Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for September, 2011
Fremantle board member Richard Goyder appointed to AFL Commission
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle Dockers’ board member Richard Goyder has become the first West Australian to be appointed to the AFL Commission in more than a decade.
A Fremantle board member since 2006, the 51-year-old father of four is also CEO and managing director of Wesfarmers, one of Australia’s largest listed companies and biggest private employers, with around 200,000 employees Australia-wide.
The last West Australian to sit on the AFL commission was Terry O’Connor QC, who was a commissioner from 1993 to 2000.
Fremantle president Steve Harris said that the Fremantle Dockers, West Coast and WA football in general had long been advocating for a WA-based AFL Commissioner.
“Richard is incredibly well qualified to take up this role, and will bring with it a firsthand understanding of a WA-based club through his association with Fremantle,” Harris said.
Jonathon Griffin key to new Dockers coach Ross Lyon’s plans
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Ruckman Jonathon Griffin has told Fremantle he wants to stay in WA, according to incoming coach Ross Lyon.
“I really value ruckmen my history in coaching tells me that and anyone who’s watched the finals in the last few weeks will understand that,” Lyon said.
“Obviously, getting it forward and locking it in the front half is a key to (success), so he’s (Griffin) got an important role to play in that.
Hill ahead of the curve
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Speedster Stephen Hill is advanced in his development and well on the way to becoming the star Fremantle are hoping he will be, according to new coach Ross Lyon.
The club’s 2008 No.3 draft pick is coming off a difficult third season.
Hill battled shin soreness during the pre-season, leading to an interrupted preparation.
The 21-year-old still managed to play every game but struggled to lift his possession output from 2010 as he was increasingly targeted by opposition taggers.
The midfielder admitted last month he had not coped well with tagging and said he would seek advice from clearance leader David Mundy during the off-season.
Lyon threw his support behind Hill yesterday, warning critics and supporters alike against expecting too much from the still-maturing Docker.
“I think what’s really important is clubs that haven’t had the ultimate success look for almost the great white hope and a burden can fall on one player for a long period of time,” Lyon told 6PR.
Injury buck stops with coach: Ross Lyon
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
New Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has suggested his predecessor Mark Harvey should cop the blame for the Dockers’ horror injury run.
Lyon, who replaced the sacked Harvey in sensational circumstances a week ago, says senior coaches are ultimately responsible for the fitness of their list.
Harvey was barely able to field a team at the end of the season, with an incredible 23 players on the Dockers’ injury list, at least half of which were among the club’s best 22.
Lyon refused to place blame for the injury toll squarely on his predecessor, but said a certain amount of responsibility for player fitness had to be shouldered by senior coaches.
Freo discard’s second chance
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Dumped Fremantle forward Joel Houghton will play in an under-23s exhibition game at Patersons Stadium tomorrow in an attempt to get re-drafted.
The WAFL had enormous success with the concept last year, with eight players recruited by AFL clubs, including Fremantle’s Tendai Mzungu who was selected as an overage player.
WAFC high performance mana-ger Craig Starcevich bumped into Houghton at Brownes Stadium this week and the key forward asked if he could play.
“He approached us,” Starcevich said. “He was in the gym and just came over and asked for a game.
“He wants to take this opportunity to show the recruiters that he’s still around and could be on an AFL list.”
Pinch a Docker, says Sheedy
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Kevin Sheedy is urging all Melbourne clubs to pinch a player from Fremantle as payback for the Dockers’ dumping of coach Mark Harvey.
The Greater Western Sydney coach blasted the Dockers at a Melbourne Press Club lunch yesterday, saying their treatment of Harvey, who still had two years to run on his contract, was wrong.
Fremantle sacked Harvey to make way for St Kilda coach Ross Lyon, who signed a five-year contract reportedly worth $1 million a year.
Asked if the Dockers had done the right thing by Harvey, Sheedy didn’t mince words. ”No of course they didn’t, and they’ll get their whack, don’t you worry about that,” he said. ”It would be great to see every club in Melbourne take a player and see how they suffer.
”I just thought that was the wrong thing to do to a person who has had about 12 injured players, put every kid on the list in for a game or two and then it’s ‘see you later’ after making the finals last year.”
Crowley contract hopes on the rise
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
The manager of Fremantle run-with specialist Ryan Crowley is confident his client can secure a new deal in the wake of incoming coach Ross Lyon’s positive assessment.
Lyon indicated in his exclusive interview with thewest.com.au yesterday that he wanted to keep 27-year-old Crowley at the club for 2012.
“I’ve seen him play some really good football,” Lyon said.
“(He’s) familiar with go-with and work-off roles and I’d love to see him get back to his best.”
Crowley’s future at Fremantle was due to be revisited during next month’s trade week, with forward Michael Walters and rookie-listed player Clancee Pearce also having their prospects of a new contract postponed under a similar wait-and-see scenario.
Crowley’s manager Carlos Da Costa said he had spoken to Fremantle recruiting chief Brad Lloyd yesterday morning seeking an update on Crowley.
“It’s really confident and exciting to hear the new man at the helm Ross Lyon also sees the same player that I see in Ryan Crowley and how Ryan Crowley is a team player,” Da Costa said.
Footy star in harmony
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle Dockers player Luke McPharlin is making an appearance on The Footy Show tonight ahead of the release of his six-track EP.
McPharlin told Access All Areas that he was “very excited” to be performing his new single Leaders on the show with band members Damien Carbon and Jonathan and Domenic Romeo from WA band Stella’s Kitchen.
His first single has had positive reviews and now with Harpoon Productions onboard, the self-trained guitarist is grabbing the publicity bull by its horns, excited by the prospect of touring Perth.
“I’ve got a music manager now and he’s been on top of promotions. We’ve been focusing on getting radio play and at some stage we’ll be doing some gigs around Perth to promote our EP, which we’re looking to release in November or December,” McPharlin said.
Despite the success of his music projects, Fremantle Dockers fans have no need to panic. McPharlin is still fully focused on the upcoming season with new coach Ross Lyon.
I hope Fremantle get raided: Sheedy
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
By SportsNewsFirst
GWS head coach Kevin Sheedy has launched a remarkable attack on Fremantle, saying he hopes their playing stocks get raided by Melbourne clubs as payback for sacking Mark Harvey.
As Ross Lyon settles into the Dockers’ hotseat, with a round of media interviews scheduled on Friday to further introduce himself in WA, the Giants’ biggest mouthpiece was using it to again criticise the handling of Harvey’s departure.
Having helped lure one Docker away this year in Rhys Palmer, Sheedy said he hoped other Melbourne clubs followed suit given the way the ex-Bomber legend was treated.
Clark no give-away: Voss
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss says Mitch Clark is a required player, and insists the club will seek fair compensation if the out-of-contract utility gets his desired trade to Fremantle.
After six seasons with the Lions, Clark has asked to be traded back to his home state of Western Australia and new Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has expressed his desire to sign the ruck/forward.
Clark was taken by the Lions with the no.9 pick in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft, has played 82 games and was added to the leadership group in 2011.
He made the 40-man All Australian squad in 2009 and is seen as a crucial part of the club’s future.
The Lions have made Clark a contract offer and Voss said they would not give him up lightly.
“For me he’s a required player and he’s a very good player,” Voss said.
