Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for June, 2012
Contract extension for Mellington
012 years
Fremantle forward Josh Mellington has secured a two-year contract extension.
The 19-year-old, who was contracted through to the end of season 2012, has committed to the club through to the end of season 2014.
Recruited from the Murray Bushrangers, Mellington has played five AFL games since making his debut in round 14, 2011.
Crozier elated to experience first win
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Hayden Crozier says his first win as an AFL player was an incredible experience and one he’d never forget.
Starting as the sub, the Freo youngster played a role in his club’s 12-point win over Richmond at the MCG, but it came much earlier than he had expected after Aaron Sandilands was injured early in the first quarter.
Crozier, who debuted a week earlier when he was the sub in the loss to Adelaide, said he relished the chance to play almost the entire game.
“It was a really good experience being brought on early,” he said.
“I was definitely excited to come on, but I was nervous as well in front of my family and friends.”
Crozier admitted that he wasn’t nearly as nervous as he was in his debut.
“Last week I was sitting on the bench for three quarters, just thinking about it before I came on,” he said.
De Boer: Freo brotherhood gets the job done
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Matt de Boer says last Saturday’s 12-point win over Richmond at the MCG was the closest the side has come to a full four-quarter effort this season, but there’s still plenty of scope for improvement.
Fremantle overcame the in-form Tigers thanks to a club-record 118 tackles, but the 22-year-old said the side wouldn’t be sitting on its laurels.
“The boys’ effort was unquestionable over the four quarters,” de Boer said.
“But we will review the tapes and, obviously, there is still more work to do.
“There were still a few things we weren’t happy with.”
De Boer had a breakout individual performance in the midfield, with 29 possessions, 13 tackles and a goal in conditions he admitted suited his game.
“It was a bit more scrappy and closer to the ground, which is good for me,” he said.
WAFL Watch – Lower lifts
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in WAFL
Fremantle development coach Steve Grace subbed in for Simon Lloyd this week, as the assistant coach breaks for the bye week.
Subiaco 9.10 (64) Perth20.14 (134)
Nick Lower (P) – 32 disposals (19 kicks, 13 handballs), 4 marks, 3 goals
After an excellent 2011 season, hard-at-it midfielder Nick Lower hasn’t been able to break into the Fremantle team so far this season because of injury and suspension early in the season.
But the 24-year-old former Port Adelaide player showed he was on track, winning Freo’s WAFL Player of the Round award.
Lower had 32 possessions, including eight clearances and three goals for Perth.
Freo development coach Steve Grace said the most pleasing thing with Lower was not just his statistics, but his ability to spread on the day.
Coach, captain on away wins and the bye
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Captain Matthew Pavlich, who booted six goals, said the win over Richmond at the MCG on Saturday was important, but he disagreed with perceptions that the club struggles away, pointing to wins over St Kilda, Gold Coast and now Richmond in 2012 as evidence of that.
“We feel we’re an anytime, anyplace team, regardless of the conditions,” Pavlich said.
“There’s a few people out there that might have seen the conditions, and at the MCG, and thought “no chance”, but we had an inner belief about the way we play.
“We thought we took some steps forward and it’s pleasing to go into the break where we are after that performance.”
Senior coach Ross Lyon was also pleased to hit the bye week with momentum and a positive frame of mind.
“I’m proud of the player group and this is reward for our fans and members who support this club,” he said,” he said.
Barlow looks to switch gears
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow is hopeful he can “tick into gear” and play his best football in the second half of the season as the club looks to counter the loss of star ruckman Aaron Sandilands.
Barlow has played every game this season and averaged 23 disposals and four clearances, but his form has been inconsistent after soreness in his rebuilt left leg interrupted his pre-season.
The 24-year-old enjoyed one of his best games for the season against Richmond, however, and said he was benefiting from consistency in his training and game time in recent weeks.
“The last month is the first time since my injury (in 2010) I’ve been able to string two training sessions together and play full games and pull up really well,” Barlow said on Tuesday.
“I’m really hoping I can benefit from that and I’m hoping after the bye it’ll really tick into gear.
Five talking points from round 11
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Five talking points from round 11
Tackle happy
To lay a club record 118 tackles against the number one uncontested possession side in the AFL was a tremendous effort by the players in purple at the MCG on Saturday. Ross Lyon knew the best way to counter Richmond’s style was to unleash a barrage of pressure on them. His players executed the game plan brilliantly.
Click here to view the tackles on YouTube
What hoodoos?
Fremantle had lost its previous 10 matches at the MCG, with its most recent victory coming in round 4, 2007. And until round 12 last season, the club had failed to win a game without ruck star Aaron Sandilands for some time. On Saturday, Fremantle achieved a win at the MCG after Sandilands had been subbed out early with a toe injury, before he could make any impact.
Pav’s best goal not necessarily off his own boot
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
While he managed a match-winning six goals, it was a play in the third quarter in which Matthew Pavlich performed his most telling act at the MCG on Saturday.
Knowing how important this game was to the club, the captain set the tone for his younger teammates to follow from the early stages.
But anyone wondering how the terms courage and leadership-by-example would look in real motion should watch Pavlich compete in a two-on-one marking contest in the third quarter when Freo were down 55-54 with a minute to go.
He knew it was going to hurt, but the Freo skipper fearlessly threw his body into the two Tigers, causing a spillage.
With Freo’s attacking 50 now wide open, Matt de Boer picked up the ball, handed off to Tendai Mzungu and kept running.
Great effort and Griffin help quash “hoodoos”
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
There are two common externally-generated perceptions about the Fremantle Football Club.
One is that the side cannot win without its man-mountain of a ruckman, Aaron Sandilands.
The other is that Freo struggles at the MCG.
While those inside the club ignore talk of “hoodoos”, Saturday’s win over an in-form Richmond side was a big one.
For not only did the boys in purple show a tremendous amount of effort to take home the four points, they also won at the MCG – without Sandilands.
Making the win even more meritorious, the champion ruckman began the game on the field but was subbed out with a foot injury early in the first quarter and before he could make an impact.
This left Freo down one in the rotations on a day where the conditions and general game play left all combatants battered, bruised and exhausted.
Sandilands out for 10 weeks
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
An initial medical report has indicated that Aaron Sandilands will miss up to 10 weeks after suffering a “turf toe” injury to his right foot during Fremantle’s 12-point win over Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.
Sandilands missed three months of the season last year when he incurred a similar injury to the big toe on his left foot.
The All Australian ruckman arrived back from Melbourne late yesterday and had scans on his right foot last night.
He will consult a specialist to see if surgery is required on the big toe on his right foot. Sandilands did not have to undergo surgery when he injured his left big toe in 2011.
General manager of football operations Chris Bond said that a medical report received today confirmed that the 29-year-old would miss up to 10 weeks.
“It’s very disappointing for Aaron, the club and our members and supporters,” Bond said.
