Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for September, 2012
Lyon gets quick results with Freo
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Ross Lyon walked into a media firestorm on his first day as Fremantle coach. But right now, it might be planning a statue for him at Subiaco.
Well maybe not yet, but the Dockers coach has certainly turned the tide of opinion in his favour as the underachieving Fremantle launches into a finals series. In any case, he’s not one to worry about public popularity. ”I haven’t got a fan-o-meter on my desk,” he says.
Future Dockers may be ‘green’
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
The City of Fremantle is known for its contribution to keeping the local area as ‘green’ as possible and that mentality has now been infused into the designs for the new training facilities proposed for the Fremantle Dockers.
In designs released last week, the City outlined its plans for the Dockers to become the AFL’s first ‘green team’ with the inclusion of a solar farm, wind turbines, water recycling and geothermal pool heating.
Mick finally set for a final
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Michael Barlow gets goose bumps just thinking about the prospect of lining up for his first AFL final under lights at the MCG against the defending premiers.
The 24-year-old midfielder missed out on his dream of playing in September when a broken leg ended his season in 2010.
Barlow had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates won a memorable Elimination Final against Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval before being bundled out by Geelong the following week.
He said playing finals footy was a major driving force in getting him through his rehab and back on the field.
“Those first few games were a massive achievement for me and almost as significant as my debut game and getting drafted,” he said.
“Now to be involved in a side that’s going into finals is another step and another progression in my career.
Pavlich, McPharlin named in All Australian squad
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Matthew Pavlich and Luke McPharlin have been recognised for their outstanding seasons by being named in the 40-man squad in contention for selection for the 2012 Four’N Twenty AFL All Australian Team.
Fremantle captain Pavlich, with six previous All Australian selections, is the most decorated player in the squad, in which a total of 24 members have never previously been named as an All Australian, including McPharlin.
The All Australian Selection panel is Andrew Demetriou (chairman), Adrian Anderson, Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Danny Frawley, Gerard Healy, Glen Jakovich and Mark Ricciuto.
“Selection in the Four’N Twenty All Australian team is recognition for a tremendous year of football, as the best player in your position across the entire competition,” AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said.
Ballantyne seriously maturing
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Feisty Fremantle forward Hayden Ballantyne has matured as a player this season, according to teammate Chris Mayne, as he prepares to renew hostilities with Geelong on Saturday night.
Ballantyne kicked two goals and was a key player when Fremantle beat the Cats at Patersons Stadium in round one, but he is remembered best for a series of spiteful clashes against the reigning premiers.
Champion defender Matthew Scarlett struck Ballantyne with a glancing left hook in the teams’ season opener and gifted the Fremantle forward a goal, earning a three-week suspension.
Ballantyne was also banned for two matches for striking Paul Chapman.
The niggly tactics used by the 25-year-old have been toned down since he served a one-week suspension for striking Richmond captain Chris Newman in round 11, and his football has steadily improved.
Pavlich wins The West Australian’s Footballer of the Year
012 years
Matthew Pavlich has won his second The West AustralianFootballer of the Year prize.
He didn’t poll a vote in the last four rounds but his lead was big enough to drive away with WA football’s richest player prize.
The 30-year-old Freo skipper polled 26 votes to top the list of Fremantle and West Coast players.
He held off Eagle Daniel Kerr (22 votes) and teammate Michael Barlow, who was third with 18 votes.
Pavlich finished equal second in the Coleman Medal this season, kicking 62 goals, only three fewer than Jack Riewoldt of Richmond.
He also surpassed West Coast legends Peter Sumich and Glen Jakovich for most goals and games respectively by a WA-based AFL player in 2012.
Season starts again: Mundy
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
David Mundy says Fremantle is refocusing on the beginning of a new season – the AFL Finals Series.
Fremantle will play Geelong this Saturday night in an Elimination Final at the MCG.
“Playing finals is a massive goal of ours and we’ve been able to achieve that this year, so that’s great.” Mundy said.
“The season starts again.”
Mundy said Freo were confident the team’s game plan would stand up in finals footy.
“We’ve been applying ourselves really well, sticking to our game plan and hitting our KPIs,” he said.
“We’re not afraid to go anywhere or play anyone.
“We’re fully confident with what we are doing at the moment, and we just need to replicate that over in Melbourne.”
Cats’ experience counts for nothing
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says Geelong’s experience and success in finals will count for nothing in Saturday night’s elimination final at the MCG.
The Cats have won three premierships in the past five seasons and beat a less experienced Fremantle by 69 points in the club’s last finals appearance in 2010.
Since 2007, Geelong has won 12 of 15 finals including the 2007, 2009 and 2011 Grand Finals, and the reigning premiers have been installed as strong favourites for Saturday night.
Lyon, however, wasn’t concerned by the Cats’ edge in finals experience and said Fremantle would focus on playing the football that has seen it win eight of its past nine games.
“Fortunately the past counts for nothing to be frank,” Lyon said on Monday. “When the ball is bounced we all start equal.
Compromise? No chance.
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Anyone who thought the Fremantle Dockers were going to give anything but their best against Melbourne on Saturday night obviously had not been listening to a word Ross Lyon said throughout 2012.
Many outside of the club believed Freo could have ‘managed’ the round 23 result to get an elimination final at home against West Coast, as opposed to travelling to Melbourne to face defending premiers Geelong, which the side will do at the MCG on Saturday night.
But that would have gone against all the values Lyon has instilled into his team.
On a weekly basis, the word ‘effort’ bobs up in his pre and post-match media interviews.
The senior coach always demands his players give “100 per cent effort, 100 per cent of the time”.
“We’re an anywhere, anytime team”, he said leading up to the match against Melbourne last week.
We have no fears: Walters
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Michael Walters says facing reigning premiers Geelong at the MCG in an Elimination Final holds no fears for the Fremantle Dockers.
There was much media speculation that Freo would have been better off playing West Coast in Perth, rather than travelling to play the Cats, but Walters said he and his teammates didn’t care who they faced.
“Geelong’s a good team but we’re going to take our best team over there and, no matter what, try and win,” he said.
“As long as we stay in the moment, we’ll be alright.”
Walters said the side was focussed on giving its best effort against Melbourne last Saturday night to hit the finals in good form.
“We didn’t want to drop off,” he said.
“Geelong, and all the good teams, they stay in the moment no matter who they play.
