Todays Articles

[Lach72]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=12&ContentID=28398


Farmer’s back where he started

11th May 2007, 8:00 WST




Suspended Docker Jeff Farmer will line up in the red and white jumper of South Fremantle as a league footballer for the first time in tonight’s match against Perth at Fremantle Oval.

Farmer played three colts game for the Bulldogs, one in which he kicked eight goals, in 1994 before being drafted by Melbourne.

The explosive 29-year-old, who has gone on to play 221 AFL games with the Demons and Dockers, has been banned by Fremantle for six matches and sent back to the WAFL after a nightclub assault.

Football manager Marty Atkins said South Fremantle were looking at the positives of Farmer playing at the club in coming weeks.

“From our point of view, it’s nothing but positives,” Atkins said yesterday.

“Jeff may never have worn the red and white (of South Fremantle) if not for this. He could also play in a Foundation Day derby and the upcoming NAIDOC game against Claremont which is going to be huge.”

Farmer’s Fremantle teammate Scott Thornton will be one of the keys for the Bulldogs in tonight’s match against the Demons. Thornton showed encouraging signs in his return to league football against Peel at Rushton Park last week.

The 25-year-old did well against former West Coast squad member Brandon Hill and ex-Eagles rookie squad member Dean Buszan in the Bulldogs’ 34-point win.

Thornton, Fremantle’s fifth pick and No. 66 overall in the 2000 national draft, has been restricted to 42 matches with the Dockers and 53 with South Fremantle since making his WAFL debut in 2001.

“It’s good to get out there, have a run around and get a kick because I’ve spent a lot of time on the sidelines,” Thornton said yesterday.

Thornton is likely to be matched against Perth’s Josh Krueger or Travis Gaspar but could also play on Dockers teammate Robbie Haddrill.

The South Fremantle match committee added Farmer, Paul Mugambwa and Callum Wilson to the team which beat Peel. Farmer and fellow Docker Clayton Collard were named in attack, with Eagles squad member Ashley Sampi to start as an on-baller.

Perth recalled Eagles midfielder Sam Butler to play his first league game for the season.
est.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=12&ContentID=28398

 

[Lach72]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=12&ContentID=28379




Running out of time

11th May 2007, 6:30 WST




Stalwarts on the bench as patience wears thin at Fremantle

Fremantle stalwarts Shane Parker and Paul Hasleby were named on a sevenman interchange bench last night as selectors gave their first clear indication they were running out of patience with the senior players.

The bench must be cut to four today and coach Chris Connolly revealed yesterday that selectors were weighing up the option of dropping experienced players who had been battling for form.

Parker has played five of six games this year but has struggled to keep pace with a number of opponents and has looked uncertain with the ball.

Hasleby has averaged 24 touches a game this year and has kicked three goals but the Dockers hierarchy were perplexed with his display against Brisbane last Sunday when he was unable to cope with Simon Black early in the match and ran out of puff late in the game.

He had an assessment done this week to see if he was fit enough for a midfield role.

Fremantle brought Adam Campbell into the starting 18 after his eightgoal haul for West Perth last week while James Walker, Daniel Gilmore and Paul Duffield were named on the bench. But Connolly’s options could be limited with Josh Carr (ankle) and Luke McPharlin (virus) missing their second training sessions in as many days yesterday.

“We haven’t finalised our team,” Connolly said. “It will depend a bit on training tonight.

“We feel that we have got a fair bit of depth here at Fremantle.

“There are some players who have been struggling for form so do they get one last chance or do we bring in players that have been playing well in the WAFL? Those are the things we are debating.

“We have been in games right up towards the end the majority of the time but we haven’t been getting over the line.

“The chemistry we set out with the team is being heavily debated now.” Connolly insisted all selected players would be fit to play on Sunday.

“One guy has had a viral infection, the other is more of a bug,” he said. “They do so much training that missing one or two sessions isn’t going to affect their physical fitness.

“We certainly don’t want other people being affected around the club. We are very confident that everyone will be available.”

Hawthorn, fifth on the ladder with four wins, included Chance Bateman in their 18 and added youngsters Xavier Ellis, Josh Thurgood and WA’s 2006 state 18s captain Garry Moss on their bench. Their flooded defence and a lack of AFL-level fitness counted against Moss’ 18s teammate Clayton Collard making his debut for Fremantle but Connolly said he was close to selection.

“He is continually developing and we want him to be 100 per cent AFL fit,” Connolly said.

“He had a disrupted pre-season and missed the majority of last season. It was a pretty serious injury but having said that we are really pleased with his development and he is not far away.”

m.au/default.aspx?MenuID=12&ContentID=28379

 

[estibador]

That second one is typical West muckraking. Yeah I'm sure Hase is on the verge of being dropped for one bad game after being one of our best all season. I look forward to the back page article about Judd or Kerr being in danger of being dropped the next time they have a quiet game. I could be waiting a while I think.

 

[dugrene]

At the end of last year Hasleby was hobbling. This year while he is leading our POTY he is still slow and proppy We cant afford to have him breaking down completely again. If he is carrying something then rest him. If we cant beat the Hawks at home without Hasleby the we may well forget '07 anyway.

Give Parker a rest as well. Duffield showed he has the goods, time to let him have another go.

I'd also leave out Cook (who is my favourite Freo player) and put Gilmore back in.
For all the Gilmore detractors take off your rose coloured glasses for the other 21 players and you will see he is no worse than them with regards to brain fades and clangers. For some reason when he makes a blue it stands out.

Campbell gets in due to Solomon suspended.

 

[pistol17]

At the end of last year Hasleby was hobbling. This year while he is leading our POTY he is still slow and proppy We cant afford to have him breaking down completely again. If he is carrying something then rest him. If we cant beat the Hawks at home without Hasleby the we may well forget '07 anyway.

Give Parker a rest as well. Duffield showed he has the goods, time to let him have another go.

I'd also leave out Cook (who is my favourite Freo player) and put Gilmore back in.
For all the Gilmore detractors take off your rose coloured glasses for the other 21 players and you will see he is no worse than them with regards to brain fades and clangers. For some reason when he makes a blue it stands out.

Campbell gets in due to Solomon suspended.

Gilmore stands out because he looks like a deer caught in the head lights when he gets the ball. Looks like hes nervous and panics and that is where the brain fades and clangers come from. I have been a detractor of gilmore but honestly if he plays to his potential i will not be bagging him anymore because the kid can play the game. He needs to be given one position and stay there so he can have some consistency and get some confidence.

 

[dugrene]

Gilmore stands out because he looks like a deer caught in the head lights when he gets the ball. Looks like hes nervous and panics and that is where the brain fades and clangers come from. I have been a detractor of gilmore but honestly if he plays to his potential i will not be bagging him anymore because the kid can play the game. He needs to be given one position and stay there so he can have some consistency and get some confidence.

That made me laugh
Kapow!! hasn't been sticking up for his buddy so I'm acting as proxy.

 

[Belnakor]

If the Hase is struggling for fitness they should just put him in the forward pocket... Its not like he could do a worse job than Cook or Solomon have done the last couple of weeks. hes a great grab over head for such a short guy.

Early last year i heard some talk the Hase's back is probably not going to get much better... but even so, hes a valuable player.. the west suggesting they are "losing patience" is just absurd. Parker on the other hand has played like a senior citizen all year, and should be dropped for some with a bit of toe.

 

[Roundhouse]

If the Hase is struggling for fitness they should just put him in the forward pocket... Its not like he could do a worse job than Cook or Solomon have done the last couple of weeks. hes a great grab over head for such a short guy.

Solomon and Cook were fantastic against Adelaide. They were both crap LAST WEEK, not the last couple of weeks.

The reason they were so good against Adelaide was their tackling and forward line pressure. If Hase is struggling for fitness, I would argue that putting him up forward, where we need guys chasing, tackling, and locking the ball in, would have its disadvantages.

He is a great finisher and, as you mentioned, a good grab but, against a Hawthorn side who flood back heavily and rarely allow opposition forwards a one out contest we are going to have to scrag goals. There are much better defensive forwards than Hase who can help us to force mistakes and scrag these goals.

I'd be looking at Webster or Crowley for forward pocket roles.

 

[killermk]

How far away is the Thornton for Parker swap? If Scotty's showing good form, he has to be put in, right?

 

[pistol17]

How far away is the Thornton for Parker swap? If Scotty's showing good form, he has to be put in, right?

Probably needs one more run in the WAFL

 

[Belnakor]

Solomon and Cook were fantastic against Adelaide. They were both crap LAST WEEK, not the last couple of weeks.

The reason they were so good against Adelaide was their tackling and forward line pressure. If Hase is struggling for fitness, I would argue that putting him up forward, where we need guys chasing, tackling, and locking the ball in, would have its disadvantages.

He is a great finisher and, as you mentioned, a good grab but, against a Hawthorn side who flood back heavily and rarely allow opposition forwards a one out contest we are going to have to scrag goals. There are much better defensive forwards than Hase who can help us to force mistakes and scrag these goals.

I'd be looking at Webster or Crowley for forward pocket roles.

Forward pocket isn't purely about "locking the ball" in, however handy that is. The Hase might not be fanastic vs Hawthorn, but if his back is ****ed and he can't sustain a midfield role the entire game, maybe the forward is an option for him.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

If the Hase is struggling for fitness they should just put him in the forward pocket... Its not like he could do a worse job than Cook or Solomon have done the last couple of weeks. hes a great grab over head for such a short guy.

Thay say rain tomorrow. Belnakor's given me the fertiliser so his timing is perfect.

 

[Belnakor]

Thay say rain tomorrow. Belnakor's given me the fertiliser so his timing is perfect.

Theres plenty in your pants man, just use that.

 

[Lach72]

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21715768%5E19765,00.html


Pickett out, but Daniher upbeat
12 May 2007 Herald-Sun
Daryl Timms


And Hawthorn axed Jarryd Roughead from the team to face Fremantle at Subiaco Oval tomorrow.

Roughead, who booted two goals in last week's victory against Essendon, will line up for the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL.

But it will be a happy homecoming for newcomer Garry Moss when he returns to Perth. The Hawks have named the former East Perth player, who is 181cm and 74kg, for his first AFL game.

The 18-year-old midfielder was the No. 56 selection in last year's national draft.

Chance Bateman returns from injury.

The Dockers, desperate to stay in touch with the eight, dropped Shane Parker, who had played every game for the past three seasons. He was one of four changes

 

[Lach72]

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21715877%5E19765,00.html



Second-hand players often shine first
12 May 2007 Herald-Sun

ONE of the many criticisms levelled at Richmond in the wake of the 157-point humiliation by Geelong is that it recycles too many players.



Second chance: Using the strictest criteria Nathan Buckley is a recylced player after being drafted to the Brisbane Bears in 1993 and then moving to Collingwood.




This may well have been true in the early years of this decade - think Billy Nicholls, Simon Fletcher, Ben Marsh and Justin Blumfield, just to name a few.

But a club-by-club comparison shows that the Tigers only sit roughly mid-table in 2007 for recruiting recycled players.

Richmond has eight players on its current list - including recent retiree and two-time All-Australian Darren Gaspar - who made their AFL debut with other clubs.

That group includes top-liners Nathan Brown and skipper Kane Johnson, plus first-choice ruckman Troy Simmonds and highly rated key defender Graham Polak, who is still only 22.

Five other clubs have more recycled players on their 2007 lists than the Tigers - led by St Kilda and Fremantle with 10 apiece and Carlton, Collingwood and the Kangaroos, all with nine.

At the other end of the table is Brisbane, where former Swans midfielder Ben Fixter is the only player to have started his senior career at another club. (Not including Chris Johnson, the last survivor of the Fitzroy merger).

So which clubs are doing best out of their second-chance brigade?

1. Collingwood

USING the strictest criteria, Nathan Buckley is a recycled player after being drafted to the Brisbane Bears and spending one season up north in 1993.

His likely successor as Magpies skipper, James Clement, plus dual best-and-fairest winner Paul Licuria and Anthony Rocca also have been raging successes at their second clubs.

Then there are regular senior players, Shane Wakelin, Shane O'Bree and Brodie Holland, plus recent recruits Paul Medhurst and Chris Bryan.

2. Fremantle

YES, two of the Dockers' multi-club brigade, former skipper Peter Bell and Heath Black, actually started their careers at Freo before returning west after spending time at other clubs.

But the Dockers have also got good returns from the Carr brothers, Troy Cook, Des Headland and Melbourne firebrand Jeff Farmer.

Then there is Chris Tarrant and Luke McPharlin, from whom the best is yet to come.
3. Sydney

MORE than any other club, the Swans have been prepared to give up high draft picks for experienced players.

And more often than not their decisions have been vindicated.

Barry Hall is the standout example of that policy.

Craig Bolton, Darren Jolly and Nick Davis are all premiership players, and recent recruits Ted Richards and Peter Everitt have slotted straight into the Swans' best line-up.

Which clubs have largely eschewed the second-chance saloon?

1. Brisbane

AS MENTIONED, the crop of Lions is almost completely devoid of players with senior experience at other clubs.

2. West Coast

UNSURPRISINGLY, the Eagles list is chock-full of native West Australians.

And that includes all five of their players to have started elsewhere - Tyson Stenglein, Daniel Chick and Steven Armstrong and rookie listers Chad Jones and Llane Spaanderman.

3. Essendon, Geelong and Hawthorn

THE other three clubs with only five recycled players.

All have had their successes - Adam McPhee (Essendon), Tom Harley and Cameron Mooney (Geelong) and Trent Croad and Joel Smith (Hawthorn).

But the focus of their respective recruiting staff - especially at the youth-obsessed Hawks - has often been elsewhere.

AAP