Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for March, 2011
Kids key to Fremantle challenge
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle is in new territory this season. It may not have won the flag, but in the big picture, the club came further than any other in 2010.
It belted Hawthorn in a final with a talented young list that plays tough, no-fear footy.
For that, the Dockers have gained, perhaps for the first time in a chequered 16-year history, respect from the footy world.
This is a club that in the past has relied on inconsistent types who beat up on struggling teams at home, but went missing when it mattered.
That trend went out the window last year as it played kids, defended hard across the ground and learnt to win away games.
AFL captains back Freo finals push
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
More than half of the AFL team captains believe Fremantle will overcome a crippling injury toll to make the finals in 2011.
The AFL today polled all 17 captains on a number of issues in the lead-up to tonight’s season launch in Melbourne.
But while there is still faith in Fremantle, the Eagles are not so lucky, with only one captain believing they will bounce back from their wooden spoon finish in 2010.
Collingwood was again the clear favourite to take out the competition, with all 16 other captains predicting they will make the finals and 14 of the 16 suggesting they will make the grand final.
Dane Swan, Luke Hodge and Joel Selwood were given three votes each as the likely Browlnlow medallist while number one draft pick David Swallow was the resounding favourite to take home the rising star award.
Pavlich dares to dream
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
As he enters his 12th AFL season, Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich is refusing to believe his opportunity to be part of the ultimate success is slipping away.
The 29-year-old, who has been captain of Fremantle since 2007 and has led his side to just one finals campaign, is refusing to give up hope of holding a premiership cup aloft despite the fact that time is running out.
“I don’t really take time to focus on that. I’m too concerned about ensuring that the things we concentrate on are the important aspects of how we’re going to play each week and how we train,” he said on Thursday at the AFL captains’ day.
“There are no surprises that this game continues to present a lot of challenges, and one of those is an indifferent pre-season.
“I’m confident that we can overcome that and still be a very competitive force this year.”
Up, up and aweigh for Dockers
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich says his club are on record pace off-field ahead of the 2011 season.
Speaking ahead of Fremantle’s season launch last night, Rosich said the Dockers had more members, sponsors and corporate support than at any point in the club’s history at a corresponding time of the year.
He called on his club to “up the ante”, warning that change had to be embraced just to keep pace – a reference to critics of the controversial decision to change the jumper and logo at the end of 2010, and a proposal to enter a reserves team in the WAFL as early as 2012.
“Young players are being presented tonight and it is our responsibility to make sure they have the best facilities, structure and people around them to make sure they develop as quickly as possible and give them the best chance or performing individually in the AFL but also collectively for the team to achieve sustained success,” he said.
Freo launch season
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
The Fremantle Dockers kicked off 2011 at the club’s Season Launch at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre last night.
Freo member since the club’s inception in 1994 and Governor of Western Australia, His Excellency Dr Ken Michael began the night’s proceedings by officially declaring the 2011 season open.
The MC for the night, Channel 9’s Michael Thomson, then interviewed Freo President Steve Harris and Chief Executive Steve Rosich.
Rosich spoke of the challenges and expectations that lay ahead for the football club.
“In terms of off-field expectations, it’s nothing more than to continue to improve, and off-field to continue to give our coaching team and players the best opportunity to perform on the field,” he said.
“It’s a challenging competition. We are chasing the pack. There’s clearly a top four, and we’re not quite at that level yet and that’s our challenge.
Lower elevated
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
The AFL has today approved the Fremantle Dockers’ application for South Australian recruit Nick Lower to be the club’s nominated rookie for the 2011 season.
Lower fills the one position that remained on the club’s main list due to it having only one nominated veteran on the list in Antoni Grover.
He is now available for selection in Fremantle’s round 1 match against Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday 26 March.
The AFL also approved Fremantle’s application to place Roger Hayden (foot, 8-12 weeks) and Anthony Morabito (knee, season) on the long-term injury list.
The 23-year-old Lower, who has played in all four of Fremantle’s pre-season games, was selected by the club at pick 37 in the 2011 Rookie Draft.
I trained too hard: Mundy
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle’s prime clearance specialist David Mundy has conceded that overtraining was the main reason behind the groin soreness that came close to derailing his pre-season campaign.
Last year’s club champion declared himself willing to line up in a practice match for WAFL club Subiaco this Saturday to build up his game time after playing a half in the Dockers’ nine-point win over West Coast on Saturday.
It was his first competitive hit-out of the year.
His groin soreness arose after the club’s Christmas break, forcing the 25-year-old to scale back his workload in a bid to avoid injuring a hamstring or calf and further postponing his return.
The club will decide which players line up for their respective WAFL sides early this week.
“It was just a bit of overtraining I think,” Mundy said.
Upgrade sought for Lower
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
The Fremantle Dockers have made application to the AFL for South Australian recruit Nick Lower to be the club’s nominated rookie for the 2011 season.
There is one position remaining on the club’s main list due to it having only one nominated veteran on the list in Antoni Grover.
The 23-year-old, who has played in all four of Fremantle’s pre-season games, was selected by the club at pick 37 in the 2011 Rookie Draft.
The strongly-built midfielder/defender played 20 games for Port Adelaide after debuting in 2006 before he was delisted by the Power at the end of the 2009 season.
He returned to his SANFL club Norwood in 2010, where he enjoyed a successful season that saw him win more possessions than any other player in the league and finish runner-up in the Magarey Medal.
Fremantle win but Mzungu injured
013 years
Fremantle broke their pre-season duck but will be sweating on the fitness of defender Tendai Mzungu after a thrilling nine-point victory over arch AFL rivals West Coast at Fremantle Oval on Saturday.
Mzungu, snared by the Dockers in a deal with Gold Coast during trade week, fell awkwardly in a first-quarter marking contest and was in obvious pain as he was carried from the ground by two trainers.
The 25-year-old was almost certain to earn a berth for Fremantle’s season opener against Brisbane at the Gabba on March 26 after an impressive pre-season campaign, and the Dockers will hope his injury isn’t serious.
The incident soured an otherwise promising performance from the Dockers, who booted the final two goals of the match to prevail 13.12 (90) to 11.15 (81), earning the club its first win of the pre-season.
Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich and 19-year-old forward Nat Fyfe (two goals) starred for the home side, while Hayden Ballantyne (two goals), Chris Mayne (two goals), Michael Walters (four goals) and Nick Suban were also impressive.
Balancing act for Fremantle
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle will field up to 21 players from its best round-one line-up in Saturday’s NAB Challenge derby, but assistant coach Simon Lloyd says the club still faces a balancing act managing its underdone stars.
Key midfielders David Mundy and Stephen Hill will play their first matches of the pre-season, with Nat Fyfe and Hayden Ballantyne also named in the 26-man squad after returning last week.
Fremantle will field 22 players in its final practice match against West Coast at Fremantle Oval, using three players and a substitute on the bench to simulate regular season conditions.
Lloyd said the club was not concerned about a lack of match practice for prime movers Hill and Mundy, but it would be careful not to select too many underdone players in round one.
“Even though players aren’t on the track or aren’t playing NAB Cup or NAB Challenge games, we have got a lot of work into some of these players behind closed doors,” Lloyd said from Fremantle Oval on Thursday.
