Anything and Everything Fremantle
Posts tagged News
Defence force
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Suggestions from opposition clubs that Fremantle is the hardest team to play against this season is proof the side is heading in the right direction under Ross Lyon, according to defender Garrick Ibbotson.
Fremantle is ranked No.2 for scores against this season (behind the Sydney Swans), and North Melbourne forward Drew Petrie said Freo was the toughest team he’d faced following the Kangaroos’ 53-point loss on Sunday.
Ibbotson, who will play his 100th game this Saturday night against Melbourne at Patersons Stadium, said comments like Petrie’s reinforced Fremantle was on track as it prepares for finals.
“To have someone like that say something like that about us really shows that we’re moving in the right direction,” Ibbotson said on Wednesday.
“That’s something we want to make sure we can continue and obviously build on.
Brett Kirk joins Fremantle
012 years
Sydney premiership player Brett Kirk will join the Fremantle Dockers as an assistant coach for the 2013 season.
Kirk worked with Fremantle senior coach Ross Lyon and stoppages coach Mark Stone when both were at the Swans.
Widely regarded as one of the most courageous and resilient players to have ever pulled on the boots, he played 241 games for Sydney since making his debut in 1999, including the last 200 without missing a match.
Co-captain of the Swans from 2005-2010, Kirk is a highly decorated and respected figure, whose list of achievements include a 2005 AFL Premiership win, All-Australian selection in 2004 and Sydney best and fairest in 2005 and 2007.
In 2011, he spent six months travelling the world and spreading the word about football as the AFL’s International Ambassador.
Kirk said a two year stint out of football helped him rediscover his passion for the competitive side of the game.
SA, WA clubs to go it alone
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
A breakaway competition involving reserve teams from West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide could be launched as early as next season, with the West Australian and South Australian AFL clubs losing patience in their battle to field stand-alone teams.
Frustrated after years of players being mismanaged as they are forced to field footballers across various SANFL and WAFL clubs, the four AFL teams have demanded assistance from the AFL in taking on the two state football commissions.
Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich did not rule out withdrawing the Dockers’ second-tier players and placing a stand-alone Fremantle team in an amateur competition next season, while Adelaide boss Steven Trigg said the Crows had considered joining the VFL.
West Coast chief Trevor Nisbett said the Eagles, like the Dockers, would no longer tolerate the increasing difficulties in drafting and retaining players from other states caused by the predicament they face in having to play those players across nine different WAFL clubs.
Grover and out
012 years
Fremantle veteran Antoni Grover will retire at the conclusion of the 2012 season, ending what has so far been an outstanding 202-game AFL career spanning 13 years.
The 32-year-old informed the playing group of his decision in a team meeting today.
A life member at Fremantle, he made his name as one of the toughest and most uncompromising defenders in the game, playing alongside the likes of Luke McPharlin and Shane Parker during his career.
Grover made his debut in round 21, 1999 against Sydney at the WACA, making him the longest serving player on the club’s 2012 playing list and the only one to have debuted in the 90s.
He played in the club’s first AFL final against Essendon at Subiaco Oval in 2003 and reached the 200-game milestone against North Melbourne in round 22 last season.
Grover said it was a decision he knew had been coming for a while.
Get off Zac’s back: Lyon
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has issued a stern message to fans constantly criticising defender Zac Dawson – back off.
Dawson has been a whipping boy for the Dockers faithful since he arrived at the club, with calls for him to be axed for Alex Silvagni.
It is a situation remarkably similar to the former Hawk’s first season at St Kilda when supporters wanted him replaced by beloved veteran Max Hudghton.
Lachie Hansen’s three goals for North Melbourne on Sunday were used to target Dawson yesterday.
But Lyon said it was ridiculous that Dawson, who had been an integral part of the back line all year, continued to attract criticism.
“There’s some people who live in a fool’s paradise,” Lyon told 6PR.
“He defended terrific on the weekend. He’s had one bad game – his second up (from injury in round 20) I think.
Finals mix not Freo’s focus
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle won’t be distracted by the prospect of a derby final or other September scenarios when it takes on Melbourne on Saturday night, according to midfielder David Mundy.
A historic first final between West Coast and Fremantle looms as a strong possibility with both clubs locked in the top eight following Freo’s big win over North Melbourne on Sunday.
It is the first time since 2006 that both WA clubs will play finals, and Fremantle could even earn a home final if it beats Melbourne at Patersons Stadium and Geelong loses to the Sydney Swans this weekend.
A derby clash in week one of the finals would occur if the Eagles lost to Hawthorn on Friday night and North Melbourne overtook Fremantle in seventh-place with a percentage-boosting win over Greater Western Sydney.
Mundy said the players wouldn’t look past Melbourne this Saturday night, despite the excitement of the club booking its fourth finals campaign in 18 seasons.
Cool hands
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Stand-in Fremantle captain Luke McPharlin says it’s a sign of his team’s growing maturity that it was able to beat North Melbourne on Sunday without Matthew Pavlich.
The 53-point win was Fremantle’s first without Pavlich in the past seven matches the star forward has missed, dating back to 2008.
“He’s obviously a crucial cog in our team, but we like to think we’ve really grown as a team this year, and when one of our leaders can’t play, then the others can step up and everyone plays their role,” McPharlin told AFL.com.au.
“It’s a pleasing aspect that the entire fate of our football team doesn’t rest on the shoulders of Matthew Pavlich.”
Fremantle locked itself inside the top eight with the victory, and has now won six of its past seven matches.
With Aaron Sandilands and Nat Fyfe back in the team, Pavlich to return, and several others hitting top form, McPharlin felt the team was primed for September.
Pav no certainty to return
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he aims to have Matthew Pavlich back for next week’s final round clash with Melbourne, but cannot give any guarantees.
Pavlich was a late withdrawal from Sunday’s 53-point win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium with a corked hamstring and adductor tightness.
“I haven’t got a crystal ball, but certainly there’ll be no risk,” Lyon said about a possible Pavlich return against the Demons.
“He needs to play, and he needs to train, so that’s the aim. There’s no sacred cows here.
“Matthew’s a really proven player, but you don’t want to be going into a final without having played, ideally, so the aim is to get him up and manage what he’s got.”
Lyon said the decision not to play his captain had nothing to do with Saturday night’s upset of Carlton by Gold Coast, which meant Fremantle was still a strong chance to make the finals even if it lost to the Kangaroos.
Top eight locked as Freo fires
012 years
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.2 5.4 8.7 12.7 (79)
FREMANTLE 3.5 6.7 1.10 20.12 (132)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Hansen 3, Gibson 2, Macmillan, Bastinac, Harper, Harvey
Fremantle: Walters 4, Ballantyne 4, Mayne 2, McPhee 2, De Boer 2, Mundy 2, Suban 2, Sandilands, Mzungu,
BEST
North Melbourne: Swallow, Thompson, McMahon, Atley, Hansen
Fremantle: Fyfe, Sandilands, McPharlin, Hill, Pearce, Crowley, Mundy, Walters, Ballantyne
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich (groin) replaced in selected team by Zac Clarke
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Luke Delaney replaced by Matt Campbell at three-quarter time
Fremantle: Kepler Bradley replaced by Nick Suban at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Schmitt, Jeffery
Official crowd: 26,482 at Etihad Stadium
Pav only 50-50 for Roos
012 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says captain Matthew Pavlich is only a “50-50” proposition to play in Sunday’s season-defining clash against North Melbourne after another week of limited training.
Pavlich has been hampered by hamstring and Achilles tendon tightness and didn’t train in the build-up to last Saturday’s win over Richmond, receiving treatment through the match.
The Coleman Medal leader was part of a 25-man squad that flew out of Perth on Friday afternoon, and Lyon said the club had a back-up plan if Pavlich was unavailable.
Asked what the skipper had to do to take his place at Etihad Stadium, Lyon said: “Walk in and say, ‘Coach I’m happy to play’.”
“It’s a 50-50 at this point,” Lyon said. “We’ve got a plan with our emergencies and what’s the best way to go, but I think he’ll get up.
“We won’t take anyone that can’t perform in. Once you nominate yourself you’re fully fit, so that’s the way it works.
