Anything and Everything Fremantle
News
Freo in a Thriller
Apr 21st
ST KILDA 4.3 6.9 8.10 11.13 (79)
FREMANTLE 3.2 6.3 11.6 14.8 (92)
GOALS
St Kilda: Koschitzke 3, Gilbert 2, McEvoy, Riewoldt, Dal Santo, Stanley, Cripps, Milne
Fremantle: Anthony 2, Clarke 2, Mayne 2, Mzungu 2, Crowley, Pavlich, Sandilands, De Boer, Pearce, Broughton
BEST
St Kilda: Hayes, Steven, Geary, Goddard, Koschitzke
Fremantle: Sandilands, Crowley, Barlow, Pearce, McPhee, Clarke
INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Fremantle: Fyfe (shoulder) replaced in selected side by Anthony
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Jamie Cripps replaced Jack Newnes at three-quarter-time
Fremantle: Lachie Neale replaced Nick Suban in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, McInerney, Mollison
Official crowd: 30,172 at Etihad Stadium
The Freo Line-up – LACH AND LOADED
Apr 20th
South Australian recruit Lachie Neale will make his AFL debut on Friday night football after being named in Fremantle’s team to take on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.Livewire forward Hayden Ballantyne returns after serving his two-game suspension, while Nathan Fyfe has been named for the clash against senior coach Ross Lyon’s old side.
Josh Mellington is out with a long-term hamstring injury, and Kepler Bradley was omitted.
Dylan Roberton, Jack Anthony and Bradley are the emergencies.
Neale was having an excellent NAB Cup campaign and appeared set for a round 1 debut before an ankle injury sustained in Victor Harbour against Port Adelaide slowed him.
Freo assistant and senior development coach Simon Lloyd said it was an exciting time for the 18-year-old and his family.
“It’s a very special moment to play your first game of AFL football,” he said.
Lloyd said Neale would play a high-forward role with stints in the midfield, similar to what he did in the pre-season.
Michael Walters Update
Apr 19th
Fremantle small forward Michael Walters is set to return to the club and participate in selected training sessions.
Walters has been training with his WAFL club Swan Districts since January, after Fremantle determined he was not meeting the physical requirements for AFL football.
General manager football operations Chris Bond said since that time the club had worked with the 21-year-old to keep him focused on achieving the standard required for AFL level.
“We are satisfied with the progress Michael has made so far, and believe that he is now at the stage where he could benefit from returning to the club to participate in selected training sessions,” Bond said.
Nat Fyfe injury update
Apr 17th
Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe will travel to Melbourne later this week to have his injured left shoulder examined by a specialist.
Fyfe dislocated his shoulder in Saturday’s win over Brisbane at Paterson’s Stadium.
The 20-year-old and the club are optimistic about his chances of playing against St Kilda on Friday night in Fremantle’s round four clash at Etihad Stadium.
However, general manager of football operations Chris Bond said today that the club would not be taking any risks with Fyfe.
“Along with our medical staff, we will be guided by the specialist’s opinion on what the best course of action is for Nat’s long-term playing future and his general well being,” Bond said.
Meanwhile, Josh Mellington who suffered a hamstring injury in his fifth game for Freo on Saturday, flew to Melbourne earlier today to consult a surgeon.
Dockers wait and see over Fyfe surgery
Apr 16th
Fremantle look set to delay a decision on whether star midfielder Nat Fyfe requires major shoulder surgery until later in the week.
It is understood the Dockers will seek further medical opinion from a shoulder specialist after Fyfe underwent scans on his injured left shoulder yesterday afternoon.
Fyfe dislocated his shoulder in the second quarter of Saturday’s 29-point victory over the Brisbane Lions at Patersons Stadium. It was the same shoulder which was reconstructured at the end of the 2011 season.
Fyfe did not have his shoulder strapped during yesterday’s recovery session at Bicton Pool but did not use his left arm for swimming.
Mundy glad to be back
Apr 16th
Star midfielder David Mundy says he got goose bumps hearing the cheer from the Freo crowd when he entered the game in yesterday’s match against Brisbane at Patersons Stadium.
The 2010 Doig Medallist started the game as a sub but was called into action in the second quarter when young gun Nat Fyfe sustained a shoulder injury.
His impact was immediate and he finished with 13 disposals, four clearances and a goal in just over a half of football.
“The feeling I got from that proves how much I missed being out there,” Mundy said about the crowd’s reaction.
“I felt like I was running on a cloud early on.”
Mundy said replacing Fyfe was not the way he wanted to make his return, but from a personal perspective, he was pleased with his performance.
“It was good,” he said.
“I felt like I was able to have a bit of impact.”
Fyfe ‘in the balance’
Apr 15th
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says the club will take no risks with young star Nat Fyfe after he suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday’s 29-point win over the Brisbane Lions at Patersons Stadium.
Fyfe’s reconstructed left shoulder slipped out of its socket in the second quarter when he was collected by Brisbane Lions defender Matt Maguire, and he will have scans on Sunday or Monday.
Lyon said the possible outcomes for Fyfe were polar opposites – he could either play in Friday night’s clash with St Kilda or be ruled out for the season, depending on the extent of the injury.
The 21-year-old had a shoulder reconstruction at the end of last season after a series of partial dislocations through the year and he has played with the joint heavily strapped this season.
“He’s a really important resource and person at this football club, and if in the cold light of day he needs to be looked after and it means the season, we would tap him out,” Lyon said on Saturday night.
Fremantle scraps past Lions
Apr 14th
FREMANTLE 1.4 4.7 6.13 8.16 (64)
BRISBANE LIONS 2.1 3.2 5.3 5.5 (35)
GOALS
Fremantle: Pearce 3, Duffield, Pavlich, Mundy, Clarke, Mellington.
Brisbane Lions: Polec 2, Banfield, Rich, Merrett.
BEST
Fremantle: Barlow, Sandilands, Ibbotson, Mzungu, Duffield, Pearce, Johnson.
Brisbane Lions: Redden, Adcock, Patfull, Maguire, Drummond.
INJURIES
Fremantle: Fyfe (shoulder), Mellington (hamstring)
Brisbane Lions: Leuenberger (achilles/calf)
Subs:
Fremantle’s David Mundy replaced Nathan Fyfe in the second quarter
Brisbane Lion’s Jared Polec replaced Matthew Leuenberger in the second quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Rosebury, Bannister
Official crowd: 33,473 at Patersons Stadium
The Freo Line-up: The band is back together
Apr 12th
The jewel in the crown of Fremantle’s midfield has been put back in place following champion on-baller David Mundy’s inclusion for Saturday’s clash against the Brisbane Lions at Patersons Stadium.The 2010 Doig Medallist has not played a game this season, but such is his quality and importance to the team, Fremantle has chosen to throw him in against the Lions.
Jack Anthony was the player to make way, while Alex Silvagni, Jay van Berlo and Dylan Roberton were named as emergencies.
Brisbane possesses a talented young midfield group, including the likes of Jack Redden, Tom Rockliff and Daniel Rich, although the Lions will miss the experience of Simon Black who is out with a hand injury.
Assistant coach Michael Prior said Mundy’s return will give Freo a huge boost in the midfield battle.
“David’s been champing at the bit to go,” Prior said.
Mundy expected to return: Lyon
Apr 12th
Key midfielder David Mundy is expected to return for Fremantle on Saturday after being on the verge of selection for last Saturday’s 13-point loss to the Sydney Swans.
Senior coach Ross Lyon said it was “great to have some experience and leadership available for selection” and the 2010 club champion had given himself “every chance” to play this week.
“He’s trained, we’ll have selection and put the team in tonight … but he’s a very good chance,” the coach said.
“I’m on record as saying we’re really keen to get David in. He’s trained really well, he was on the verge last week and obviously he’s very, very close this week.”
Inside midfielder Nick Lower, who has served a three-week suspension from round 23 last season, is available, while Dylan Roberton, Jay van Berlo and Antoni Grover have pushed strong claims from the WAFL.
