In the next few weeks until the start of the 2009 season on 26th March 2009 we will review in depth every 16 clubs. Other clubs already reviewed are: Western Bulldogs, Geelong Cats & Richmond.
Aaron Sandilands gets his hands to the footy at every ruck contest but his on ballers could not do anything with the first use
After Kick2Kick reviews each club, the writers will give their full season 2009 predictions. If you would like to review a team, please contact us.
What Happened Last Year
Fremantle were predicted by many to be top four with an experienced list that had several players over 30 but gone is the age where you can recruit 30+ recycled players for a premiership tilt. Freo were disappointing and lost several games by less than 10 points. At the end of the season McManus, Bell, Johnson, Warnock, Carr x2 and Farmer all were moved on.
Pavlich again was a shinning light for Fremantle and the ability for him to move forward, provide drive in the midfield and be a steady influence down back was true captaincy. The only other shinning light was Palmer, he was a given for the NAB rising star as he showed consistency, skill, bravery and determination that many of his team mates did not.
The New Season
Fremantle have finished with their recycling practice and look determined to build an exciting fast midfield around Palmer and Pavlich with the ability for several players to kick goals.
While Fremantle have a much younger squad than last year, they should still make the finals as they have the right building blocks for premiership glory in the near future.
Haydeny Ballantyne will be a player to watch as he provides an alternative goal kicking target to Pavlich
Likely Finish: 8th to 11th
Players to Watch
Steven Hill - Was the surprise of the 2008 National Draft and while is a first year player he has poise and pace and is what the midfield needs.
Hayden Ballantyne - He kicked 70+ goals in the WAFL and won the Sandover (WAFL version of the Brownlow), he is a ready made footballer and will provide another avenue for goals and allow Pavlich to play midfield.
Des Headland – Tried last year then got injured and is due to perform well after 5 years on Freo’s list. If he can reach level of his Brisbane years, he will show why he was a number one draft pick.
Need to Improve
Josh Head – A long kick but inaccurate, still looks undeveloped after being on the list for a while.
Ryan Murphy - Looks happier playing WAFL and seems he isn’t comfortable at AFL level.
Marcus Drum - Needs to be able to play as a key defender yet is consistently outclassed, on the list for a while.
List Cloggers
Steven Dodd - Plays sluggish, has poor skills and struggles with the versatility role that Freo has asked him to play. Needs to find a role for the team.
Brock O Brien – Showed promise in his debut two years ago but is lost, he has no position with the emergence of Palmer and the returns of Schammer and Brown.
Chris Tarrant – Tries hard but just doesn’t have the body, skill or work ethic for AFL football anymore.
Your Views
What do you think of the Dockers in season 2009? Did they recruit well? Are they a chance for the top eight? Or will it be another wasted year with hope, promise, then delusion and then anger which Freo supporters are sadly also used to?
Loading ...
March 11th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Interesting list cloggers Michael. I wonder if Tarrent continues to be a flop like last year, whether he may return back to Melbourne like Croad, Symmonds etc.
Looking forward to seeing Ballantyne & Hill along with Pavlich & Palmer in the midfield this year. Sandilands has looked a lot more aware of his ruckwork so far in the NAB comp, still needs to get the ball a bit more around the ground though.
Think 10th to 13th is a better likely finish as well.
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Hill & Ballentyne should both be great gets for the Dockers. Both should be in their round one team as well.
Tarrant really is a hard one to analyze, we know what hes capable of but it doesn’t like like he will ever find the form again.
Pickless last blog post..Live AFL Scores
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 11:15 am
I have watched Tarrent a bit especially last weekend against the Eagles.
He just does not seem happy, he’s body language is poor, he does not chase and has a worse work ethic than bad boys Fev, Lockett etc.
They tried playing him back which only lasted a game or two after getting numerous goals kicked on (Pettrie kicked 5) and then they gave up on that. I personally think a forward line of Ballentyne, Campbell, Pavlich etc looks better and more dangerous and flexible than with Tarrent in there.
Also I think Ballentyne is recovering from an injury so he may miss the first few rounds.
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Are you sure you are not an eastern states television commentator in disguise?
Why?
who is….. Mark Sandilands, Framer, Tarrent, O Brian, Ballentyne?
I think you might mean… Aaron Sandilands, Farmer, Tarrant, O Brien, Ballantyne….
But apart from that, for you, its a fair assesmnent. Apart from Tarrant and Dodd being list cloggers.
Tarrant came out an injury clouded season, this year I think we will see his best.
And if you dont see the value of Dodd, you have not seen any Freo games….
Btw Aaron may yet be the most unlikely Brownlow winner ever…if he can harness that same authority which saw him crucify the Weagles (spelling correct) on Saturday night.
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Sorry about those spelling mistakes, problem when you do it over msn and at work
Fixed the original post to have the proper name spellings…
While I am no Freo supporter (I have standards), the author is and I back his decision why he listed Tarrant & Dodd as list cloggers. These below comments are from a non Freo supporter p.o.v:
Dodd has played good parts of games for the Dockers but he continually is in and out of the side. Playing in a number of positions (ruck, tag, key defender etc) does not help as not many players can pull off versatility. He needs to find a position and a spare ruckman is not it…
Tarrant has ever only played one good season in his whole 8+ year career. He has always been maligned and over rated since the days when McGuire bribed him to stay on the Collingwood list until recently where they brought Solomon over as the free pairs of shoes (sure you know the joke).
No doubt his talent but like stated several times on Kick2Kick, talent means nothing if you do not have work ethic and work at your game. Injury aside he has not done this for Fremantle yet. Hopefully for Freo supporters I am wrong…
Sandilands Will never win a Brownlow. Why?
1) Ruckman cannot win a midfielders medal.
2) Aaron is a one trick pony – he does not get enough of the ball around the ground. Now if he went forward and kicked 2 odd goals a game, he would be in for a chance.
and btw he really only crucified the Eagles in the last 10 mins. Apart from that he and Seaby were fairly even in their contest.
Thanks for your comments Mark E, looking forward to more of your comments through out the year.
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I have watched steven dodd play for a few years now, and if anything i feel that his form has droppped and his skill also! He cannot kick well, and this was evident in the pre season match against richmond! he has no drive from the back, and is far behind the likes of hayden and johnson, although johnson had a shocker last year. I put him in the list because, i feel he has peaked, and at his peak he will make the team each year but will contribute little! if he was able to progress further then maybe he would of been left out! As for tarrant, i honestly like him, he works hard, does the hard things but i feel that he doesnt want to be there anymore! and no side needs that!
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
What a glorious ten minutes it was too….I can hear you crying into your chardonny from here!!
Dodd played 17 out of a possible 22…and I am pretty sure some of those were for suspensions……
It will be an interesting season, we are not installed as possible pre season favourites, which is different, so maybe this will be the year…who knows.
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Yes the 10 minutes of play Fremantle produced on the weekend was indeed glorious. Too bad it did not happen for the rest of the 3.5 quarters and it was just a practice match.
So your saying seeing there is no expectation for Fremantle they cannot disappoint their fans? I think Fremantle will be a dark horse for this season as they do have the building blocks for a successful season.
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
i just cant wait to see ballantyne up forward! rising star roughie if he isnt to old! Greg Broughton was another one, i feel killed it across half back, look like a little heath black, good pace! watch out for him starting round 1 also
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Freo will be in for a rough couple of years. They have lost so much experience over the last season or two and whilst the likes of palmer, ibbotson and hill look ever so promising i think it will take some time playing with each other and learning together before they become a midfield force. They are too inexperienced across the board and while they will be hard to beat at home there are 4 or 5 teams who will be super hard to beat this year and another four or five teams who are further advanced then the Dockers. It’s hard to see them finishing anywhere other then the bottom four.
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I actually think the experience they lost was a good thing as they were all “list cloggers” besides Peter Bell, now they can build a team from the ground up.
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Jer…I said that comment half joking….it seems like the last 3 years we have had huge expectations….with no fulfilment of them….this year no one really expects much of us…
Hill will be a gun player, and could well win the rising star.
[Reply to Comment]
March 11th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
here is a good news report on freos young players..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C4cplaOI-8
[Reply to Comment]