2023 - A year of regression before the final ascent...

[Outshined]

Good point on the average age Shined

You’re right , we need to be patient but Geez it’s tough after 28 years

Last year was insane given the amount of young blokes we were playing each week.

But, I don't think that invalidates your concerns about Longmuir. We don't want to hit our window with an inbuilt brand of football that falls down at the pointy end of the season.

 

[Madas]

Last year was insane given the amount of young blokes we were playing each week.

But, I don't think that invalidates your concerns about Longmuir. We don't want to hit our window with an inbuilt brand of football that falls down at the pointy end of the season.

True
I think Macrae is a perfect example of a young coach who isn’t scared to roll the dice and take the game on letting the players off the chain to show their skills

Failure to adapt to wet weather footy last year was very concerning and big crosses against Longmuirs ability in my books .

let’s review after Round 10 when we have played both ends of the table and get a gauge of where we are at

 

[theGav56]

Hearing you Gav but it smells like 2016 era again where we are just a middling team and all our good young guns get fed up and poached .
Fans run out of patience and then around we go again
I reckon we have got the players

I’m starting to question whether we have the coach to bring the best out of them and

We really , really should not have played that poorly last week given everything we should have worked on over the pre-season after that humiliating loss to Collingwood in the final

I’m not normally a coach knocker because I’ve been in coaching roles over many years and there are some days where no matter how much time and knowledge you’ve put into the players , they are just not clicking and it falls apart .

Bring in Amiss and Drizzle though I say
I like watching those boys play!

I don't think we jump from last season to a premiership. Too young for that, plus the competition has strengthened at the top end.

I think you are going early on the coach. But I personally think Longmuir will be a better coach if he has some livewire strategic assistants around him who he harnesses. Do we already have that? Does he have the mindset to incorporate other ideas?

Staggered to think that we're going to chip it around and play cautious given our skill set.

I'm not pushing as hard for Amiss as others. I'd try and bed down Treacy and Sturt as emerging forward options. And I think it is critical that Fyfe and Jackson become unpredictable elements in our 22.

 

[G Mus]

Interesting numbers but I would say Brayshaw doesn’t seem to be the target man for hitouts very often but is there to work off Brodie and Serong

Probably has high 2nd possession numbers or whatever they call it

Still should be doing better sharking some oppo hitouts though

Clearance isn’t necessary the first touch;

Credited to the player who has the first effective disposal in a chain that clears the stoppage area, or an ineffective kick or clanger kick that clears the stoppage area.

 

[Vintage]

True
I think Macrae is a perfect example of a young coach who isn’t scared to roll the dice and take the game on letting the players off the chain to show their skills

Failure to adapt to wet weather footy last year was very concerning and big crosses against Longmuirs ability in my books .

let’s review after Round 10 when we have played both ends of the table and get a gauge of where we are at

Good point. If you look at the list profiles of us v Collingwood (for example) from the weekend, they had 13 players to our 6 with over 100 games experience, and overall were over 2 years older and average games played of 128 vs 80.

PATIENCE IS NEEDED

we have a really promising list, with Fyfe and Walters the only real oldies departing in the next 2-4 years. The younger fringe players will develop in a mix of time between wafl and afl until they’re really ready. We should expect a bit of regression this year, but should see a good 4 or more years of pushing for a flag after that. Even next year the next gen forwards are too young, even the smaller blokes don’t hit their peak until 25-30.

if you don’t believe me go to footywire and check out melbournes best players, or Collingwood‘s, or Geelongs, or…

 

[blue shark]

I don't think we jump from last season to a premiership. Too young for that, plus the competition has strengthened at the top end.

I think you are going early on the coach. But I personally think Longmuir will be a better coach if he has some livewire strategic assistants around him who he harnesses. Do we already have that? Does he have the mindset to incorporate other ideas?

Staggered to think that we're going to chip it around and play cautious given our skill set.

I'm not pushing as hard for Amiss as others. I'd try and bed down Treacy and Sturt as emerging forward options. And I think it is critical that Fyfe and Jackson become unpredictable elements in our 22.

I think Eddie Betts has it right with Fyfe, playing as a high forward and some
midfield minutes.
He could almost play wing? But playing him at FF, he just looks lost. He is such a
good mark on the move, when he has space to operate.
At the beginning of the year I thought him rotating off HB/Mid could work.
I wasn’t sold on him full time forward, and as you say he isn’t a natural.
Sure he can hit the scoreboard, but if we are to build for a flag the foundation
needs to be down.

 

[Big Animal]

I think Eddie Betts has it right with Fyfe, playing as a high forward and some
midfield minutes.
He could almost play wing? But playing him at FF, he just looks lost. He is such a
good mark on the move, when he has space to operate.
At the beginning of the year I thought him rotating off HB/Mid could work.
I wasn’t sold on him full time forward, and as you say he isn’t a natural.
Sure he can hit the scoreboard, but if we are to build for a flag the foundation
needs to be down.

this is good. Also felt our midfield was not at all fast on the weekend. Wouldn't mind seeing Ras given a go to see if he can add some pace to our middle.

 

[FDH16]

With the trade period done and dusted it's time to reflect on where the list sits, what we were seeking to achieve and how close we are to the ever elusive maiden premiership.

I am pleased Fremantle's hierarchy identified the need to bolster the inside mid brigade, Brodie was a pleasant surprise in 2022 and will continue to build in 2023. What became more and more glaring as the year rolled on was our over reliance on Mundy to win inside ball and drive field position. Acquiring JOM will alleviate the burden on Serong/Brodie and allow Fyfe the flexibility to roll forward. With Raz and Johnson still needing a few pre-seasons to be AFL ready, when it counts, this was a pleasing acquisition.

The greatest upside of this trade is we no longer need to run Andy Brayshaw from the centre square. He just isn't capable of being a force in there and held us back, on occassion, in the two finals this year. He is much better suited as an outside runner and will be an upgrade on Acres on the wing. This is Andy's best position and will allow him to blow up his opponent, hold his width and deliver the ball inside 50.

Jackson, will improve our dynamicism from the centre-square, he is capable of roving his own tap and pushing through traffic. Too often we exited laterally, slowly and allowed opposition defenses to roll with our ball movement. Hopefully Jaeger can burst from stoppage as well. The removal of Brayshaw from the starting CB team will show up the more JOM/FYFE, Serong, Brodie with Jackson and Darcy find their groove. Corbett might be a nice guy, but he's largely irrelevant and cover - whole lot of meh on his acquisition, hopefully he proves me wrong, though, I am never wrong.

One of the unfortunate realities of a high attrition rate is the requirement to re-train running patterns, stoppage set ups and internal chemistry. We have shipped out/retired 4 genuine starters, 2 consistent rotational players, and will now inject a two starters.

Amiss is the key to our progression, he along with the emergence of another key forward (my great hope for Jackson) will decide if we mount the summit, but it will not be in 23.

The type of synergy that is necessary intra team is not concocted over-night, one may pre-season will not be enough. This group will need to gel and bond, on field and off.

For me, whilst we may have lost our leading goal-kicker campaigner lord, a top 10 B&F player, an AA calibre winger and fuzzy haired swing man, I've never been more bullish on the state of our list, whilst cautiously aware that synergy takes time to create.

We are almost there.

Time needed to gel and a makeover out of the centre square....

 

[FDH16]

IANW

 

[poshman]

IANW

What does this mean?

 

[Dump Truck]

What does this mean?

Invisible antelopes needlessly waltz
Interesting anthologies never waiver
Indescribable AFL nutjobs wankfest
Incognito arguing nullifies welcoming
I am Not w(acrackpot)

 

[poshman]

Invisible antelopes needlessly waltz
Interesting anthologies never waiver
Indescribable AFL nutjobs wankfest
Incognito arguing nullifies welcoming
I am Not w(acrackpot)

haha I googled it and came up with nothing close to as good as your list.

I am never wrong? but that would be wanky so...

 

[Outshined]

Invisible antelopes needlessly waltz
Interesting anthologies never waiver
Indescribable AFL nutjobs wankfest
Incognito arguing nullifies welcoming
I am Not w(acrackpot)

Dear Mr Longmuir,

There are too many defenders nowadays, please eliminate 3.

 

[royale with cheese]

What does this mean?

IAMNUNGLEWUFFIN

 

[tonygeeks]

IANW

Cool …. Tip , 1st GS and margin please

 

[Mr Cheese]

IANW

Fuuuuuck. I really hope you mean the one from Steps.

On SM-G955F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[JunglistPosse]

Melbourne 2018 onwards…could it point to a future Freo flight path?

 

[King Huskii]

Melbourne 2018 onwards…could it point to a future Freo flight path?

Anything is possible in a world full of chaos

 

[Quazar]

Invisible antelopes needlessly waltz
Interesting anthologies never waiver
Indescribable AFL nutjobs wankfest
Incognito arguing nullifies welcoming
I am Not w(acrackpot)

I believe Incestuous Aunts Nipples Wobbling was the correct interpretation

Also, your 3rd one - is it a job, and where do I apply?!

 

[fnerd]

Melbourne 2018 onwards…could it point to a future Freo flight path?

Yea except they didn’t trade away their future 1st and 2nd rounders

in fact they drafted Jackson with their first that year , along with kozzie and rivers - all of who played in their gf triumph 2 years later.

 

[FDH16]

With the trade period done and dusted it's time to reflect on where the list sits, what we were seeking to achieve and how close we are to the ever elusive maiden premiership.

I am pleased Fremantle's hierarchy identified the need to bolster the inside mid brigade, Brodie was a pleasant surprise in 2022 and will continue to build in 2023. What became more and more glaring as the year rolled on was our over reliance on Mundy to win inside ball and drive field position. Acquiring JOM will alleviate the burden on Serong/Brodie and allow Fyfe the flexibility to roll forward. With Raz and Johnson still needing a few pre-seasons to be AFL ready, when it counts, this was a pleasing acquisition.

The greatest upside of this trade is we no longer need to run Andy Brayshaw from the centre square. He just isn't capable of being a force in there and held us back, on occassion, in the two finals this year. He is much better suited as an outside runner and will be an upgrade on Acres on the wing. This is Andy's best position and will allow him to blow up his opponent, hold his width and deliver the ball inside 50.

Jackson, will improve our dynamicism from the centre-square, he is capable of roving his own tap and pushing through traffic. Too often we exited laterally, slowly and allowed opposition defenses to roll with our ball movement. Hopefully Jaeger can burst from stoppage as well. The removal of Brayshaw from the starting CB team will show up the more JOM/FYFE, Serong, Brodie with Jackson and Darcy find their groove. Corbett might be a nice guy, but he's largely irrelevant and cover - whole lot of meh on his acquisition, hopefully he proves me wrong, though, I am never wrong.

One of the unfortunate realities of a high attrition rate is the requirement to re-train running patterns, stoppage set ups and internal chemistry. We have shipped out/retired 4 genuine starters, 2 consistent rotational players, and will now inject a two starters.

Amiss is the key to our progression, he along with the emergence of another key forward (my great hope for Jackson) will decide if we mount the summit, but it will not be in 23.

The type of synergy that is necessary intra team is not concocted over-night, one may pre-season will not be enough. This group will need to gel and bond, on field and off.

For me, whilst we may have lost our leading goal-kicker campaigner lord, a top 10 B&F player, an AA calibre winger and fuzzy haired swing man, I've never been more bullish on the state of our list, whilst cautiously aware that synergy takes time to create.

We are almost there.

I am never wrong.

Brayshaw continues to flounder, pretending to be an inside mid.

 

[hoss]

Brayshaw is injured. Others like Pearce, Ryan, Frederick have just regressed from last year. How does someone as unfit as Ryan even get a game? That's a poor reflection on club standards.

On Pixel 4a using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Scham]

I was dead against the concept of the OP being remotely true but I concede that I was way off and totally wrong. I was angry and deeply disappointed last night but today I've come to realise that we do need to have at least a year of learning and developing as we're such a young team of players and coaches.
I felt our premiership window wasn't open coming into the season but I did feel that it was unlocked. I now realise it's very much locked but hopefully if we get through this learning and development stage in good shape it'll unlock again sometime late next season or shortly after. We just have to hang in there.

 

[apuchar]

I was dead against the concept of the OP being remotely true but I concede that I was way off and totally wrong. I was angry and deeply disappointed last night but today I've come to realise that we do need to have at least a year of learning and developing as we're such a young team of players and coaches.
I felt our premiership window wasn't open coming into the season but I did feel that it was unlocked. I now realise it's very much locked but hopefully if we get through this learning and development stage in good shape it'll unlock again sometime late next season or shortly after. We just have to hang in there.

Nice post

 

[nurries]

I was dead against the concept of the OP being remotely true but I concede that I was way off and totally wrong. I was angry and deeply disappointed last night but today I've come to realise that we do need to have at least a year of learning and developing as we're such a young team of players and coaches.
I felt our premiership window wasn't open coming into the season but I did feel that it was unlocked. I now realise it's very much locked but hopefully if we get through this learning and development stage in good shape it'll unlock again sometime late next season or shortly after. We just have to hang in there.

Biggest issue is that you need the right coach/game plan to unlock it. I think we have to tinker with the list a bit but the bear bones are there, we just aren’t managed correctly