Fremantle Dockers - Promise Lots Deliver Very Little
Many would say that Fremantle are a frustrating side that always promises a lot during the pre season but do not deliver the goods. Will Season 2008 be any different from the boys from the West? Being an Essendon supporter I could be a bit biased considering the strong Essendon contingent at the Dockers at the moment.
Let’s take a look at the Additions and Deletions from the Dockers list for Season 2008:
ADDITIONS:
Rookie elevation: Andrew Foster
NAB AFL Draft: Kepler Bradley (Essendon), Clayton Hinkley (North Ballarat Rebels), Mark Johnson (Essendon), Chris Mayne (Perth), Rhys Palmer (East Fremantle)
DELETIONS:
Retired: Troy Cook, Justin Longmuir, Shane Parker (veteran – outside list)
Delisted: Clayton Collard, Ryley Dunn, Robert Haddrill, Calib Mourish, James Walker, Benet Copping (rookie), Darren Rumble (rookie)
Free Flowing Freo
Fremantle are another side that seems to play a free flowing style of game which, when they are on song is great to watch. The have proven to be capable of kicking some big scores and their forward line seems to have what it takes to mix it with the best in the competition. The Dockers were the 3rd highest points scored per game in 2007 proving their forward line can kick some goals. With the superstar that is Matthew Pavlich then he is certainly a man to build a forward line around. He will certainly be the go to man again in season 2008.
It what was a bit of a surprise to a lot of people that Mark Harvey has resurrected the careers of discarded Bomber pair Mark Johnson and Kepler Bradley the latter is probably worth a gamble, but the former I have my doubts about. In the last couple of years Johnson has seemed to be going backwards in his football, but a change of scenery might do him the world of good. He may like showing his “Mr Sunbury” body off down the beaches of Fremantle. It will be interesting to see if there is any remaining hostility between him and Chris Tarrant after their run in at a pub here in Melbourne. From all reports Johnson his having a great pre season and was a very solid performer in a recent intra club practise match playing down forward. He may just fit in nicely as a hard aggressive forward whose job it is to keep the fall in while maybe snagging a few. This would compliment the likes of Pavlich and Farmer quite nicely. With him and Solomon down there they have a pretty rugged line up. I think Des Headland can give them a bit more in the way of goal kicking power, with the big forwards in Pavlich and Tarrant commanding the best back men then these type of players need to make the most o the attention these stars get and provide some more options. I can just see Mark Johnson getting the 4th or 5th best back man, chewing his chewing gum and thinking “How good is this” and then kicking some bags of goals. They are certainly building up some fire power down there.
Sandilands in the Key!!
After only playing 15 games in 2007 Aaron Sandilands will be looking to have an injury free 2008 and will be a great inclusion for the Dockers. He is obviously a huge man and is rarely beaten in the Ruck department. With the mid fielders in the Carr brothers, Haselby, McManus, Black and Bell all quality players in their own right, and to give these players first use of the pill will be pivotal to the outcome of games this year. Brett Peake should come back into the side adding some more pace through the middle and if Ryan Crowley can step up a bit this year, I am not sure whether he has hit his straps yet, then the Docker midfield is looking is great shape. Mark Harvey had said that they were after 3 midfielders from the draft and they seem to have found a good one in Rhys Palmer who averaged 32 possessions in the National Carnival and looks very promising. You will more than likely see Johnson rotating through there as well. But Sandilands is the key!
If the Dockers can keep improving on their winning away from home illness they tend to have and get on a roll early in the season anything is possible for the Dockers, but we tend to say that every year. With a hard task master now as coach I am sure he will not take things lightly and will be instilling a win at all costs mentality that the Dockers lack on some occasions. I just think this year may just be the year that we see the Dockers break into the eight and place some pressure on the top sides. The draw doesn’t look so favourable for them in 2008, they travel to each major city once again this year and is something they are not very happy about. On the other hand if they start slowly then things may just fall in a heap.
To Inconsistent
For me they just a bit to inconsistent and they can never seem to gain any momentum during the year. Again coming into another year there are signs there that they could be anything, but I just don’t know whether they can deliver. You certainly wouldn’t place your house on them that’s for sure.
Ladder Prediction: 9
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