Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for September, 2010
Hill is coaches best young player
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Awards
After finishing third in Monday night’s Brownlow Medal count, Collingwood’s Dane Swan can console himself with the fact he is the most important player in the eyes of the coaching fraternity.
Swan won Tuesday night’s AFL Coaches Association player of the year award, with 114 votes, 26 votes ahead of Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge, who finished second.
Gary Ablett who won the award for three-straight years in 2007, 2008 and 2009 finished sixth in this year’s count, 10 votes behind teammate Joel Selwood who finished third.
This year’s Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd finished fifth in the voting behind Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands.
Each senior coach votes on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis on each of their games throughout the season to decide the player of the year award.
Swan’s player of the year award win comes on top of his All Australian selection last week and being named the MVP by the AFL Players Association a fortnight ago.
Also at the AFLCA’s award night, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse was voted by his peers as the senior coach of the year, while Geelong’s Brendan McCartney was named assistant coach of the year.
Fremantle’s Stephen Hill was awarded the best young player award, which he won from Collingwood’s Dayne Beams and Sydney Swan Dan Hannebery.
David Mundy commits to Fremantle
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Contracts
Midfielder David Mundy has today signed a new four-year contract with Fremantle.
The 25-year-old agreed to terms that will see him remain at the club until the end of season 2014.
Mundy, who was a second round selection (No. 19 overall) in the 2003 National Draft, has played 130 games since making his debut for Fremantle in 2005.
Fremantle interested in Richardson
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Trade Rumours
Rebounding defender Cam Richardson was on the cusp of selection this time last season and missed out on playing in last year’s premiership team. Now, the 22-year-old has impressed so much with the Roosters that he would be one of the first picked and an AFL career beckons with several AFL clubs showing some interest, including Gold Coast and Fremantle.
Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald is a massive fan of Richardson’s work ethic.
”He [Richardson] responded to missing out last year in a very positive way and I really admire him for that. He just really knuckled down and put in a massive amount of work into his preparation and full credit to him, he’s playing in a grand final [on] Sunday,” FitzGerald said.
Josh Fraser deal likely
314 years
by DockerNow.com
in Trade Rumours
Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser may join Fremantle in a direct swap for defender Chris Tarrant during trade week.
Fraser, 29 in January, appears certain to be left out of Collingwood’s team for the Grand Final and has probably played his last game for the Magpies.
Fraser, the prized No.1 selection from the 1999 national draft, has played 200 games for Collingwood during 11 seasons, but is out of favour with coach Mick Malthouse and is keen to move to re-energise his career.
He has played nine games this season – and only one since Round 12.
Darren Jolly claimed Collingwood’s No. 1 ruck place after arriving from Sydney and journeyman Leigh Brown is his preferred back-up.
Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich declined to comment on any Tarrant-Fraser swap deal yesterday, but it appears to suit all parties.
Tarrant, who turned 30 yesterday, this week flagged his wish to return to Collingwood, which is keen to add another key defender to its arsenal.
Headland passes baton on to youngster
114 years
by DockerNow.com
in Retirements
The changing of the guard at the Fremantle Football Club was summed up in a phone call between retiring Docker Des Headland and youngster Michael Walters.
Headland – who has been a mentor to the promising second-year player – recounted a chat he had with him this week about his decision.
“I gave him a call the other night, and said ‘look mate I’m gonna retire,” the 29-year-old said, adding a disappointed sigh greeted him on the end of the line.
“(He was like) ‘you serious, you’re kidding me, you’re kidding me. Can I have your number?’.”
Carlton door open for Tarrant
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Trade Rumours
Carlton is poised to target out-of-contract Fremantle defender Chris Tarrant in next month’s exchange period.
The former Magpie has come to the end of a four-year-deal with Fremantle and has informed the club that he wants to be traded back to Melbourne.
Carlton coach Brett Ratten said Tarrant could bolster a backline that looked vulnerable at times this season.
“If Chris is coming home and wants to come home, then I think he would seem to be a fairly good fit for our club and where we’ve got that deficiency,” he told afl.com.au.
“What he’s done to go back from being a forward and play on talls and smalls, I think his record over the last two years as a backman has been outstanding.
“Someone that could play at both ends would be preferable but I think we just need another tall defender.”
Tarrant may return to Magpie nest
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Trade Rumours
Departing Fremantle full-back Chris Tarrant says he would be prepared to rejoin Collingwood in the hope of finishing his career with a premiership.
Tarrant, who will turn 30 on Saturday, is understood to have told Fremantle last week of his plans to return to Victoria for family and business reasons.
Tarrant had kicked 299 goals from 161 games with the Magpies when he was traded to Fremantle at the end of 2006, but made a successful transition to the backline in his last two seasons in the west.
Confident he had as many as three years to offer at AFL level, he said he would be best suited to a club that needed a key defender but was also poised to challenge for a premiership.
Hawthorn has already expressed its interest in him.
“I’ve been chasing the premiership dream now for 13 years. It’s been a long time. I’m still really keen to get a flag. You basically almost go to a club that’s really in that premiership window,” he told The Footy Show on Thursday night.
Chris Hall delisted
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
The Fremantle Football Club can confirm the following end of season player movements for 2010.
Three players in Paul Hasleby, Scott Thornton and Dean Solomon have already announced their retirements, joining Des Headland who announced his retirement today.
Chris Tarrant recently advised the club of his desire to return to Melbourne for personal reasons. As such, the club will be seeking a suitable trade for Tarrant during the AFL Exchange Period, 4 October to 11 October.
Chris Hall has been advised that he will be delisted when the club is required to submit its list to the AFL on 29 October.
The club will not be making any further comment on out of contract players until the AFL Exchange Period.
Ashley Prescott appointed
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in New Recruits
The Fremantle Football Club has appointed Ashley Prescott as a development coach for season 2011.
A former Richmond and Fremantle player who went on to coach Claremont in the WAFL (2004-2007), the 38-year-old has been a member of Essendon’s coaching staff for the past three years.
Prescott will report to senior development coach Simon Lloyd.
In other changes to the club’s coaching staff, current development coach Michael Prior has been appointed assistant coach, filling a vacancy left by the departure of Dean Wallis.
Des Headland retires, looks to mentoring Indigenous youth
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Retirements
Fremantle veteran Des Headland has today announced his retirement as an AFL player.
Constant battles with injury forced Headland to end his career after 166 games, 114 with Fremantle and 52 with Brisbane.
His final game came in last Friday night’s Semi-Final loss to Geelong at the MCG, where he injured his left knee early in the first quarter.
Headland had not played an AFL game since round 4 this season after injuring his right knee. The 29-year-old said it was a case of the body not willing to do what the mind wanted.
“It’s been frustrating not being able to get out on the park in the past three years,” he said.
“I couldn’t do what I wanted to do. I felt like I could do it, but I just couldn’t do it.”
