ruckman Clarke (somewhat of a bolter over the pre-season), Hall and Walters could play a sprinkling of matches.

1 – Ben Bucovaz, Tim Ruffles, Brent Connelly (rookie), Luke Pratt (rookie), Hamish Shepheard (rookie) (5 players - 5 points)
Second-year rookies Connolly and Pratt will have competition this year, considering the club has eight rookies. DeBoer, Pearce, Sibasado and van Berlo may have the edge after exposure in the pre-season. Freo could utilise some of its rookies this year, as it has no players on the veterans list. Draftees Bucovaz and Ruffles will develop via the WAFL.

Total team rating: 136 (11 of 16, league-wide)

THE YEAR AHEAD
A successful year for Fremantle will involve more wins than 2008 and the rapid development of its 11 first and second year players.

Captain Matthew Pavlich and his deputy Aaron Sandilands will again be the twin pillars of the side, while a solid defence will remain the club's biggest strength.

Stephen Hill's entry to the AFL and NAB AFL Rising Star Rhys Palmer's second season will provide constant intrigue for fans, while the anticipated rise of middle-tier players Byron Schammer, Brett Peake and Steven Dodd could lift the side higher than expected.

WHAT THE CLUB SAYS
"Our game plan has probably changed a little bit defensively more than anything else with all the zones being used, so we're looking at our younger, inexperienced guys to fit in with that and what we're trying to do.

"Obviously the influx of 14 new kids will be a factor, but we don't expect too much from them. We do, however, need big seasons from the other 30-odd guys on our list.

"We hope to improve on last year and have more wins, but improving the list and player development is how we want to go about it."
- assistant coach Barry Mitchell

 

[estibador]

Of last year's finalists, Fremantle plays the Western Bulldogs, Adelaide and Geelong twice – including a trip to the Cattery to round off their home and away season.

I didn't realise we only played 3 finalists from last year twice. On paper that's a pretty handy draw - especially considering Adelaide probably isn't going to be a powerhouse this year.

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

I didn't realise we only played 3 finalists from last year twice. On paper that's a pretty handy draw - especially considering Adelaide probably isn't going to be a powerhouse this year.

You know it's a good draw for us when we play Sydney in Subi, and if I'm not mistaken also Brisbane at home, though I could be mistaken

 

[Rob]

First 7 rounds we need to be 4-3 to have a realistic chance of finals. It gets tough from there.

 

[bigkev bleeds purple]

What a good assessment. Big ups to the two writers. It's refreshing to find reporters who don't hate Fremantle.

I think there are quite a few players who could easily move up a category this season as well as one or two who already deserve to be rated higher (*ahem* Roger Hayden *ahem*).

 

[dominguez]

Made me laugh reading that Gilmore, Hayden, Palmer and Ibbo are on the same level.

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

Are we maybe not seeing something in old Happy? Have we been to harsh on him? it seems everytime he steps out lately he's getting mentioned in the 'bests'

I just don't understand it

 

[DCFCFAN84]

First 7 rounds we need to be 4-3 to have a realistic chance of finals. It gets tough from there.

Yeah I would say 4-3 at the worst preferably 5-2.

 

[Sandi2Palmer]

Are we maybe not seeing something in old Happy? Have we been to harsh on him? it seems everytime he steps out lately he's getting mentioned in the 'bests'

I just don't understand it

Hammer...Nail...Head. That is all.

 

[Purple_Voice]

You know it's a good draw for us when we play Sydney in Subi, and if I'm not mistaken also Brisbane at home, though I could be mistaken

Dead right Emo, play both Sydney and Brisbane once each, and both at Subi. And about friggen time, too.

I hope that this year we can gain the confidence in winning at Telstra Dome as well. Two of our first four games are played there (one against the Bombers, the other against the Saints). I will be happy with winning just one of these, though I believe we have a team capable of winning both.

 

[bigkev bleeds purple]

Are we maybe not seeing something in old Happy? Have we been to harsh on him? it seems everytime he steps out lately he's getting mentioned in the 'bests'

I just don't understand it

Just remember the back half of season 2007. Happy was probably the AFL's most improved player. As a back up ruckman he was carving teams to shreds with booming kicks off the left boot, clearances left, right and centre, breaking tackles and running past blokes as if they were wearing concrete boots. His success even prompted whispers about the irrelevance of the big, lumbering ruckman in the modern game because he was seriously hurting teams and there was very little the opposing ruckmen could do to stop him. Then last season his year was ruined by that head injury after he played some very decent games down back.

He has a role to play this year and plenty of potential to live up to that lofty rating.

 

[dugrene]

Just remember the back half of season 2007. Happy was probably the AFL's most improved player. As a back up ruckman he was carving teams to shreds with booming kicks off the left boot, clearances left, right and centre, breaking tackles and running past blokes as if they were wearing concrete boots. His success even prompted whispers about the irrelevance of the big, lumbering ruckman in the modern game because he was seriously hurting teams and there was very little the opposing ruckmen could do to stop him. Then last season his year was ruined by that head injury after he played some very decent games down back.

He has a role to play this year and plenty of potential to live up to that lofty rating.

Not sure whether I'll be more nervous for the Club's sake or for Gilmore if he gets a game in round 1.
I reckon I got the Buddy of year. Keeping me occupied looking after him. I've been getting a bit like a mother hen whenever I think he's under attack.
Good to see there's some cavalry around.


The article having him in the secend tier was a bit out of left field. Obviously the authors thought so as well by qualifying his position by saying Gilmore’s blistering finish to 2007 was ruined by injury in 2008, but his pre-season form suggests he will bounce back.

As far as our Club and 2009 aspirations having Happy playing good footy could make the difference between a good and a bad year.

 

[The Matt]

Can anyone tell me the last time we played Sydney or Brisbane at home and how many games have there been since. Thanks.

 

[poshman]

Still concerned about the talk of zonal footy and more so after seeing teams kick long over it and runnning into open goals numerous times. Have to sort that out.

 

[dominguez]

Can anyone tell me the last time we played Sydney or Brisbane at home and how many games have there been since. Thanks.

Reckon 2003 was the last time we played Brisbane over here, we won by less than a goal (maybe even 1 point ). I think it was Schammer who kicked a late running goal from deep in the pocket at the 3 tier stand end.

Either 2003 or 2004 was the last time we played the Swans here, won quite convincingly IIRC.

 

[dominguez]

Still concerned about the talk of zonal footy and more so after seeing teams kick long over it and runnning into open goals numerous times. Have to sort that out.

I don't understand why the back 4 need to be in a straight line like soccer? There should always be one defender about 20 metres behind the line incase they beat the zone because 2 forwards v no defenders looks ridiculous.

 

[Rob]

Reckon 2003 was the last time we played Brisbane over here, we won by less than a goal (maybe even 1 point ). I think it was Schammer who kicked a late running goal from deep in the pocket at the 3 tier stand end.

The Brisbane game in 03 we won by less than a kick - but it was a Medhurst winning goal at the city end.

 

[legitimatic]

I believe Brisbane last played here in 2005, I'm pretty sure we were hammered, and it was when Jon Brown started going into the middle for them, he tore us a new one that's for sure.

 

[westy1]

i hope gilmore lives up to the good wraps, but i think keppler and gilly are competing for the same spot in the team ,and i'll take big keps any day of the week
i used to be a fan but i am still yet to forgive gilly for stuffing up against geelong on anzac day last year,the rot set in not long after his brain fade,there is a little too much "clive" in gilmore for me,for him to be any more than a depth player.
keppler on the other hand just seems to go from strength to strength.

 

[Reasonable]

I think 2009 will show up the poorer kicks in the competition, anyone who really struggles to find a target will be shown up.

The coaches must identify this as a major issue.

Quality ball users must be bought into the game as much as possible, as a result I expect Palmer to dispose of the footy by hand a lot more, doing to hard work and then handing over the reigns to players like Ibbotson, Duffield,Haselby and Mundy.

This should also be the case for Gilmore, Schammer and Kep.

 

[dominguez]

I believe Brisbane last played here in 2005, I'm pretty sure we were hammered, and it was when Jon Brown started going into the middle for them, he tore us a new one that's for sure.

That's right, if I recall correctly he ran through our huddle at quarter time.