Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for June, 2012
WAFL Watch – Part 1: Midfielders – Schloithe Shines
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in WAFL
WAFL Watch – Part 1 – Midfielders
Fremantle rookie Haiden Schloithe has pleased Fremantle’s coaching staff with his dedication and diligence to learn since joining the club late last year.
Schloithe was Fremantle’s WAFL Player of the Round for his 22-possession effort for South Fremantle last weekend.
He has worked his way into the senior side after starting the season in the Bulldogs’ reserves.
Fremantle assistant and senior development coach Simon Lloyd said Schloithe had already exhibited good signs of development since arriving at the club.
“I think with Haiden, the biggest change has been that he has developed physically, but he also is starting to assert himself around the contest a lot more,” Lloyd said.
“He shows us that he can play as an inside midfielder and that he is learning the craft. We have seen that through improvements in his ability to reposition his opponent.”
Copycat Dockers plan to dominate at home
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Star defender Luke McPharlin says Fremantle want to replicate the dominance of West Coast in Perth, with the goal of making rival clubs fear any trip west starting with Essendon this Saturday night.
The Eagles are in the midst of a purple patch at Patersons Stadium, having stretched their winning sequence at their home ground to 17 successive matches. In contrast, the Dockers’ win-loss ledger in Perth this year sits at 3-3.
They have won just as many games outside of WA this season and in doing so ended a significant hoodoo on the road.
Their 12-point victory over Richmond at the MCG 11 days ago was their first win at the venue in 11 attempts. They are sitting 11th, but are only outside the top eight on percentage.
Mark Duffield: Freo mix good, bad with ugly
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
As Fremantle ponder how to turn a 6-5, 11th placing at the halfway point of the season into a finals berth, their honest but dour midfield is a good place to start.
Having a dominant Aaron Sandilands did not solve the problem – and they won’t have him for 10 weeks anyway.
They looked to address the issue three weeks ago when Matt de Boer was shifted to the midfield, but while de Boer offers them muscle and grunt around the stoppages, the Dockers also need a boost in run, spread and ball use away from stoppages.
Fremantle have been highly competitive in four of five trips away from home with three wins and a narrow loss to Sydney.
But they have been disappointing at home, with six matches producing three wins and an upcoming game against Essendon which is far from a sure thing.
Midfields are important everywhere but never more than at Patersons Stadium where teams which spread quickly can hand players time and space to use the ball to devastating effect.
Docker’s uphill injury battle
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Speedster Stephen Hill remains in serious doubt for Saturday night’s clash with Essendon at Patersons Stadium in an outcome that could force Fremantle to make four changes.
The 22-year-old is struggling to overcome an ankle injury suffered in the win over Richmond at the MCG 10 days ago.
Hill limped off the ground in the first quarter but returned and played through the pain to tally 24 possessions in a brave effort.
Dockers officials were understood to have been of the view late last week that Hill would not play against the Bombers.
Fremantle already face the prospect of making three changes to the side that defeated Richmond, even if Hill recovers in time.
The accidental footballer
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Milestones
Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin was initially hesitant about pursuing an AFL career, and he has some persistent recruiters to thank for what will become a 200-game career on Saturday night.
McPharlin, who will enter his milestone game against Essendon at Patersons Stadium in close to career best form, reflected this week on his recruitment by Hawthorn almost 13 years ago.
There are tales of “skulduggery” around the 1999 National Draft, with suggestions the Hawks hid the talented youngster from view in the lead-up.
But the 30-year-old said that was not the case, and he had simply been “unorganised” in his preparation for a career in the AFL.
“I wasn’t playing any footy at district level or state level, I was just playing for my high school and a few talent scouts had encouraged me to play a single colts game so that I could be eligible to nominate for the draft,” McPharlin said.
Future captaincy a Dockers dilemma
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
While Darren Glass could well hand over the captaincy reins at the end of the season to fellow defender Beau Waters, the future at Fremantle is less clear.
Glass is in the type of form which suggests he can play for two more seasons but he is comfortable with the notion that he could play out his days without the burden of being the skipper.
Pavlich, who turns 31 at the end of this year, is capable of playing for another three seasons, but the heir apparent at the port is not as apparent.
David Mundy, Aaron Sandilands, Luke McPharlin, Matt de Boer and Hayden Ballantyne currently form the leadership group along with Pavlich.
Given the age of McPharlin and Sandilands, I’d doubt either of them would be handed the role when Pavlich decides to give it away in a year or two.
Pavlich, too, might decide to play on without the burden of being skipper.
So, who gets the nod?
Lyon: Clarke no certainty to replace Sandilands
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Senior coach Ross Lyon says Zac Clarke is no certainty to replace Aaron Sandilands for Saturday’s match against Essendon at Patersons Stadium.
Clarke had 26 disposals in an impressive ruck display for East Perth in the WAFL.
“He’s vying with Kepler Bradley, who was really good as well,” Lyon said on 6PR last night.
“Zac and Kepler played really well in the WAFL. The reports were really positive.”
Lyon said a number of the club’s players performed well at WAFL level on the weekend and were pushing for selection, including Anthony Morabito, Tom Sheridan, Peter Faulks, Lee Spurr and Michael Walters.
“There’s a bit to sort through at match committee,” he said.
The coach said Freo’s players had maintained physical fitness while away from the club during the bye week.
McPharlin set to play AFL game 200
012 years
Originally an East Fremantle boy, Luke McPharlin was recruited by Hawthorn as the 10th overall pick in the 1999 AFL Draft – a draft that saw the Fremantle Dockers select fellow Shark Paul Hasleby with the second pick and Matthew Pavlich with the fourth.
McPharlin debuted at Football Park in round 5, 2000, where he had just two disposals but kicked a goal in a big Hawthorn win.
After two injury interrupted seasons, which saw him manage 12 games with the Hawks, McPharlin was traded to Freo in the 2001 National Draft for picks 1, 20 and 36.
Back home at the port club, a 21-year-old McPharlin had to wait until round 12, 2002, to play his first game as a Freo Docker because of injury.
He had nine disposals and five marks in a memorable 11-point win over Collingwood.
After initially playing as a defender at Freo, McPharlin was swung into attack in 2005 and finished with 34 goals, including the Mark of the Year for a spectacular grab against the West Coast Eagles in round 3.
Five talking points ahead of round 13
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Five talking points ahead of Round 13
Bye bye
Which side will benefit most from the bye? After a scintillating start to the season, Essendon has hit a stumbling block in its past two matches, losing to a struggling Melbourne and an in-form Sydney Swans. The Bombers have had a fortnight to think about those losses. Fremantle entered its bye on the back of a brilliant win over Richmond at the MCG. Has the break slowed the momentum generated by that win, or can Freo go on with it?
On the fringe
A number of players performed well for Freo and Essendon over the bye week and could be in line for selection. Anthony Morabito has been gathering form for Peel, Jack Anthony was impressive as a defender for Subiaco and Zac Clarke had 26 disposals, 18 hitouts and kicked 1.4 for East Perth. Nick Lower is another player who has been in solid form lately. For the Bombers, running defender Michael Hibberd was among the best for Bendigo in just his second game since returning from injury while youngster Elliott Kavanagh was again impressive. Kyle Reimers, David Hille and Travis Colyer all booted two goals.
Fremantle Dockers CEO Steve Rosich on the right course
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Karl Langdon grills Dockers chief Steve Rosich on the game plan, Cockburn and a first Freo flag.
KL: How’s your membership and corporate support going?
SR: Across the board our membership levels are really strong, and growing. We’ve got a committed group of sponsors headed by Programmed and Woodside, who are committed to the long term. We have more corporates involved with us at this time of year than we’ve ever had, and likewise in revenue, we’re looking at achieving a record revenue level in 2012.
