Welcome To Freo: Bailey Banfield

Docker82

Norm Smith Medallist
Jun 21, 2013
8,661
14,218
Perth
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Fremantle
...unless it's by Freo.

Apparently we have the latgest drafting team in the comp, ...and we keep finding real nuggets in the tailings the rest of the AFL overlook.

...wonder if there's a link?. :D:D

Didn’t quite phrase that right. More likely be drafted at 19 than 22 or 23. As in for every one 19 drafted there’s less than one 22 year old etc. I still reckon that’d be the case at Freo.

And interesting theory about the drafting team. We certainly do pull quite a few random players no ones heard of that actually turn out alright.
 

freoextra

Norm Smith Medallist
Mar 2, 2008
5,161
7,275
Perth
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Fremantle
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Perth Football Club
Absolutely. In Banfield's case his card had been stamped - can't kick. Remains to be seen if this is the case in open field play. Its certainly a weakness that can be covered for playing the defensive forward role. He's really not a lot different to DeBoer in the way he presents really. Looks to be a bit more creative so far but time will tell.

Certainly kicks further than DeBoer and easily so that is not a problem. In the three games I have watched his kicking has not been a problem in fact it has been good.

True test will come with the pressure coming of a real game but so far so good. Not as tough and a running weapon as DeBoer but plenty of time for that and he looks very willing.
 
Pretty big unit close up.
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Apr 16, 2014
10,369
23,286
AFL Club
Fremantle
So where are we at with this bloke.

Pretty clear he's an inside midfielder or bust.

Our top six players for total clearances this year:

Fyfe
Mundy
Walters
Conca
Tucker
Brayshaw

On the whole our midfield actually worked pretty well this year (contested poss and clearance wise). Fyfe and Walters were both very effective and should stick to a similar role for the foreseeable future. Mundy was excellent early on and tailed as the season wore on. I imagine his midfield minutes will slowly diminish from here on out. Conca went ok, better than expect but not a standout by any means. Tucker and Brayshaw both improved on their previous year and hopefully continue on that trajectory.

Given we want more midfield time for Blakely and Cerra they will likely start stealing midfield time from Mundy and Conca.

So if next year Fyfe, Walters, Brayshaw, Cerra, Blakely and Tucker are our main stayers with Mundy and Conca providing backup that leaves Banfield battling back at Peel with Valente. Valente who I imagine they want to get up to speed as quickly as possible due to the fact that his strengths as a draftee were that he can win the hard ball and is a good kick of the footy.

Early days obviously but think Banfield is really going to struggle to crack a game in his preferred position unless we have a midfield injury crisis like our KPP injury crisis this year. He's probably 8th/9th in line at the moment for an inside mid role.

Big pre-season coming up for him. See if he can impress the new coach.
 

blue shark

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 15, 2009
5,452
4,851
perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
So where are we at with this bloke.

Pretty clear he's an inside midfielder or bust.

Our top six players for total clearances this year:

Fyfe
Mundy
Walters
Conca
Tucker
Brayshaw

On the whole our midfield actually worked pretty well this year (contested poss and clearance wise). Fyfe and Walters were both very effective and should stick to a similar role for the foreseeable future. Mundy was excellent early on and tailed as the season wore on. I imagine his midfield minutes will slowly diminish from here on out. Conca went ok, better than expect but not a standout by any means. Tucker and Brayshaw both improved on their previous year and hopefully continue on that trajectory.

Given we want more midfield time for Blakely and Cerra they will likely start stealing midfield time from Mundy and Conca.

So if next year Fyfe, Walters, Brayshaw, Cerra, Blakely and Tucker are our main stayers with Mundy and Conca providing backup that leaves Banfield battling back at Peel with Valente. Valente who I imagine they want to get up to speed as quickly as possible due to the fact that his strengths as a draftee were that he can win the hard ball and is a good kick of the footy.

Early days obviously but think Banfield is really going to struggle to crack a game in his preferred position unless we have a midfield injury crisis like our KPP injury crisis this year. He's probably 8th/9th in line at the moment for an inside mid role.

Big pre-season coming up for him. See if he can impress the new coach.
Ideally we would like to rotate Fyfe, Walters, Mundy forward for short bursts, get a mis-match for better scoring
Opportunities.
More midfield rotations and prolonging our A graders careers, with an unpredictable lineup.
As you say injury will also create chances, but with BHill, Langdon leaving then a wing position is available.
If Lobb, Darcy can rotate ruck/forward then the interchange bench could be filled with utilities.
Our spine on paper looks to be a strength, is crucial to implement rotations.
WC maybe lucky, better S&C, but a consistent qualiity spine, control the air, allows for more runners to sneak
forward and find space. All players look better in the clear.
Under Ross he valued contested possession, inside mids, a change of gameplan should bring more into the fold.
 

Monument Hills

Cancelled
Dec 12, 2017
2,200
5,199
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Hufflepuff, Wildcats, WCE womens
So where are we at with this bloke.

Pretty clear he's an inside midfielder or bust.

Our top six players for total clearances this year:

Fyfe
Mundy
Walters
Conca
Tucker
Brayshaw

On the whole our midfield actually worked pretty well this year (contested poss and clearance wise). Fyfe and Walters were both very effective and should stick to a similar role for the foreseeable future. Mundy was excellent early on and tailed as the season wore on. I imagine his midfield minutes will slowly diminish from here on out. Conca went ok, better than expect but not a standout by any means. Tucker and Brayshaw both improved on their previous year and hopefully continue on that trajectory.

Given we want more midfield time for Blakely and Cerra they will likely start stealing midfield time from Mundy and Conca.

So if next year Fyfe, Walters, Brayshaw, Cerra, Blakely and Tucker are our main stayers with Mundy and Conca providing backup that leaves Banfield battling back at Peel with Valente. Valente who I imagine they want to get up to speed as quickly as possible due to the fact that his strengths as a draftee were that he can win the hard ball and is a good kick of the footy.

Early days obviously but think Banfield is really going to struggle to crack a game in his preferred position unless we have a midfield injury crisis like our KPP injury crisis this year. He's probably 8th/9th in line at the moment for an inside mid role.

Big pre-season coming up for him. See if he can impress the new coach.
depth or tagger (though happy for him to prove me wrong). But in saying that, neither of those things are bad and both are good to have in the arsenal #FFCinjurycurse
 
Oct 12, 2017
9,233
28,147
AFL Club
Fremantle
Getting involved full time with the family business, Willie Creek Pearls and training in Broome.


From a purely playing perspective, it feels like we’ve done a five-month preseason for one game, and now we are straight back into another offseason/preseason block.
 
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