Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for March, 2012
Key Dockers tipped to return
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich says injured Dockers stars Anthony Morabito, David Mundy and Michael Barlow are all chances to return to the team shortly.
Speaking to SEN radio from the AFL season launch in Sydney, Pavlich gave Docker fans plenty of encouragement with his upbeat appraisal of the recovering midfield stars, who could transform the Fremantle midfield once fit.
“Anthony Morabito and Michael Barlow are likely to, potentially, play a game this week or certainly have a really strong match simulation session tomorrow,” Pavlich said.
Ibbotson assumes responsibility
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle defender Garrick Ibbotson has backed coach Ross Lyon’s call for the team’s middle-tier to improve this season and release the burden on stars like Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands.
Lyon has challenged established players like Ibbotson to take more responsibility for Fremantle’s on-field fortunes this year, with the team overly reliant on its top bracket of players.
Ibbotson, who will either play in the WAFL or take part in match simulation training this weekend to round out his pre-season, said the players under notice had risen to the coach’s challenge this summer.
“There’s always room for improvement and I think there’s a lot of guys on our list who are really making good in-roads in that department,” Ibbotson said on Wednesday.
“Pavlich, Sandilands and [David] Mundy are going to be really consistent all year round, but it’s the next few guys down where we’re going to find our improvement.
Pavlich the new vice president of the AFLPA
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich has been appointed as vice president of the AFL Players’ Association, while Collingwood’s Luke Ball is the new president.
The announcement came following the 2012 Annual General Meeting where GWS Giants co-captain Luke Power stepped down from the role of president.
AFL Players’ Association CEO Matt Finnis said:
“Luke and Matthew have been outstanding representatives for the Players’ Association in their roles of delegates and board members. The appointment of a president and vice president from different sides of Australia means the Association will continue to have strong representation on issues that affect all players.
Lyon senses big year for Dockers
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Ross Lyon says he feels invigorated by the optimism around the Dockers but the club have refused to set any lofty ambitions for their 2012 campaign at their season launch.
Fremantle refrained from making any bold predictions in front of a large gathering of sponsors and supporters on Wednesday, setting only a return to the finals as their ambition.
An injury-plagued 2011 season saw the Dockers drop out of the top eight, finishing 11th with a 9-13 record which saw previous coach Mark Harvey replaced by Lyon.
Mundy may need more time: Lyon
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Despite his recent return to full training, Fremantle midfielder David Mundy is likely to fall just short in his bid to make the start of the AFL season.
Mundy, who underwent ankle surgery at the tail end of last year, only returned to full training last week after a setback in his recovery.
The 26-year-old will ramp up his preparation by taking part in more aggressive agility work this week, but Dockers’ coach Ross Lyon isn’t optimistic of Mundy appearing against Geelong on March 31.
“I’ve probably learned not to make any close-ended statements except to say it’s still against him,” Lyon said on Tuesday.
“He’s not injured – he’s just building conditioning and he’s had some great weeks.
VC recipient is Freo’s new Number 1 Ticket Holder
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
The Fremantle Dockers are pleased to announce that Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has accepted the position as the club’s new Number 1 Ticket Holder.
Cpl Roberts-Smith, who is a member of the elite Special Air Service Regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2011 for his actions on 11 June, 2010 during a battle in the village of Tizak, in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.
He takes over as Number 1 Ticket Holder from Australian rock band Eskimo Joe.
A Fremantle supporter since the club’s inception in 1995, Cpl Roberts-Smith said being the Number 1 Ticket Holder was a great honour.
“I’m obviously very lucky and I feel very privileged to be asked to do that for the club,” he said.
“To be asked by any institution, particularly one that you’re already close to, to be a Number 1 Ticket Holder is a big deal, so I take it pretty seriously.
Forward line gelling: Bradley
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Kepler Bradley believes that Fremantle’s pre-season three-pronged tall forward set-up that includes himself, Matthew Pavlich and Jack Anthony is beginning to gel more with every match.The trio kicked five goals between them against a near- full strength Hawthorn outfit at Patersons Stadium last Friday night, which Bradley, who booted two, said was an important confidence booster before the season begins on 31 March.
“”I thought the whole forward line worked really well. We really got a bit of chemistry there,” he said.
“Jack was taking a few marks and Pav was leading really well.
“We managed to kick five goals between us and if your forward structure is able to do that most weeks you’re going to come away with a pretty good result.”
Anthony played perhaps his best game for Fremantle as a forward, finishing with two goals, three contested marks and five tackles.
Jay van Berlo begins fights to win back spot in Fremantle’s line-up
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Jay van Berlo is “up and about” again and confident he can regain his place in the Fremantle’s line-up after making a full recovery from a groin complaint.
The utility was a late inclusion for West Perth in the WAFL season opener against Subiaco after being named as an emergency for the Dockers’ scratch match against Hawthorn on Friday night.
The Falcons were beaten by 24 points on Saturday, but the 23-year-old utility was one of their best, collecting 21 touches and kicking an important goal in the third term.
Docker Walters shines for Swans
012 years
Michael Walters took another step towards resurrecting his AFL career with an encouraging effort for Swan Districts on Saturday.
Fremantle squad member Walters and West Coast teenager Murray Newman caught the eye, but Peel maintained their impressive pre-season form by winning 15.12 (102) to 14.7 (91) at Steel Blue Oval.
The Dockers sent Walters back to his WAFL club on January 20 after he failed to heed warnings about his fitness and weight.
The 21-year-old slashed almost 40 seconds off his best 3km time trial time in the middle of last month and has continued to work hard, according to Swan Districts coach Greg Harding.
Harding said Walters was doing what he could to improve, including paying attention to his skinfolds.
“Sunny lost his grandad two weeks ago and for a young kid who has had a fair bit thrown at him in the past three months, he has done a great job,” Harding said.
“He had his skinfolds done at Freo last week and they were moving strongly in the right direction. I think it’s only a matter of time before he rejoins the Dockers.
Sandi shoots for stars – but what about the Cats?
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle ruck star Aaron Sandilands was the self-appointed captain-coach and first ruckman in the Dockers Starlight Foundation/Purple Haze team of the decade announced yesterday at Fremantle Oval.
The only question now is whether the giant, widely regarded as Fremantle’s most influential player, will be with the Dockers when they take the field for the 10th annual Purple Haze match against Geelong on Saturday week.
Sandilands, who has missed Fremantle’s past three NAB Cup games with a calf injury, has cast a long shadow over the Cats in recent clashes, but fellow Purple Haze ambassador Matt de Boer took the conservative approach when asked if the ruckman was likely to play in Fremantle’s season opener.
“We would love to have him out there,” he said. “Obviously he is a huge presence and Geelong would have to plan for him. We will have to wait and see, but fingers crossed.”
Sandilands is one of five injured players the Dockers are anxious about. David Mundy (ankle) and Michael Barlow (leg soreness) are still in doubt. Luke McPharlin (concussion) and Michael Johnson (ankle) were added to the casualty list in Friday night’s match against Hawthorn.
