Anything and Everything Fremantle
News
Freo board hopefuls out of tune on song
Oct 22nd
Fremantle’s new jumper and logo have received a ringing endorsement from the record number of nominees for the club’s board, and the majority are open to continuing the change with a new theme song.
Ten men and three women nominated for the member elected vacancy on the board, with incumbent Kate Grieve seeking a second term.
Grieve was part of the club’s brand renewal committee which oversaw the changes to the jumper and logo. Fremantle has also promised to discuss a song change with the members.
The West Australian contacted 11 of the 13 candidates and many were adamant that the controversial song should be changed.
Assistant coaching role for Simon Lloyd
Oct 22nd
Fremantle has finalised its match day coaching staff for season 2011.
Senior development coach Simon Lloyd has been appointed assistant coach as part of an expanded role that will see him continue to oversee the club’s development academy.
To accommodate Lloyd’s expanded role, the club has appointed an additional development coach in Steve Grace, the current coach of the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup.
Grace will join recently appointed development coaches Jason McCartney and Ashley Prescott and part-time development coach Shaun McManus in Fremantle’s development academy.
The finalisation of Fremantle’s full-time coaching staff will see Lloyd join Barry Mitchell, Todd Curley and Michael Prior on senior coach Mark Harvey’s panel of assistant coaches.
McCartney joins Freo’s development academy
Oct 19th
Fremantle has further beefed up its development academy with the addition of AIS/AFL high performance coach Jason McCartney.
McCartney joins Fremantle following a seven-year stint in junior development with the AFL.
Most recently, he has overseen the AFL’s high-performance unit which has fostered the best of the best in recent drafts – giving him an insight not only into what it takes get the best out of young talent but also a glimpse into the next young batch coming through.
Fremantle football manager Chris Bond said McCartney would complement the club’s development program.
“Given Jason’s playing background and expertise in player development, we are delighted to have secured his services as a development coach,” Bond said.
“We believe Jason will significantly enhance our development academy, which is headed by senior development coach Simon Lloyd.”
Recruitment of assistant coach underway
Oct 18th
As confirmed earlier today, Chris Scott has vacated his position as an assistant coach with the Fremantle Dockers to take on the senior coaching role at Geelong.
Chief executive officer Steve Rosich said that the club has commenced proceedings to identify a replacement for Scott, who joined the club ahead of the 2008 season.
“We are very appreciative of Chris’ input during his time here at the club and, while disappointed to lose such a highly regarded person, we understand and accept his decision to leave and further his AFL coaching career as a senior coach,” he said.
“The club is currently working through a process to recruit an assistant coach to replace Chris, and a short-list of candidates has already been identified.
“Interviews with the candidates will commence shortly and an announcement confirming an appointment will be made in due course.
“In the mean time, we will not be making any external comment on a replacement for Chris until an appointment is confirmed.”
Freo blow as Scott lands Cats job
Oct 18th
As Fremantle look to move on from losing a key player behind their big improvement last season, new Geelong coach Chris Scott says he is acutely aware of the fine line he will walk as the AFL club aims to return to the top without rebuilding.
The Dockers assistant and two-time Brisbane premiership player was the surprise choice to replace Mark Thompson, who cited burnout when he resigned suddenly at the start of the month.
On the one hand, Scott and Geelong know he must introduce new ideas and overhaul their game style if they are to quickly overtake premiers Collingwood, who smashed the Cats last month in their preliminary final.
But Scott, who has been appointed to a three year term, also stressed he has plenty to learn as he comes into one of the league’s best-run clubs as a complete outsider.
It is all at once a dream debut AFL senior coaching job and a massive challenge.
Player list movements
Oct 13th
The Fremantle Football Club can confirm the following end of season player list movements.
The following players have retired: Paul Hasleby, Des Headland, Scott Thornton and Dean Solomon.
At the recent AFL Exchange Period, Chris Tarrant was traded to Collingwood.
Ahead of the next List Lodgement day on 29 October, the following players have been advised that they will be delisted from the main playing list: Steven Dodd, Ryan Murphy, Chris Hall, Brock O’Brien, Tim Ruffles and Ben Bucovaz.
Dockers overboard – Freo axe four more!
Oct 13th
Fremantle quartet Steven Dodd, Ryan Murphy, Brock O’Brien and Ben Bucovaz are set to be delisted as the major casualties of the club’s aggressive week of trading.
The Dockers have already made significant changes to their squad and the group appear certain to have their careers terminated within a fortnight.
Fremantle traded Chris Tarrant to Collingwood, delisted Chris Hall and farewelled the retiring Paul Hasleby, Dean Solomon, Scott Thornton and Des Headland.
But the acquisition of Adelaide ruckman Jonathon Griffin, WAFL player Tendai Mzungu and VFL defender Peter Faulks, and the re-signings of Antoni Grover, Michael Walters and Clayton Hinkley have left only three vacancies on their list.
Football operations manager Chris Bond said the club would use picks 20, 44 and 55 at next month’s national draft to add more talented youngsters to the squad.
Fremantle happy with trade week
Oct 11th
Fremantle has successfully negotiated a trade for Chris Tarrant’s return to Collingwood, securing picks 43 and 55 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft in exchange for pick 44 and the 30-year-old defender.
The Tarrant trade was the fourth and final deal completed by Fremantle during the exchange period, which ended today.
Earlier, Fremantle secured Adelaide ruckman Jonathon Griffin. The 24-year-old was traded in exchange for Fremantle’s round four selection (pick No.61 overall) in the draft.
Griffin made his debut for the Crows in 2007 and has played 41 AFL games. He was recruited in the 2005 Rookie Draft (pick No. 21) from East Fremantle.
The other trades included Tendai Mzungu and Peter Faulks, who were both pre-listed players with the Gold Coast Suns.
Tarrant deal finally done
Oct 11th
Fremantle defender Chris Tarrant has returned to his original AFL club, Collingwood, after Freo and the Magpies agreed to an eleventh-hour trade on Monday afternoon.
Collingwood receives Tarrant and a third-round NAB AFL Draft pick, No.44, while Fremantle receives a round two pick, No.43, and a round three pick, No.55.
The deal was finalised half an hour before the end of the trading period along with a trade with West Coast where Collingwood gave away its compensation pick for losing Josh Fraser to Gold Coast in exchange for pick No.45.
Tarrant moved to the Dockers in 2006 in exchange for Paul Medhurst and pick No.8, which the Magpies used on premiership defender Ben Reid.
That was after a nine-year, 161-game career at Collingwood which netted 299 goals, an All-Australian selection and five leading-goalkicker awards.
Freo Dockers duo set for Ireland
Oct 11th
Fremantle players Paul Duffield and Garrick Ibbotson are on their way to Ireland after being named in the Australian squad for the upcoming two-Test International Rules Series against Ireland.
The Australian team, to be coached by Collingwood’s Michael Malthouse, will gather in Melbourne next Friday, 15 October, before leaving for Ireland on Saturday 16 October.
The first Test will be played at Limerick on Saturday 23 October and the second Test will be played at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday 30 October.
