Record: 4 wins, 18 losses, 74.3%
In 25 Words: A year of transition, as the Dockers’ age caught up with them and their new gameplan failed to fire.
The Player: Lachie Neale was the centerpiece of a midfield missing Nat Fyfe, and broke the single-season record for disposals in a season with 737. Although Fremantle finished 16th, Neale should still come into All-Australian calculations – a remarkable year.
The Roughie: Fremantle watched the rise of Connor Blakely as a new midfield contender for the purple and silver. Averaging 20 touches as an outside player, Blakely has all the tools to be a real provider of run for the Dockers’ midfield.
The Win: It was Round 23 that saw the Dockers’ memory for 2016. Matthew Pavlich’s 353rd and final game saw him kick his 700th career goal, and do a lap of honour before being chaired off by his teammates. The scrappy 20-point win over the Western Bulldogs would be a confidence-booster for Fremantle going into an off-season rebuild.
The Loss: Round 14’s loss to Collingwood saw Fremantle fail to fire, but it was the background to it that made this loss more disappointing. The Dockers came off three straight victories and looked to be stringing some real form together, but were completely obliterated by the Magpies’ midfield.
What now?: Trade time looms as important for Fremantle, with the signings of Cam McCarthy and Brad Hill the important starts. Questions will also be asked about Rory Lobb from GWS and Jesse Hogan from Melbourne, but questions about as to whether they have the trade capital to land these players in addition to McCarthy and Hill. Furthermore, the lurking off-season issue is Nat Fyfe’s 2017 free agent status. Could a team make an offer too good to refuse?
2017?: The Dockers still need time and depth. The list has clearly finished with this gameplan, and although elements such as Neale, McCarthy and Michael Walters will provide the nucleus for a rebuild, it’s going to take more than 12 months to get there. It could be a case of one step backwards for two steps forward. 18th.
