Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for April, 2012
Room to improve for Freo and Griffin
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Freo’s Jonathon Griffin made a solid return to AFL footy in Friday night’s loss to Carlton at Patersons Stadium.
Thrust immediately into the role of number one ruckman after champion Aaron Sandilands had been ruled out of the match, Griffin competed admirably against up-and-coming Blues’ big man Matthew Kreuzer.
The 26-year-old had 14 disposals and 25 hitouts, which helped Freo enjoy a 38-32 clearances advantage.
He was reasonably pleased with his performance but acknowledged there was still plenty of room for improvement.
“The intensity of the game definitely caught up with me, but it’s my first game back and, hopefully, there’s many more to come,” he said.
Griffin said captain Matthew Pavlich chose to focus on the positives when he addressed the team on the ground at the conclusion of the game.
“He told us that we’re not too far off and that we’ve still got improvement to go,” Griffin said.
Five talking points: Fremantle v Carlton
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
1. No love lost
Fremantle was happy at Ryan Crowley’s shutdown job on Chris Judd (17 disposals), who’d averaged 33 possessions at Patersons Stadium against Freo while a Blue. Judd spent a bit of time complaining to the umps about the treatment from Freo’s tagger, and found some love in cyberspace with Gary Ablett tweeting early in last night’s match: “Crowley is a joke. Play the ball not the man! That’s why Lingy was such a great players he ran both ways.” Tweet war loomed when Alex Silvagni shot back with: “whatever gets the job done Gaz!” Twits at dawn, anyone?
2. Almost nearly
Blues high-flyer Andrew Walker enjoyed the pre-match Anzac tribute for the Len Hall match so much he took to the skies like a Spitfire for what could have been the mark of the season – only he dropped it. Walker was catapulted into the stratosphere after his initial leap on Zac Clarke’s shoulders, then it looked like he realised he had a long way to fall and fumbled the mark. For the record, Len Hall was WA’s last surviving digger at Gallipoli.
Wayward Freo pay the price
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Coach Ross Lyon has bemoaned a wayward performance from his forward line on Friday night, with inaccuracy costing Fremantle dearly in its eight-point loss to Carlton.
Fremantle controlled the first half of Friday night’s match, but a 2.7 second quarter saw them enter the main break six points behind, the final scoreline a frustrating 7.15 (57) to Carlton’s 10.5 (65).
Lyon said his team failed to capitalise on its midfield dominance in the first half, adding his three-pronged tall forward line was still a work in progress after a goalless return from Jack Anthony.
“I just think when we had ascendency and dominated the second quarter, to kick 2.7 against what everybody believes to be a top-four team … you need to put scoreboard pressure on,” Lyon said.
“We all know that a lot of games are won and lost on accuracy. We probably won on accuracy last week and probably lost on it tonight.”
Freo falls at home
012 years
Carlton 2.1 6.2 9.4 10.5 (65)
Fremantle 1.2 3.9 4.10 7.15 (57)
GOALS
Carlton: Garlett 2, Walker 2, Robinson 2, Hampson, Waite, Betts, Simpson
Fremantle: Hill, Mayne, Ballantyne, Clarke, Pavlich, Crowley, McPharlin
BEST
Carlton: Simpson, Gibbs, Murphy, Robinson, Scotland, Walker
Fremantle: Hill, Duffield, Mzungu, Pavlich, McPharlin, Crowley
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Fremantle: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Kane Lucas replaced Zach Tuohy in the final quarter.
Fremantle: Lachie Neale replaced John Anthony in the third quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Farmer, Dalgleish
Official crowd: 38,847 at Patersons Stadium
WAFL Watch: Wilson-King impresses in first league game
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in WAFL
Young rookie Jordan Wilson-King made an impressive first league appearance for South Fremantle in round 6 of WAFL action last weekend.
Wilson-King lined up on the half-back flank in the 73-point win over Peel Thunder and had 20 disposals, including five inside-50s.
Development coach Steve Grace said the club was “exceptionally pleased” with the 18-year-old’s step up to league following reserves appearances in recent weeks.
“Jordan generated plenty of run from the backline on the weekend, his ball use was good and he showed a lot of poise,” Grace said.
“He wasn’t overawed by the jump up in level.”
Grace said the attacking side to Wilson-King’s game was intrinsic, but the primary aspect the club was trying to engrain in him was defence.
“We’re trying to get Jordan’s basic fundamentals right, one of which is basic defence,” Grace said.
The Freo Line-up: Griff in for Sandi, Fyfe to play
012 years
Ruckman Jonathon Griffin has been handed the giant task of replacing Aaron Sandilands for Friday night’s Len Hall Game against Carlton at Patersons Stadium.Griffin has been named to lead Fremantle’s ruck after Sandilands could not be considered because of a knee injury.
Star young midfielder Nathan Fyfe will play after missing last weekend’s win over St Kilda with a shoulder injury, while Nick Suban was omitted and will play WAFL for Claremont.
Rookie-listed Lee Spurr was today elevated onto the senior list and has been named as an emergency along with Kepler Bradley and Dylan Roberton.
Fremantle assistant coach Peter Sumich said recent form and past history gave the club every confidence that Griffin would do the job on Friday night.
The former Adelaide ruckman performed admirably in 2011 when Sandilands was out of the side.
Lee Spurr elevated onto senior list
012 years
Rookie Lee Spurr has been elevated onto Fremantle’s senior list after the AFL granted the club permission to move the South-Australian off the rookie list.
The spot on the senior list was made available after the club placed Josh Mellington (hamstring) on the long-term injury list.
Spurr, 24, can now be selected for senior action and has been named as an emergency for Friday night’s match against Carlton at Patersons Stadium.
Sandilands out of Blues’ clash
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Senior coach Ross Lyon has confirmed that star ruckman Aaron Sandilands (knee) will not be named in Fremantle’s team to take on Carlton in Friday’s Len Hall Game at Patersons Stadium.
Sandilands will be replaced by Jonathon Griffin, who has played WAFL for East Fremantle in the past few weeks.
Lyon also said Nathan Fyfe would play against the Blues after missing last week’s 13-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
McPharlin eager for Carlton challenge
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Luke McPharlin wants Fremantle to honour the spirit of the Anzacs against Carlton in Friday night’s Len Hall Game at Patersons Stadium.
“It’s an opportunity to honour the memory of some great women and men and the best way we can do that is by showing great effort,” the champion defender said of the club’s annual Anzac tribute match.
Bringing great effort has been a non-negotiable theme of Fremantle’s approach to life under senior coach Ross Lyon, and McPharlin said the team did just that in last Friday night’s pulsating win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
“We pride ourselves on giving great effort and I think we gave that on Friday night,” he said.
“We want to continue to do that against every side. We’ve had some pretty tough games so far this year and this Friday night against Carlton will be no different.”
The 30-year-old said the 3-1 Blues, who started the season in scintillating form, will present Freo with a massive challenge.
Docker Pearce answers Lyon’s fitness call
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Ross Lyon’s pre-season demand for Clancee Pearce to get rid of his “fat arse” has given a revealing insight into the brutal fitness focus the Fremantle coach put on his players after taking the reins.
Just 23 days after being elevated from the rookie list, where he has toiled for the past three years, Pearce played a telling role for a third straight game in Fremantle’s pulsating 13-point win over St Kilda last Friday night.
His emergence is both a testament to his gritty resolve to lose weight and get fitter in the pre-season and Lyon’s savvy patience in giving him the chance to stay at the club after he was de-listed.
“From the outside, he played well against the Saints and was a booming kick and I thought he had some attributes,” Lyon said on Melbourne radio station SEN.
