Fremantle
Coach – Justin Longmuir
2024 –
Points For – 10th
Points Against – 4th
Top 5 Best and Fairest
1 – Caleb Serong
2 – Andrew Brayshaw
3 – Hayden Young
4 – Josh Treacy
5 – Sam Switkowski
2024 Rising Star Noms
Josh Draper (Rnd 20)
Ins – Shai Bolton, Jaren Carr, Quinton Narkle, Charlie Nicholls, Murphy Reid, Aiden Riddle
Outs – Josh Corbett, Tom Emett, Ethan Highes, Max Knobel, Sebit Kuek, Ethan Stanley, Matt Taberner, Conrad Williams
My Prediction
I speak for all Essendon fans when I say “Thank goodness we have seen the back of Matt Taberner”, also thank goodness we didn’t pick him up, he feels like the sort of player we would give three years on the list. Maybe we have learned something from the Weideman disaster. Anyhow… Fremantle, as someone who grew up in Western Australia, I would much rather they have some sort of success than their pathetic friends from across town.
The backline held up well last year and even with some injury challenges which shows they have good structure and depth. They found a player in Draper, they have Pearce who is a quality stopper supported by Cox and Chapman. They get run from Ryan and Clark. They performed well last year in challenging circumstances.
The midfield is coming into something that looks very impressive. Bolton moving through from the half forward line will give them something different. Serong and Brayshaw are a very good one-two punch and then you look at Hayden Young who keeps getting better (and has the monster contract to prove it). They have some selection challenges and will be interesting to see what they do with Fyfe and if he can get a regular game in the starting 22.
The forward line has been the weakest area on the field. Amiss went amissing (sorry) for large periods of last year but that is expected at his age and think he will be stronger this year. Treacy looked like a very good player and they have quality smalls in Walters, Switkowski, Frederick and Bolton. The forward line on paper at least looks very dynamic. They will need Jackson and Darcy to rotate through the forward line and I think Jackson looks capable as a forward whilst Darcy not so much.
The Dockers are a two ruck team. Darcy is a better ruck than Jackson, but Jackson is a better midfielder/forward that Darcy. They need to find a way for both of them to play well together. If they cant then expect Darcy to be on the trade table at the end of the year. Jackson is too good a player to sacrifice his game. The coach is still in limbo. Last year of his contract after a one year extension last year. He needs to play finals this year or move into commentary next year.
The Dockers have all the pieces to challenge not just for finals but top four and should be a legitimate contender for the premiership. They have added class and they have a very even balance across the field. They should be a serious improver this year. I think they finish in the 3-6 range.
