List summary:
The Dockers look to be about halfway through a rebuild that will aim to have them back in contention for a flag before players like Fyfe, Walters and the Hill brothers exit their prime.
Cerra and Brayshaw were excellent additions last year. The top five draft picks slotted straight into Lyon’s side. Both play with toughness and poise.
Alex Pearce’s return from injury did not go unnoticed. The tall Tasmanian defender was a rock for Fremantle and alleviated fears that they lacked quality key position players up both ends of the field.
Goal-kickers remain a major issue for the Dockers. Cam McCarthy has not come on at all since returning to footy. Brandon Matera is looking like another trade flop. Ross Lyon will be hoping Matt Taberner has a less injury interrupted 2019 as he was missed as a marking presence up forward this year.
List changes:
Michael Johnson, Danyle Pearce, Lee Spurr all retired. More list changes will surely come for Freo as a result of the trade period.
Draft picks:
Fremantle hold national draft picks 5, 77, 95 and 113. Last year Fremantle traded out their 2018 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks to bring over Brandon Matera and Nathan Wilson.
Draft target:
If Fremantle wanted a goal-kicker then they should look no further than Izak Rankine. He is an electric forward half player with scope to enter the midfield. The South Australian has been considered good enough to go pick one but comes with a go-home risk.
Trade target:
It comes up every year but the jungle drums are beating louder than ever before, Jesse Hogan to Fremantle could really happen. If Hogan truly is available and Melbourne are prepared to trade their contracted spearhead the Fremantle recruiting team will be working overtime to get him back home to Western Australia.
Best case scenario:
Latest news is that Collingwood’s Grand Final hero Tom Langdon is wanting to come to Freo to play with his brother Ed. Lachie Neale looks Brisbane bound but if they can land Langdon and Hogan it will be a very good off-season for the Dockers.
