Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for November, 2010
Midfield beckons for Ibbotson
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle utility Garrick Ibbotson says he is feeling the physical benefits of Australia’s International Rules tour of Ireland as he prepares to bulk up and make a more permanent move into the midfield next season.
Ibbotson played his best football across half-back in 2010, but the 22-year-old is aiming to add 5kg to his 84kg frame this pre-season and develop as an inside midfielder.
He said touring Ireland last month had allowed him to return to pre-season training this week in good condition while he had also learned from some of the game’s best accumulators.
“Spending time with guys like Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross, Dane Swan and Adam Goodes, the captain, you get to learn and see how they train,” Ibbotson said from Fremantle Oval on Thursday.
“I think it’s a big thing, to see how they train [and] the sort of effort that they put into their footy off the field.
Guernsey hoo-haa may see Dockers song get the heave-ho
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
The decision on whether the “heave-ho” will go won’t be made until the start of 2012 AFL season, but the Fremantle Dockers have promised to seek member feedback on the future of the club song.
Dockers spokesman Luke Morfesse said the options being considered were to keep the existing song, adopt a reworked version of the existing song or bring in a brand new song.
He said the March 2011 edition of the Dockers member magazine would contain further details of the song review process.
He said due to AFL policy, a new version of a song could not be considered until the start of the season 2012.
Simon Smith, who has been a member of the Fremantle Football Club for 14 years, said while it was good news that members would be consulted in the song review process, he was still disappointed about the club’s decision earlier this year to revamp the team’s guernsey without consulting the member base.
Mr Smith was part of a vocal group of about 40 Dockers members who walked through Fremantle yesterday ahead of the club’s annual members meeting, donning the original Dockers colours, in protest against the lack of member consultation over the team’s new look.
Zoning to increase: Harvey
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey expects to see more zoning in the AFL in 2011 as a result of the limit on rotations.
Hoping to improve on a break-out 2010 season by the Dockers, Harvey also wants new ruckman Jonathon Griffin to play forward, his team’s kicking skills to be better and fitness to be at peak levels.
Fremantle lost in the second week of the finals to Geelong last season and Harvey said that had led to a later start to pre-season training, but he was confident the Dockers could reach the same level physically they were at for the start of the 2010 campaign.
”Because the game is getting congested and skills under pressure are becoming more apparent, you can run as far and as fast as you like, but if you can’t control the ball then you’ll be running for the wrong reasons.”
Palmer lights up the track
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle’s impressive 2010 season has put them slightly behind the eight ball in preparation for 2011 but coach Mark Harvey is confident his team’s fitness is on the right track with Rhys Palmer showing the way for all the midfielders to date.
Fremantle narrowly missed out on a top-four finish last season before going on to beat Hawthorn to earn a semi-final berth against Geelong. As a result of that pre-season training has been slightly delayed from last year.
The Dockers’ improved fitness was a driving force behind their rise in 2010, and Harvey is still confident those levels can be got to again by his group despite the tighter time frame.
Brock O’Brien to play for East Freo in 2011
013 years
The East Fremantle Football Club is proud to announce that former Fremantle Docker and Peel Thunder midfielder Brock O’Brien has committed to the East Fremantle Football Club for the next 3 seasons.
Brock managed 3 AFL games with the Dockers throughout his time with the club and 41 league games with the Peel Thunder Football Club.
Brock played three games in his first two seasons with the Dockers but constant battles with injury stopped him from showing his full potential at AFL level.
The left-footer is a highly skilled defender come midfielder who will add much vigour to what is shaping as a strong East Fremantle midfield battery.
Damien Gaspar
Football Operations Manager
No heave-ho for Freo song yet
113 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle president Steve Harris has defended the club’s decision to change its jumper and logo, but reassured members there would be more consultation with them before any move to change the club song.
Speaking before the annual members meeting at Fremantle Oval where supporters angry with the changes confronted the club’s hierarchy, Harris described the jumper and logo changes as “strong and bold”.
In an endorsement of the changes, sitting member Kate Grieve polled 28.2 per cent of the vote in a 13-candidate election to easily retain her spot on the board. John Garland was second with 17.55 per cent and Ian Massara was third with 13.48 per cent. About 2000 members voted.
Pockets of opposition to the changes have vented their anger on internet fan sites since the club announced the changes on October 1.
Kate Grieve elected to Board
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle President Steve Harris announced the winner of the seventh annual Member Election at the Club’s Annual Members’ Meeting in the Griff John Function Centre, Fremantle Oval on Wednesday 24 November.
Kate Grieve, who was elected to the Board as a member-elected representative in November 2008, will retain her position for a second two-year term.
After the nomination period, voting opened on Monday 25 October and ended at Monday 22 November, with Grieve, who was one of 13 candidates, receiving 28.62 per cent of the total vote.
John Garland was second with 17.55 per cent and Ian Massara third with 13.48 per cent.
Grieve said she was delighted to hold on to her position on the Board and looked forward to helping the Club continue its push for sustained success.
“I think the Club’s performance in 2010 was evidence that we are on track to achieve our goals and I’m eager to help finish the job,” she said.
Freo offers delisted pair a chance
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Delisted Fremantle players Tim Ruffles and Ben Bucovaz have been guaranteed AFL lifelines, with the club promising to re-draft them at next month’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
Ruffles and Bucovaz, who each spent two seasons on Fremantle’s senior list before being cut in October, will fill two of the club’s four vacant rookie spots if they are still available at the December 7 draft.
Delisted midfielder Brock O’Brien, who has endured a long string of injuries, is also being considered for a rookie spot, but coach Mark Harvey said the club was waiting to see how his body stands up through the early stages of pre-season training.
The coach said O’Brien, who played three games for the club in four seasons, had enjoyed an uninterrupted start to the summer program while Bucovaz had been particularly impressive.
“He’s presented like he’s ready to put his best foot forward … and he’s in his third year, so he understands that he has to assert himself,” Harvey said of Bucovaz.
Furious Freo fans to march against new look
113 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
By SportsNewsFirst.com.au
Furious Fremantle fans will march on the club’s annual members meeting tonight in a protest against the contentious change of guernsey and logo which they claim has led to disunity between Dockers bosses and members.
Fremantle unveiled a new look, a new logo and proudly trumpeted the ability to market the club as the Dockers for the first time back in September, despite a huge online backlash.
The dumping of the anchor from the front of the guernsey in favour of three chevrons, as well as a new streamlined logo, divided opinion, with tens of thousands of negative comments posted on online forums.
The most fervent complaints appeared on the ‘Dockerland’ website, the unofficial home of Dockers fans online – with the new playing strip described as “soulless” and the new logo likened to a “paperclip”.
And still angry, a hardcore of Fremantle members have organised a ‘Members Walk’ to Fremantle Oval ahead of Wednesday night’s meeting – where fans have been encouraged to don their now outdated Fremantle kit.
Sportsnewsfirst.com.au has been told that Dockers bosses can expect a hostile reception from fans angry at what is seen as a decision taken without consultation and against the tradition of the port club.
Faulks keen to seize his second chance
013 years
Fremantle recruit Peter Faulks says he never gave up hope of playing at the elite level after his first stint on an AFL list ended after just two seasons with the Sydney Swans.
Faulks, who found his way to Fremantle via trade week after being pre-listed by Gold Coast, appeared destined for the AFL scrapheap at the end of 2008 but he reignited his prospects with two excellent seasons in the VFL.
The key defender, who boasts a fierce competitive streak, speed and an elite vertical leap, said he never lost his hunger to play in the AFL.
“I had a burning passion to play at the highest level and once I was delisted I didn’t want to go back and play local footy with my mates,” the 22-year-old said.
“I learned so much in my time [with the Swans] and I think that’s just really helped me with the last two years of my football career.”
In 2009, after being cut by the Swans, Faulks formed an effective defensive duo with new Fremantle teammate Alex Silvagni at VFL club Casey Scorpions, finishing second in the club’s best-and-fairest award.
