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No - not the actual team list; but an article regarding likely selections...
Changes a plenty for final rehearsal
Author: By Andrew Bousfield
5:40 PM Wed 05 March, 2008
Fremantle will field a near full strength side in its final NAB Challenge fixture against Port Adelaide in Noarlunga this Saturday in preparation for its round one clash against Collingwood on 22 March.
Senior list players Dean Solomon, Rhys Palmer, Des Headland, Antoni Grover, David Mundy, Luke McPharlin, Club Captain Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands, Michael Johnson and Roger Hayden were all rested from the club’s match against North Melbourne and are all more than likely to return to the line up this weekend.
Saturday afternoon’s clash with the Power will also allow Senior Coach Mark Harvey to trial several younger players who will also be pushing for selection come Easter Saturday.
Fremantle will move to reduce the number of players they field to ensure those selected get a solid run without extensive stints on the bench similar to those that resulted during the NAB Cup due to eight man interchange benches. Mark hopes to sit no more than six players on the pine to assist them in increasing their match fitness and gaining a more thorough first hand understanding of game plans.
With round one just over a fortnight away, Mark said selecting a team based around the likely starters that will line up against Collingwood was ideal preparation and that the pre-season matches so far had provided a good forum to practice game plans and set plays and blood younger players.
“It’s purely a rehearsal of what you want to do in season, having a look at younger players and players in different positions and getting an indication of whether they can handle it. That’s how I see it,” Mark said of the pre-season.
“If winning is a part of that, it can create some confidence and momentum. Those are the sorts of things you look for. You’re looking for young players to see if they can win a game for you, whether they can beat a senior player at that time of the year.”
After carrying the largest portion of rucking duties for the club against the Kangaroos, 21 year old Robbie Warnock will share the responsibility with the returning Aaron Sandilands. Robbie played as the club’s only true recognised ruckman in the later stages of 2007 when Aaron’s season ended after round 17 due to a hernia. It was arguably the biggest challenge of the season for the then seven game fledgling, but one he completed with composure to make him a worthy winner of the club’s Beacon Award as the club’s best young talent for 2007. His continued development over the off season has also impressed, adding further bulk to his 206cm frame.
Mark said he was looking forward to seeing what the two tall timbers could offer in unison.
“As a coaching staff we’ve got to really understand what they can do for the team and the impact they can have,” Mark said.
“Robbie is still sort of going through his initial games of getting completely match fit. Aaron is a little bit different, he is a lot more ahead in his match fitness.”
Mark said the pairing of Aaron and Robbie in the ruck would not necessarily see Daniel Gilmore relieved from the role, suggesting that the trio may all share the load throughout the season.
“The continuity of what we do, how we do it off the bench or, in fact, general play is going to be interesting,” Mark said.
Fremantle fly out to South Australia on Friday morning.
Source: for fremantlefc.com.au
Changes a plenty for final rehearsal
Author: By Andrew Bousfield
5:40 PM Wed 05 March, 2008
Fremantle will field a near full strength side in its final NAB Challenge fixture against Port Adelaide in Noarlunga this Saturday in preparation for its round one clash against Collingwood on 22 March.
Senior list players Dean Solomon, Rhys Palmer, Des Headland, Antoni Grover, David Mundy, Luke McPharlin, Club Captain Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands, Michael Johnson and Roger Hayden were all rested from the club’s match against North Melbourne and are all more than likely to return to the line up this weekend.
Saturday afternoon’s clash with the Power will also allow Senior Coach Mark Harvey to trial several younger players who will also be pushing for selection come Easter Saturday.
Fremantle will move to reduce the number of players they field to ensure those selected get a solid run without extensive stints on the bench similar to those that resulted during the NAB Cup due to eight man interchange benches. Mark hopes to sit no more than six players on the pine to assist them in increasing their match fitness and gaining a more thorough first hand understanding of game plans.
With round one just over a fortnight away, Mark said selecting a team based around the likely starters that will line up against Collingwood was ideal preparation and that the pre-season matches so far had provided a good forum to practice game plans and set plays and blood younger players.
“It’s purely a rehearsal of what you want to do in season, having a look at younger players and players in different positions and getting an indication of whether they can handle it. That’s how I see it,” Mark said of the pre-season.
“If winning is a part of that, it can create some confidence and momentum. Those are the sorts of things you look for. You’re looking for young players to see if they can win a game for you, whether they can beat a senior player at that time of the year.”
After carrying the largest portion of rucking duties for the club against the Kangaroos, 21 year old Robbie Warnock will share the responsibility with the returning Aaron Sandilands. Robbie played as the club’s only true recognised ruckman in the later stages of 2007 when Aaron’s season ended after round 17 due to a hernia. It was arguably the biggest challenge of the season for the then seven game fledgling, but one he completed with composure to make him a worthy winner of the club’s Beacon Award as the club’s best young talent for 2007. His continued development over the off season has also impressed, adding further bulk to his 206cm frame.
Mark said he was looking forward to seeing what the two tall timbers could offer in unison.
“As a coaching staff we’ve got to really understand what they can do for the team and the impact they can have,” Mark said.
“Robbie is still sort of going through his initial games of getting completely match fit. Aaron is a little bit different, he is a lot more ahead in his match fitness.”
Mark said the pairing of Aaron and Robbie in the ruck would not necessarily see Daniel Gilmore relieved from the role, suggesting that the trio may all share the load throughout the season.
“The continuity of what we do, how we do it off the bench or, in fact, general play is going to be interesting,” Mark said.
Fremantle fly out to South Australia on Friday morning.
Source: for fremantlefc.com.au
Looking like Palmer will line up round 1.
I particularly liked Karl pointing out how he always knew Nockers was a star and couldn't understand why we didn't play the two ruckmen together more often (obviously he missed the bit where Sandilands was injured most of '07).
