Review Round 1 v Geelong

[malpaso]

No. He looked terrible slow. I think the injury (he picked up which ruled him out of All Stars game) seems to be holding him back. The younger blokes in Neale, Sam De Koning and J Cameron were all too physically stronger and faster than him. Pearces strength is usually in the air and his one-on-one body work/positioning to spoil. Dunno , 1 year is a long time in footy ..............he looked a shadow of his potential All -Australian form from 2022.

I just call it as I see it.

Yeah looked really slow dodging and spinning three oppos while he ran through them..

 

[Footskill]

TBH we were due for a howler in Geelong, been good there previously.

Yeah I think people basing it on the last two wins we had there. Although I thought historically it was the tricky wind that makes it difficult

 

[Patty_Moz]

To go to the cattery with such an inexperienced side was high risk. That falls on the selection committee.

We hardly stuck a tackle all day and they bullied us every time we got the ball. It was boys vs men stuff.

Unfortunately with the injuries we don’t have many other options, Chapman and Aish instead of a couple but we are extremely light on for decent, experienced depth in the squad. Geelong had 2x 200 gamers as emergencies.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

Wow.

Only 3 pages with most of the posts by a GWS supporter. I think we're all just done.

I’d say most of the rusted on supporters are pretty weary by this point. Other than that, let’s be real, Fremantle has been the most irrelevant club in the competition ever since Ross left.
I’m not a Ross fanboy or anything but that’s just how it’s been. Even Gold Coast get more national press than us, outside of WA. Most of the footy media still forget who is in charge of us and mispronounce his name with the much more respected ex-Sydney coach.

It’s not really a recipe for gaining more fans or turning more casuals into rusted-on supporters. Other than a lack of new fans, there hasn’t been much of a reason to fill the pages. It’s just the same shit.

 

[rgauci]

I don't understand why O'Meara is copping as many strays as he is in here, he was one of the only players who was actually solid today, there's a lot of guys who didn't stand up today, O'Meara is the least of our concerns.

I absolutely deplore the trade that got him. It was obviously a poor call to get someone his age but delist Mundy who was performing similarly and was a club legend.

I wish we could reverse that moment in time.

In saying that he was top 3-5 players for us today. Which shocked me. As I thought he’d be outside the 22. I’m depressed thinking a player as limited as JOM is top 5 for us.

 

[NYRB]

Wow.

Only 3 pages with most of the posts by a GWS supporter. I think we're all just done.

My claim to Fremantle , I was a member in 2013.

So I know the club well enough I say.

 

[freofandom]

I absolutely deplore the trade that got him. It was obviously a poor call to get someone his age but delist Mundy who was performing similarly and was a club legend.

You think we delisted Mundy? Wtf? I assure you Freo wanted him to go another year.

 

[NYRB]

I absolutely deplore the trade that got him. It was obviously a poor call to get someone his age but delist Mundy who was performing similarly and was a club legend.

I wish we could reverse that moment in time.

In saying that he was top 3-5 players for us today. Which shocked me. As I thought he’d be outside the 22. I’m depressed thinking a player as limited as JOM is top 5 for us.

I think Mundy had his time . He retired at the right time. What I have noticed about the game this season, it feels like 32-33 years of age is the new 37-38 years old. Players like Pendles are being made to look real slow. A few of the Swans players eg Rampe, Jake Lloyds also in the same boat. You don't want sentiment taking over the clubs goals.

 

[BoneBroth]

We won clearances and hit outs for the game. But it felt like we never had any control. We looked best when in fast handball transition from the back half. But you can’t do that for a full game.

We got murdered in open play and turnover. The pressure and intent was the real difference in the game. It was noticeable that we were constantly second to the ball, or let them out of tackles that should have been stoppages.

Serong was invisible in the first half.
That was Treacy’s worst game for a while.
Amiss had another really down game.
One of Ryan’s worst games for a long time.
Cox had a mare, couldn’t do anything right.

Players like Worner and Banfield didn’t have their best game. But it was the top 10 players that didn’t play to the level to compete. If the top ten have good games they lift up the level of the bottom 6.

I would hope it’s the wakeup call they need to up their intensity for the rest of the season. I can give them one mulligan but would need to see a different attitude next week.

 

[johnthegardener]

Just a few comments from me, bear in mind that I've only seen parts of the first 3 quarters and I refuse to watch he last quarter.
Murphy Reaid is going to be a very good footballer but for heavens sake if you're having a shot from what you think is your limit don't run out to the right, rather run straight at the goals or pass it off.
There are a number of players whose future will be decided in the next few weeks and I'm looking at Cox (another performance like that next week and out you go for a while). Very lackadaisical and who needs that attitude when we have good young defenders developing. They were others in the backline and for where are the footy brains? I've been around for a long time and even remember the glory days of South Fremantle but no way as a backman would I contemplate kicking across goals (looking at you Walker). Either demand that players lead for you or kick it as far as you can.
Not that I was paying close attention but at least half the time I noticed Amiss he was down in the backline. How the hell can you kick goals from there?
I did notice that Josh Treacy got a bit angry at one stage and if you go for a mark don't just jump straight up with your hands straight above your head. Josh, I'm sure that today was an aberration and next week you'll be back to normal.
Difficult conditions today, but what about all the training we've done in the heat! Didn't seem to work today! We were just jogging around at half pace instead of running past at full tilt.
One thing I did notice about Geelong is they were very quick to kick blindly out of a ruck or if under pressure. Mind you they also had all the luck today.

 

[rgauci]

You think we delisted Mundy? Wtf? I assure you Freo wanted him to go another year.

Mundy mentioned asking for an extension about mid way through the year but one wasn’t forth coming. He later then decided to “retire”. We should have immediately given him a year. He was playing superb footy. Better than anything Fyfe or JOM or Brodie have produced since. Throw in Matt Johnson, Erasmus too. Aside from Brayshaw and Serong, no other mid has been as good in 2023 or 2024.

We were extremely dumb in the 2022/23 offseason:

Lost Logue, Lobb, Meek, Tucker, Mundy and one other that escaped me.

We added Jackson (awesome) and JOM (not so much). We went backwards considerably and missed finals in the two years that followed.

Compare us to Hawthorn, make finals, add Barrass and Battle. Lose no one.

That’s what we should have done. Kept Mundy, Meek, probably Logue too. I could accept losing Lobb and adding Jackson.

Was stupid.

 

[freofandom]

Mundy mentioned asking for an extension about mid way through the year but one wasn’t forth coming. He later then decided to “retire”. We should have immediately given him a year. He was playing superb footy. Better than anything Fyfe or JOM or Brodie have produced since. Throw in Matt Johnson, Erasmus too. Aside from Brayshaw and Serong, no other mid has been as good in 2023 or 2024.

Where did you hear that? That's not what I heard and doesn't match my convos with him. I'll ask him next time I see him.

 

[DocT]

That's not true at all though. We were poor at winning close games last season (probably the worst in the AFL). That certainly isn't the same as giving up 10 goals to 1 in the 4th.

Other than our game against Bulldogs in 2024, where we gave up 8 goals to 3 in the 4th, is there another game you know of where we capitulated in the same ballpark last season?

Also, if you think we are the only fan group complaining about team selections then you clearly haven't ventured off the Freo board before. I find the whole team selection thing hilarious because half the time fans complain about someone being selected but then don't offer an available alternative. Take Reidy - fans were furious last season we didn't play him. This season fans are furious we did play him. If we eventually play Brodie (and more than likely he doesn't perform that well) it will be the same.

Just to remind you that you started the conversation saying that 4thQ fadeouts could be quickly fixed. i responded by saying that they are not a new problem. This is what I am basing my perspective on:

'Top of the list of last-term fadeouts this year is Fremantle, whose season is suddenly on edge after giving up leads at three-quarter time twice in six days, against Essendon in round 21 and Geelong in round 22.
The Dockers have led at the final change and lost five times this season. No other club this year has done it more than twice.'

Never surrender: Record tumbles in year of the comeback

It's been a wild season, with teams reeling in huge margins and others coughing up record-breaking leads

www.afl.com.au

If you still think JLo and the club can quickly fix this because you are only looking at losses where we give up 8-10 goals in Q4, I think you need to remember that a loss by 1 point or 100 points still means we don't get the 4 points.

 

[s_wd6]

Mundy mentioned asking for an extension about mid way through the year but one wasn’t forth coming. He later then decided to “retire”. We should have immediately given him a year. He was playing superb footy. Better than anything Fyfe or JOM or Brodie have produced since. Throw in Matt Johnson, Erasmus too. Aside from Brayshaw and Serong, no other mid has been as good in 2023 or 2024.

We were extremely dumb in the 2022/23 offseason:

Lost Logue, Lobb, Meek, Tucker, Mundy and one other that escaped me.

We added Jackson (awesome) and JOM (not so much). We went backwards considerably and missed finals in the two years that followed.

Compare us to Hawthorn, make finals, add Barrass and Battle. Lose no one.

That’s what we should have done. Kept Mundy, Meek, probably Logue too. I could accept losing Lobb and adding Jackson.

Was stupid.

Mundy was not superb. Would’ve only been exposed further if he had another year. We could’ve kept him in 2023 but it wouldn’t have helped anyone. We could’ve kept Meek in 2023 and he would’ve spent most of the year at Peel then left anyway.

In the words of JammoMonty, Logue is a .

The other one was Acres and he’s the one we should’ve kept.

You can compare us to Hawks all you like but at the end of the day we will never get the same benefit of luring Eastern players over for cheap like they’ve done.

 

[Righteo]

Geelong were significantly more experienced than us in 2022 and 2023 when we won down there. We were missing best 22 players too, especially in 2023. This is the least experienced Geelong side our group of players have ever faced and is filled with B-grade talent as they undergo a minor rebuild. Was it really too much to expect us to simply be competitive?

 

[freofandom]

Just to remind you that you started the conversation saying that 4thQ fadeouts could be quickly fixed. i responded by saying that they are not a new problem. This is what I am basing my perspective on:

'Top of the list of last-term fadeouts this year is Fremantle, whose season is suddenly on edge after giving up leads at three-quarter time twice in six days, against Essendon in round 21 and Geelong in round 22.
The Dockers have led at the final change and lost five times this season. No other club this year has done it more than twice.'

Never surrender: Record tumbles in year of the comeback

It's been a wild season, with teams reeling in huge margins and others coughing up record-breaking leads

www.afl.com.au

If you still think JLo and the club can quickly fix this because you are only looking at losses where we give up 8-10 goals in Q4, I think you need to remember that a loss by 1 point or 100 points still means we don't get the 4 points.

I don't think winning close games is easy. Inexperienced sides are notorious for being bad at them. But losing close games is the result of making poor decisions in those pressure moments that can win or lose you a game. Calling them last term fadeouts is slack journalism imo - because I watched all of those games and it wasn't us being slack, it was us being dumb.

Fading out to the point where you give up 10-1 goals in the final quarter I think that points to a lack of effort. Our team defence was abysmal - Geelong were walking it in. Giving up that many goals is switching off both mentally and physically. If the same happens next week I'd be joining the chorus saying it is time for JL to go - and I'm strong on not overreacting based on a handful of games. I stand by that it shouldn't be hard to fix. I wouldn't accept that at junior sport let alone at professional level.

 

[noise36]

JL confirmed in his presser what I suspected , the blow out was partly because they structured to win it in q4 , aggressive positioning and structures, but they kept losing the contest so Geelong had extra numbers ahead of the ball and the result was the flogging.

He said Reidy did well though haha wtf

Was also talking down Murphy Reids performance than quickly backtracked haha

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

You think we delisted Mundy? Wtf? I assure you Freo wanted him to go another year.

This is rubbish, Mundy wanted another year and was told to go.

 

[noise36]

We won clearances and hit outs for the game. But it felt like we never had any control.

They had twice as many marks and way more tackles, so were applying pressure, turning it over, getting it to the outside then doing what they wanted with it.

 

[SupermanCapes]

It seems like the problems are relatively simple but unfortunately they're so fundamental it's hard to see how you turn them around quickly. One swallow and all that but our midfield was insipid, ball use was absolutely atrocious and there was zero meaningful pressure. Defence and forward line were both bad but it's very hard for them to look good when those first three categories were so, so bad.

I'm not even mad at this point, I feel like Fry from Futurama in that zen state after the 100th coffee. We'll either compete this season or we won't.

I'd love to be in the team meeting and hear from the players themselves what they think happened. I'm worried by the way our young players didn't seem to care that much throughout the game. Johnson in particular seems very content with this work when I don't think I saw a single piece of positive individual play from him.

I'm happy to give the team a chance to prove that they're as good as they think they are - but gee whiz I'm also preparing for another 2016 (which I really hate to say but it does feel exactly like that first game after a season of Ross telling us he was going to be more attacking but the team just looked completely at sea without any game plan).

 

[BStaff17]

We're young
We're building
We're on the right track

Maybe once 2030 hits we finally peak and the same old excuses leave the joint.

There is at least 3 players who are probably B22 and I consider players who should have been tapped ages ago

We ain't winning a flag with them

You either have it or you don't.

Those lads don't

 

[Purpletown]

Vanilla.

Vanilla was the first thought that hit me about the 10 minute mark of the first quarter. A Vanilla soft serve.

Time to start looking at travel options for September.

 

[Cesoir]

We have reverted to the old Freo Noodles - apply heat for two minutes and we go soft.

 

[BStaff17]

The quality of Reid compared to Switta, Banfield, Emmett and even Sturt and Ras is some else. Him and Bolton will work well, sprinkle in some Sonny.

Someone summed it up well on the Game day thread in the 2nd Qtr

It's 2025 and Banfield is still on the list.

Nice guy, tries hard but has had 8 years in the AFL system and seriously what is he an mediocre b-grader.

8 years we have given him may as well hand him a long service leave for the year in a couple seasons.

 

[Johnny Dalmas]

Still waiting for a refund for that game against Melbourne at the MCG where we coughed up a huge half time lead tbh

Cheque is in the mail