Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for April, 2011
Ibbo gets back to his footy grassroots
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle’s Garrick Ibbotson took a trip down memory lane yesterday when he visited his old stomping ground, Bullcreek-Leeming Junior Football Club to have a kick around with some eager young footballers aspiring to one day make it to the top level, just as he has done.
Ibbo and the rest of his Freo Dockers’ teammates had spread across the Perth metropolitan area for the AFL’s annual Junior Club Visit.
He was joined at Bullcreek-Leeming by Ryan Crowley and Zac Clarke.
WAFL Watch: Recruits look to the middle
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in WAFL
Fremantle will look to expose new recruits Viv Michie and Josh Mellington to more midfield time in the coming weeks as the young Victorians continue their development in the WAFL.
Mellington played predominantly as a forward with the Murray Bushrangers last year, but the strong-bodied 18-year-old has shown potential around stoppages in recent weeks.
Michie, 19, was particularly impressive as a high half-forward at under-age level, but assistant coach Simon Lloyd said the club would also look to give him more midfield roles as he develops.
“With Viv and Josh we’re going to start looking to get them up through the midfield a bit more now because that’s what we need at senior level,” Lloyd said.
Eleven Fremantle players were involved at WAFL level in round four of the State competition, with Clancee Pearce representing Swan Districts in the Foxtel Cup.
Jesse Crichton continued to push for senior selection and was named the club’s WAFL player of the round for the second straight week.
Crowley climbs off scrapheap
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Milestones
Fremantle forward Ryan Crowley found himself on the AFL scrapheap at the end of 2004 after two unsuccessful seasons on the club’s senior list and zero games.
The hard-nosed youngster from the Calder Cannons was contemplating a stint in the SANFL before then Fremantle recruiter Phil Smart convinced him to hang around and picked him with selection No.39 in the 2005 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
The show of faith has been rewarded by any measure, with Crowley set to play his 100th game for the club on Sunday against North Melbourne at Patersons Stadium.
Best known for his relentless tagging work on the opposition’s best midfielders, Crowley says he is proud to reach the milestone given the hurdles he’s faced.
“I obviously got delisted after my first two years at the club, so at that stage it felt like a long way off,” Crowley said.
“It was a pretty rocky road [and] it’s been a bit different to other guys that have got there.
Sandilands has eye on Kangaroos
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle is confident star ruckman Aaron Sandilands will be fit to face North Melbourne this Sunday after suffering an eye injury in the side’s 25-point win over Adelaide in round three.
The All-Australian has been cleared of any serious damage to his left eye after staying in Adelaide at the weekend to seek treatment and visiting an eye specialist in Perth on Monday.
Sandilands was substituted out of Saturday’s clash at AAMI Stadium early in the third quarter after an accidental poke to his eye put an end to his dominant start to the match.
Fremantle football manager Chris Bond said the club’s medical advice was that Sandilands take it easy for the next few days.
“We expect Aaron to be right to play against North Melbourne on Sunday,” he said.
Fremantle was able to maintain its healthy half-time lead once Sandilands was sidelined, notching its second away win of the season in Matthew Pavlich’s club-record 239th game.
All about the team: Pavlich
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Matthew Pavlich says Fremantle’s 25-point win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday was always about the four premiership points.
The Fremantle skipper, now the club’s games record holder with 239 AFL games, said he never wanted the focus of the match against the Crows to be about his achievement.
“To be honest, I didn’t want it to be a distraction, without being disrespectful to the record,” Pavlich said.
“It was always about the four premiership points.”
Fremantle burst out of the blocks on Saturday afternoon, booting five first-quarter goals and holding Adelaide goalless to take a 30-point lead into the first break.
Pavlich denied his milestone was specifically brought up pre-match to motivate his troops.
“I didn’t ask for anything unusual,” said Pavlich.
Win fitting reward for Pavlich: Harvey
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said his side was determined to celebrate Matthew Pavlich’s record-breaking match with a win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Fremantle captain was chaired from the ground by his teammates following his club-record 239th game, and Harvey said the 25-point victory was just reward for the inspirational skipper.
“We are only a young football club, but he’s the best player the club has ever had,” Harvey said.
“Personally and from a club point of view, it was important that we went on today to win and recognised ‘Pav’ breaking the record at this football club.”
Fremantle was motivated to celebrate the occasion in style, dominating the opening quarter with five goals while restricting the Crows to just three behinds.
Adelaide struggled in the breezy and slippery conditions early in the match, while Fremantle moved the ball cleanly and outran their opponents.
Freo cruise past Crows
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Match Results
Fremantle 5.3 7.7 8.11 11.13 (79)
Adelaide 0.3 2.5 4.9 7.12 (54)
GOALS
Fremantle: McPhee 2, Mayne 2, Bradley, Fyfe, Crowley, Mundy, Palmer, Walters, Hill
Adelaide: Walker 2, Vince, Dangerfield, McKernan, Stevens, Jaensch
BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Hill, Mundy, Sandilands, McPharlin, Pavlich
Adelaide: Thompson, Dangerfield, van Berlo, Vince
INJURIES
Fremantle: Sandilands (eye)
Adelaide: Davis (shoulder)
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Aaron Sandilands (eye) replaced by Michael Walters in the third quarter
Adelaide: Phil Davis (shoulder) replaced by Brodie Martin in the second quarter
Reports: Ivan Maric (Adelaide) in the final quarter – details to come.
Umpires: Margetts, Rosebury, Jennings
Official crowd: 33,414 at AAMI Stadium
Round 3 team named for Pav’s record-breaker
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Team Selections
New recruit Jayden Pitt has been recalled to Fremantle’s team to take on Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
Pitt is the only change to the side that lost to Geelong last Saturday night, with Jay van Berlo making way for the 18-year-old.
The Victorian recruit will play his second AFL game after debuting in round 1 against Brisbane at the Gabba, where he kicked a goal and had 12 disposals.
Van Berlo is listed as an emergency along with Jack Anthony and Jesse Crichton.
Saturday’s match marks the 239th club appearance for Matthew Pavlich – a new Fremantle games record.
The Freo skipper will pass the mark set by former defender Shane Parker, who played 238 games for the club from 1995 to 2007.
Pavlich, who has missed only eight games since making his debut in round 5, 2000, said he expected to spend the majority of Saturday’s match in the midfield.
WAFL Watch: Crichton stars for Peel
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in WAFL
Young midfielder Jesse Crichton was thrown some testing roles in his first six AFL games last season but the benefits are clear to see in his second year with Fremantle.
The feisty Tasmanian, who was recruited with pick No.48 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, was Fremantle’s WAFL player of the week in round three of the state competition after a strong showing for Peel Thunder.
Fremantle assistant coach Simon Lloyd said the 19-year-old was clearly out-muscled at times in his debut season, but a strong summer program has him better prepared for his next opportunity at senior level.
“He had some big names that he played on last year, including Cyril Rioli down in Launceston, and I think that’s a credit to Mark Harvey looking at the bigger picture,” Lloyd said.
“Looking at both Justin Bollenhagen and Jesse, they’ve definitely put on some size.
“After a year of senior footy, they’re more seasoned now and they know what to expect. Their bodies can cope with the demands.”
Best of the Dockers
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Ahead of Matthew Pavlich breaking Fremantle’s games record, we look at those who have shined in purple.
1. Matthew Pavlich (2000-present; 238 games)
Far and away the best player to have ever donned a Dockers guernsey, Pavlich has won a record five club best and fairests and has finished in the top three nine times. Pavlich is also a six-time All-Australian and has topped the Fremantle goalkicking on seven occasions. Despite being born in South Australia and having ample opportunities to request a trade to the Crows, he has stuck with the Dockers through thick and thin and is finally starting to enjoy the reward of playing finals football.
2. Peter Bell (1995, 2001-08; 163 games)
Aside from Pavlich, Bell is the only Docker to claim multiple best and fairests with Fremantle, winning three in his two stints with the club. Bell won All-Australian selection twice in his career; once while he was playing with North Melbourne and once while he was with Fremantle. The South Korean-born player became skipper of the club in 2002 and the first-ever Fremantle captain to take part in finals one year later. Bell was also the first Fremantle captain to take the side to a finals win when the Dockers beat Melbourne in 2006’s second semi-final.
