Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for September, 2011
Harvey expresses anger at Dockers sacking
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Mark Harvey has publicly detailed his anger for the first time following his shock sacking as Fremantle coach earlier this month.
Harvey has been pretty guarded since he was dumped in favour of St Kilda’s Ross Lyon 15 days ago.
But speaking at an eve-of-grand final luncheon in Melbourne today, he made no attempt to hide his feelings.
“Yes, I’m angry,” Harvey said.
He said the first inkling he got that something was amiss came when he received a “strange text message” from a “football source” outside the club, although he wouldn’t reveal details of the SMS.
Harvey, who is assessing his options in and out of football, said he had been overwhelmed by the support shown to him from the wider football community.
He said he planned to return to Melbourne from Perth at some stage.
Harvey was speaking at the CM Events luncheon at Etihad Stadium, run by former North Melbourne ruckman Corey McKernan.
Sacked Harvey set to break his silence
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
By SportsNewsFirst
Sacked Fremantle coach Mark Harvey will break his silence about his shock removal from the Dockers hotseat on Saturday – and he will return to his old club to do it.
Harvey has kept a low profile since the stunning move by the Dockers’ hierarchy to remove him and install Ross Lyon, after his equally shocking exit from St Kilda.
But at Essendon’s grand final function on Saturday, Harvey will be the guest speaker – where he will undoubtedly be asked about the circumstances of his shock exit from Fremantle and his future in football.
Harvey’s potential return to the club where he won three premierships and an All-Australian selection in 1993 is an obvious connection to make, particularly given the Bombers have lost one assistant in new Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney and Dean Wallis to a ban for betting on games.
But there is also a thought Harvey could take a year out of football, with his family ensconced in Western Australia.
Freo face more changes at the top
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle could start next season without two of the board members who ratified Mark Harvey’s controversial sacking as coach.
Richard Goyder yesterday resigned his position at the club after becoming the first West Australian to be appointed to the AFL Commission since Terry Connor QC finished his role in 2000.
The 51-year-old has been on Fremantle’s board since 2006 and is the chief executive officer and managing director of Wesfarmers. He is the first of two AFL appointments after the retirements of Bob Hammond and Graeme John.
Goyder’s replacement will be head hunted by the club and WA Football Commission. Fremantle said they were seeking someone with the same level of experience as Goyder.
Harvey ponders year off
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
By SportsNewsFirst
Sacked Fremantle coach Mark Harvey looks set to take a year away from football on the back of his acrimonious dismissal early this month.
Harvey, 41, has retained a steadfast silence since he was dumped and swiftly replaced by St Kilda coach Ross Lyon just five days after the Saints lost an elimination final to Sydney in Melbourne.
The dumped Dockers boss will be paid in full his contractual entitlements from Fremantle for 2012 following his ugly dismissal.
Ray, Dawson on Freo hit list
013 years
As the Saints also ponder how best to ease salary-cap pressures next season, it has emerged that Lyon, now with Fremantle, could soon direct his attention towards his former club.
Saints midfielder Farren Ray, a West Australian, and full-back Zac Dawson remain out of contract.
The Dockers have regularly inquired about Ray through his management, and did so again recently. The speedy onballer/half-back has become an important cog in the Saints’ line-up since crossing from the Western Bulldogs after the 2008 season.
He has since played 71 matches at St Kilda for a career total of 146, including 21 this season.
Eskimo Joe writing a new Dockers song
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
By SportsNewsFirst
Australian rockers Eskimo Joe have confirmed they are putting together one of the potential replacements for Fremantle’s much-maligned club song.
As he prepared for an appearance at Grand Final on Saturday, drummer Joel Quartermain confirmed the band were currently working on their attempt at a new club song, and would be recording it on their return to Perth.
Currently the number one ticket holders at the club, Quartermai said the band had been working on the new song for some time.
Fyfe gets the nod from the AFL’s coaches
013 years
Nathan Fyfe has capped off a brilliant season by being named the AFL Coaching Association’s (AFLCA) Best Young Player of 2011.
The award, as voted by the AFL’s coaches, is given to a player in his first two years of AFL football.
The coaches’ nominations saw Fyfe win from West Coast’s Luke Shuey and Richmond’s Dustin Martin.
Fyfe said it was an honour to be recognised by the coaches for an award that has been won in the past by Brownlow Medallists Chris Judd and Adam Cooney, star players Scott Pendlebury, Joel Selwood and Cyril Rioli, and Fyfe’s teammate Stephen Hill in 2010.
“I’ve had a quick look through the previous winners and it’s quite an impressive list,” he said.
“It’s very humbling to have been chosen by the coaches, who are in a good position to see your value,” he said.
$1m bonus for Eagles and Dockers
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich says the club is not surprised at the structure of the AFL’s five-year funding package announced yesterday given the need to meet players’ wage demands.
The league’s governing body will provide $1.1 billion for the 18 clubs under a funding and equalisation plan aimed at giving a leg up to the poorer clubs.
About 60 per cent of the package will be devoted solely to player payments.
Of the remainder, a new $144 million club future fund is the centrepiece and will go to areas such as facilities, football departments, sponsorship, fan development and debt reduction.
A total of $58.5 million from the fund will be equally distributed in $3.25 million payments to each club.
Another $48 million will be allocated over the next three years depending on need, with the remaining $37 million not yet assigned and to be distributed in 2015-16.
Freo Dockers appoint stoppages coach
013 years
The Fremantle Dockers have appointed Mark Stone as stoppages coach for 2012.
The 44-year-old father of two has been stoppages coach at the Sydney Swans for the past four seasons. Prior to that, Stone was stoppage and opposition analyst at West Coast from 2003 to 2007.
He was also an assistant coach at South Fremantle in the WAFL from 2001 to 2002 and senior coach of the Wagga Tigers (1999-2000) in the Riverina Football League.
At the Swans, Stone’s responsibilities as stoppages coach included strategic planning and implementation.
Stone is due to start at Fremantle on 1 November.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenges that are ahead and working with a playing group that is ready to improve under new senior coach Ross Lyon,” he said.
Fyfe tops Freo Brownlow tally
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Freo second-year star Nat Fyfe’s excellent season was also noticed by the umpires in 2011 with the midfielder topping the Brownlow Medal leader board at Fremantle.
Fyfe polled 13 votes to edge out his skipper and perennial vote-winner Matthew Pavlich (9) and star ruckman Aaron Sandilands (5).
The 20-year-old only polled in five games, but four of them were adjudged best on ground efforts.
He gained maximum votes in round 3 (vs Adelaide), round 9 (vs Port), round 12 (vs Essendon) and round 17 (vs Sydney).
The Lake Grace youngster will be looking forward to playing games at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide next year – he gained the three votes in both of his games there in 2011.
Fyfe also seems to have developed a liking for the tight confines of the SCG, where he polled three votes this year and two in round 9 2010.
