Anything and Everything Fremantle
Milestones
Dockers utility Adam McPhee thrilled to reach 200 AFL games
013 years
It has been quite a rocky road with more than its fair share of challenges, but Fremantle utility Adam McPhee believes it has made his impending milestone even more satisfying.
The experienced 28-year-old will play his 200th AFL match this Saturday night against Hawthorn at Patersons Stadium, in what will be another must-win game for the Dockers if they are to keep their fellow finals aspirants at bay.
McPhee began his career with Fremantle in 2001 before moving to Essendon two years later.
He set up camp at Windy Hill for seven seasons and in that time won not only the club’s best-and-fairest award in 2004, but in the same year also snared All-Australian honours and a spot in the Australian international rules team.
After 142 games and 83 goals for the Bombers, McPhee decided to head back to WA and rejoin the Dockers.
Crowley climbs off scrapheap
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Milestones
Fremantle forward Ryan Crowley found himself on the AFL scrapheap at the end of 2004 after two unsuccessful seasons on the club’s senior list and zero games.
The hard-nosed youngster from the Calder Cannons was contemplating a stint in the SANFL before then Fremantle recruiter Phil Smart convinced him to hang around and picked him with selection No.39 in the 2005 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
The show of faith has been rewarded by any measure, with Crowley set to play his 100th game for the club on Sunday against North Melbourne at Patersons Stadium.
Best known for his relentless tagging work on the opposition’s best midfielders, Crowley says he is proud to reach the milestone given the hurdles he’s faced.
“I obviously got delisted after my first two years at the club, so at that stage it felt like a long way off,” Crowley said.
“It was a pretty rocky road [and] it’s been a bit different to other guys that have got there.
Fitness guru reveals key to Pavlich success
013 years
Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich is a genetic freak but supreme dedication is the real reason he is surpassing Shane Parker’s games record, according to former Dockers fitness coach Ben Tarbox.
Pavlich will play his 239th game on Saturday, and overtake the record which has stood since Parker’s final game in round 14, 2007.
The five-times best and fairest and six-times All-Australian will achieve the feat having missed only eight games since making his debut in round five, 2000.
He has played more games than any player selected in the 1999 national draft even though several opponents have played more finals.
Tarbox, who worked at Fremantle from 2005-08, said Pavlich’s preparation set him apart.
Pav record likely to stick
013 years
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey believes Matthew Pavlich’s eventual club games record is unlikely to be overtaken, with fewer players able to push towards the 300-game mark in the modern era.
Pavlich will break former full-back Shane Parker’s 238-game record when Fremantle clashes with Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday, and the durable skipper could reach 300 games within his current four-year contract.
Harvey said it was important not to make too much of the occasion with the players, but the club might not see a player with Pavlich’s longevity and durability again.
“The relevance of it and the importance of it is the fact that this might be the last time a player breaks a record like this, the way the game’s going,” Harvey said from Fremantle Oval on Wednesday.
“I’m not sure whether we’re going to see too many more 300-game players (across the AFL), let’s say, if he gets to that particular stage. I’m looking a little bit down the track.
Three Freo stars make All Australian Squad
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Milestones
Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands and David Mundy have been rewarded for excellent seasons by being named among the 40 players under consideration for All-Australian honours in 2010.
The Freo trio were all named in the squad, which will be finalised to 22 players on Monday 13 September in Melbourne and will reflect the best team balance as if to play a match.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said selection in the squad was recognition for a tremendous year and should be held in high esteem.
“All-Australian selection is a great honour also because of the quality of those players you have competed against to win your spot,” he said.
“The selectors nominated the 40-best players of the year to highlight the outstanding players who are in contention for selection as one of the elite players of the season.”
Fremantle milestone man Michael Johnson
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Milestones
Fremantle milestone man Michael Johnson said he was comfortable with having his 100th game spoiled for the sake of the big picture after an understrength Dockers side was belted by Hawthorn on Saturday.
Johnson kicked two of Fremantle’s five goals in the 116-point defeat and was one of the few Dockers who could hold his head high amid the carnage.
The utility said the team that went out against the Hawks was fully supportive of the club’s selection strategy and he was hoping he could enjoy a delayed milestone celebration with a win over Carlton on Friday night.
Big 150 as Luke McPharlin etches Fremantle life membership in Derby XXXII
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Milestones
LUKE McPharlin feels at home.
At home in the AFL, at home in defence and at home with the Dockers.
The Fremantle key-position star will play his 150th game for the club in Sunday’s Western Derby, making him eligible for life membership at his second club.
McPharlin has become such a fixture with Freo that his 12 games with Hawthorn in 2000 and ’01 are almost forgotten. Had he not been traded back home to the Dockers as the Chris Connolly era began in 2002, he could have easily held the premiership cup aloft with Shane Crawford and Lance Franklin two seasons ago.
But rather than looking back, the 28-year-old is focused on the future.
Sandilands still improving ahead of 150th
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Milestones
AT THE end of 2009 Fremantle’s midfield had a giant problem. Ruckman Aaron Sandilands was the game’s dominant big man – named as the sole ruckman in the All-Australian side – yet his ground level players were floundering.
For all his dominance in the centre square and at stoppages around the ground, Fremantle was a bottom-four side in scores from stoppages and a bottom-four side overall at the end of the season.
However, as Sandilands approaches his 150th game, against Richmond at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, the improvement in Fremantle’s midfield has been stark.
Based on Sandilands’ performances this year, and the improvement he has driven in the players around him, the game’s tallest player may have made his biggest leap in effectiveness yet.
“Hit-outs to advantage is the stat,” midfield coach Barry Mitchell told afl.com.au this week. “Sometimes you get your hand on the ball and it doesn’t mean much.
“To put it to your team’s advantage and for that player to get some advantage over his opponent is a major part of winning clearances and scoring from clearances.”
Hasleby looks beyond 200
014 years
by DockerNow.com
in Milestones
FREMANTLE midfielder Paul Hasleby has expressed his desire to play on next season and experience success at the end of his career as he prepares to play his 200th AFL game on Saturday night.
Hasleby, 29, was given a one-year contract extension at the end of 2009 and he said his focus at the moment was to get to the end of this season and prove his worth.
But having played in just two finals across 11 seasons, the veteran said being a part of a successful era with Fremantle was driving him to play on beyond this year.
“I’ve played 200 games and only two finals, and that’s something that I want to turn around and play in a few at the end of my career,” Hasleby said from Fremantle Oval on Monday.
“Jonathan Brown in the first four years of his [career] almost played in 20 finals. It’d be nice if I could do that at the end of my career.
“Once you get to 29 you’re getting watched every game you play.
“I’m just going to keep putting my best foot forward on and off the field and hopefully at the end of the year the club deems it good for me to go on.”
