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Injury-free the key at Freo
Nov 14th
Fremantle is tackling its first pre-season under new coach Ross Lyon with an increased focus on running and injury prevention, delaying the football component of its summer program.
Under former coach Mark Harvey, Fremantle’s past two pre-seasons had a “combative” focus, with the club intent on developing big-bodied players that excelled in the contest.
But after last season was ruined by injury, Fremantle players have returned to a new program that will see them complete a significant block of running work before football drills are introduced.
“Obviously with a new coach there’s been a different philosophy from Ross [Lyon],” key defender Alex Silvagni said from Fremantle Oval on Monday as the club’s fifth to eighth-year players returned.
“It’s working on fitness early on and then incorporating skills and things, the footy aspect, at a later stage.
Bootsma the bolter
Nov 11th
Western Australian defender Josh Bootsma, son of former Fremantle player Brad, has come a long way since starting the season playing country footy in Albany in the state’s south.
The 190cm half-back flanker moved to Perth to play with South Fremantle’s colts team in May, where his competitiveness, closing speed and rebound from defence soon brought him to the attention of AFL clubs.
Fremantle’s recruiters clearly liked what they saw of Bootsma because they had a crack at claiming him under the father-son rule, but we’re told he didn’t meet the requirements set down for interstate clubs – despite Brad’s 162 WAFL games for South Fremantle and 23 AFL matches with Fremantle.
Freo will be one of several clubs keen to secure his services at the NAB AFL Draft with some talent spotters now rating him a first-round prospect.
Tamer Lyon shows Dockers the way
Nov 8th
It was low key but there was an undeniable message in Ross Lyon’s first training session at Fremantle Oval yesterday.
There was no need for CHOGM’s demonstration busters because the howls of protest which greeted the axing of Mark Harvey for Lyon have long ago been carried away by the Fremantle Doctor.
About 20 supporters and a full media contingent were on hand to watch Lyon, and probably more apt, listen to the sound of his whistle which hung around his neck.
Alas, while Lyon’s reputation as a deeply intense, hard man of the coaching caper preceded him, the ghouls in the media were disappointed that players weren’t driven to throwing up during the 90- minute session.
Players such as Michael Barlow drifted in and out of the rooms, stretching and working on a balance beam about 50cm off the ground, and Michael Johnson, Nick Suban, Nat Fyfe and Dylan Roberton at various times also poked their heads out.
Ballantyne eyes midfield role
Nov 7th
Fremantle goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne is hopeful his first full pre-season can translate into an expanded midfield role under new coach Ross Lyon in 2012.
Ballantyne was one of 14 first- to fourth-year players to start pre-season training at Fremantle Oval on Monday morning, with the group completing a series of short distance run-throughs in a light 90-minute session.
The 24-year-old, who is entering his fourth season, was restricted by a knee injury in his preparations for the 2011 campaign and he suffered three separate hamstring injuries during the year.
However, he is confident that a full pre-season will allow him to stay injury-free in 2012 and develop as a midfielder, where he showed promise for periods last season.
“I’d love to play in the midfield,” Ballantyne said on Monday.
“I think it’s more from a fitness kind of thing that I haven’t been pushed into the midfield, but hopefully if I can get through a full pre-season I might get a bit of a run.
2012 starts now
Nov 7th
The 2012 pre-season officially kicked off today for the Fremantle Dockers as a group of the club’s first to fourth year players were put through their paces at Fremantle Oval.
There was a mixture of ball work and plain old hard running for the development squad members as new coach Ross Lyon looked on with a keen eye.
A beefed up Stephen Hill was looking as graceful as ever as he bounded through sprint after sprint, while Hayden Ballantyne also presented very well.
Ballantyne signalled in his media conference at Freo HQ today that a more prominent midfield role was his goal for 2012 and he made a good start, looking very quick and fit.
Another to appear in great nick was Zac Clarke, while rookie listed Gavin Roberts, who had his 2011 season ruined by injury, was also out on the track and running freely.
Lyon raising the bar for pre-season
Nov 5th
New coach Ross Lyon has brought a new regime to the Fremantle Dockers – a regime that has seen the benchmark shifted, according to Sports Science manager Jason Weber.
Pre-season training officially begins this Monday 7 November for the club’s first to fourth year players, with fifth to seventh year players returning the week after.
Senior players, including Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands are due back on Monday 21 November.
Weber said although the players had been on leave, the club still expected them to come back at a level of preparedness where they could progress and get better.
“We want them at the gates and ready to go,” he said.
Starting with an address to the playing group just before Doig Medal night, Weber said that Lyon made it abundantly clear what he expected of the players and what they could expect from him.
New role sees McCartney depart Freo
Oct 31st
Development coach Jason McCartney has advised the Fremantle Dockers that he is leaving the club to return to Melbourne to take on a new role with the Western Bulldogs.
McCartney, who joined Fremantle in November 2010, has been appointed the Western Bulldogs’ List Manager.
The club wishes Jason all the best in his future endeavours.
Contract extensions for Crowley and Walters
Oct 31st
Ryan Crowley and Michael Walters have both signed contract extensions with the Fremantle Dockers.
Crowley, who played 19 games for the club in 2011, has secured a one-year extension taking him through to the end of season 2012.
Walters, who has played 14 games for Fremantle since making his debut in round 11, 2009, also agreed to a one-year contract extension that will take him through to the end of the 2012 season.
Fremantle has now contracted all of its senior listed players for 2012 and beyond.
Blockbusters to mark Purple Haze and Len Hall games
Oct 28th
The Fremantle Dockers kick off their 2012 season with three blockbuster games in the first five rounds, including a round one twilight clash at Patersons Stadium against reigning premiers Geelong that will celebrate the club’s 10th annual Starlight Purple Haze Game.
The other games – both under lights – include a prime time Friday night fixture, the annual Len Hall Game on 27 April at Patersons Stadium against Carlton in round five. That game is preceded by another prime time Friday night game – a round four clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
The only top eight team from 2011 that Fremantle plays twice in 2012 is West Coast – in round nine plus a round 19 home derby on Saturday 4 August. The other teams Freo plays twice in 2012 include Port Adelaide, who finished 16th, Adelaide (14th), Melbourne (13th) and Richmond (12th).
Fremantle’s two trips in the qualifying rounds to the home of football – the MCG – include games against Richmond (Rd 11) and Collingwood (Rd 14), with the club’s two other Victorian encounters for the season being at Etihad Stadium against Melbourne (Rd 16) and North Melbourne (Rd 22).
Fremantle delists three players
Oct 26th
The Fremantle Dockers have delisted three more players ahead of the AFL’s first list lodgement deadline on Monday 31 October.
Justin Bollenhagen and Casey Sibosado were delisted, while Clancee Pearce, who was also delisted, will train on with the club during the 2012 pre-season.
They join five other players who were delisted last month, including senior listed players Clayton Hinkley and Joel Houghton, and rookie listed players Tim Ruffles, Ben Bucovaz and Hamish Shepheard.
Veteran defender Roger Hayden and midfielder Byron Schammer have retired, while Rhys Palmer departed Fremantle for Greater Western Sydney.
Meanwhile, 201 game veteran Antoni Grover will enter his 14th season in 2012 after securing a one-year contract extension.
