Mega Thread 2025 Media & Miscellaneous Thread

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Back by popular demand. However...

There has been some aggro from publishers of articles in recent months about sites that copypasta their content onto other sites, particularly the paywalled ones, which could lead to fines and whanot for those that do it. Apparently there are copywrite laws for these things. As a result we can no longer have full articles reposted here, so if you come across something then please refrain from nabbing the whole thing and just post the link. Quoting a paragraph or two and linking the source is fine however, just don't get greedy.

Here's the updated site-wide rule: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/please-read-re-copyright-posting-newspaper-articles.1389553/

Here's an example of what you can do:

"If West Coast was the gold standard for how to operate, then Fremantle's arrival into the AFL in 1995 could be viewed as a series of cautionary tales.

Despite eight wins in that debut season, a series of poor recruiting choices meant they didn't play their first final until 2003."

If they believe that us not making finals until 2003 was solely due to "a series of poor recruiting choices" then I have a bridge to sell them.


Thanks for your understanding.
 
Agree with this. Draper isn’t first 22. He still has some limitations that will develop further over the next few years. Injuries will pop up and he will get opportunities.

Those four names - tall and medium tall (Pearce, Cox, Chapman, and Ryan) are all certainly above Draper. Then we need quicker smalls in the side - like Clark, Walker and Wagner. Out of that lot someone starts on the bench. We also have Aish who is likely along with Draper first cab off the reserve. Further back for depth with a large number of injuries Worner and McDonald.
Players as good as Draper is now don't play WAFL. He's one of if not the best KPD under 22 in the league.

We have a problem if he's not playing games and contracts have never got in the way of players leaving footy clubs.
 
Players as good as Draper is now don't play WAFL. He's one of if not the best KPD under 22 in the league.

We have a problem if he's not playing games and contracts have never got in the way of players leaving footy clubs.
I think you’re creating an issue that doesn’t exist, Draper and his management are well aware of where he sits in the pecking order and what he needs to work on (strength if the contest) to push for spot in the starting 22, in 2years if he isn’t getting a regular gig, this might become an issue, but right now he will be fine getting the opportunities he needs through injury/suspension etc. FWIW I have McDonald ahead of him in the Pearce position but Draper NIL for any of Cox, Chapman or Ryan
 

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I think you’re creating an issue that doesn’t exist, Draper and his management are well aware of where he sits in the pecking order and what he needs to work on (strength if the contest) to push for spot in the starting 22, in 2years if he isn’t getting a regular gig, this might become an issue, but right now he will be fine getting the opportunities he needs through injury/suspension etc. FWIW I have McDonald ahead of him in the Pearce position but Draper NIL for any of Cox, Chapman or Ryan
I'm almost certain they'll pick Draper ahead of McDonald tbh. McDonald might be more of a pure KPD but I'm not sure he's that much better defensively that it makes up for everything Draper does better (literally everything else).

McDonald was recruited before we saw just how good Draper was. Possibly would've been delisted if we didn't give him two years. Harsh yes, but AFL list management is harsh.

I really thought McDonald was a good move at the time btw and still think it made sense but things have changed.
 
Agree with this. Draper isn’t first 22. He still has some limitations that will develop further over the next few years. Injuries will pop up and he will get opportunities.

Those four names - tall and medium tall (Pearce, Cox, Chapman, and Ryan) are all certainly above Draper. Then we need quicker smalls in the side - like Clark, Walker and Wagner. Out of that lot someone starts on the bench. We also have Aish who is likely along with Draper first cab off the reserve. Further back for depth with a large number of injuries Worner and McDonald.
I think you cannot know if Draper is B22 or not because the effects of training over the last 5 months are yet to be revealed.

12 months ago Draper was not on anyone's radar, post pre season games and he was in discussions for a debut.

A lot can change over an off season and much is yet to be revealed for Freo.
 
I'm almost certain they'll pick Draper ahead of McDonald tbh. McDonald might be more of a pure KPD but I'm not sure he's that much better defensively that it makes up for everything Draper does better (literally everything else).

McDonald was recruited before we saw just how good Draper was. Possibly would've been delisted if we didn't give him two years. Harsh yes, but AFL list management is harsh.

I really thought McDonald was a good move at the time btw and still think it made sense but things have changed.
And 2025 Draper should be a lot better than 2024 Draper.
 
I think you cannot know if Draper is B22 or not because the effects of training over the last 5 months are yet to be revealed.

12 months ago Draper was not on anyone's radar, post pre season games and he was in discussions for a debut.

A lot can change over an off season and much is yet to be revealed for Freo.
Looks like they think Draper can play small and tall. You get good players on the park. Full stop. As others have said, he’s one of the best key defenders u22 in the league.

IMG_7262.jpeg
 
I think you’re creating an issue that doesn’t exist, Draper and his management are well aware of where he sits in the pecking order and what he needs to work on (strength if the contest) to push for spot in the starting 22, in 2years if he isn’t getting a regular gig, this might become an issue, but right now he will be fine getting the opportunities he needs through injury/suspension etc. FWIW I have McDonald ahead of him in the Pearce position but Draper NIL for any of Cox, Chapman or Ryan

Please remember that in January last year, Draper was looked on as a WAFL developing player. He was not pumped up that much. Fast forward to now, and he is capable of being a best 22 player, .... but at present sits just outside the best 22.

He took some massive steps forward last season.
 

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I'm almost certain they'll pick Draper ahead of McDonald tbh. McDonald might be more of a pure KPD but I'm not sure he's that much better defensively that it makes up for everything Draper does better (literally everything else).

McDonald was recruited before we saw just how good Draper was. Possibly would've been delisted if we didn't give him two years. Harsh yes, but AFL list management is harsh.

I really thought McDonald was a good move at the time btw and still think it made sense but things have changed.
Agree with all this. Draper is not spending the next 2 years in WAFL obscurity no matter what happens.

I reckon a few think that because he came in as a rookie he should be happy enough to head back down to peel. Last years games were a nice bonus for him, but don’t be expecting too much yet, etc etc. Thats just not how it works.
He’s also going to probably be a lot better in 2025.

I personally think Draper so far anyway, projects to be a better player than Brennan Cox. I think he’s a much better player at 20/21 than Cox was at that age.
It’s a great situation for us really. I hope we pick the best player on merit and reputation doesn’t come into it. Cox was excellent in 2022 but I feel he’s stagnated a bit since then. Some of that is due to injury in fairness, but it’s not the only reason either. He will need to be back to his 2022 form to keep Draper at bay I reckon and that’s win/win for freo.
 
Not quite sure how Modra gets into our team of the century here, given that technically he only played 11 games for us this century. Even when incorrectly including the year 2000, Amiss has kicked more goals this century:




B: Antoni Grover, Shane Parker, Roger Hayden
HB: Michael Johnson, Luke McParlin, Luke Ryan
C: Stephen Hill, David Mundy, Shaun McManus
HF: Michael Walters, Matthew Pavlich, Hayden Ballantyne
F: Jeff Farmer, Tony Modra, Justin Longmuir
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Nat Fyfe, Peter Bell
I/C: Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Paul Hasleby, Ryan Crowley
Sub: Lachie Neale

The Dockers' most successful team is the group that led it to the 2013 Grand Final, with 11 of those players represented here, including champion forward Pavlich, dual Brownlow medallist Fyfe, and Freo games record-holder Mundy, who are arguably the three greatest players to represent the club. Sandilands, Crowley and Neale are other club champions from that era to feature, with Neale playing 135 games as a Docker. The key forward roles were difficult, but Modra's 77 goals across 2000-01 get him in, with Longmuir as a third tall and back-up ruckman. Walters (365 goals), Ballantyne (254) and Farmer (224) sit second, third and fourth respectively on the club's all-time goalkickers list, filling out the forward line. Of the inaugural Dockers, Parker played 150 of his 238 games from 2000 onward, while wingman McManus played 170 of his 228. Triple club champion Bell returned in 2001 and played 161 games with the club this century, earning selection in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Players unlucky to miss include Michael Barlow, Troy Cook, Chris Mayne, Alex Pearce and Clive Waterhouse. – Nathan Schmook
 
Not quite sure how Modra gets into our team of the century here, given that technically he only played 11 games for us this century. Even when incorrectly including the year 2000, even Amiss has kicked more goals this century:

Best of the best: Your club's team of the century (so far), Part I - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1265075

B: Antoni Grover, Shane Parker, Roger Hayden
HB: Michael Johnson, Luke McParlin, Luke Ryan
C: Stephen Hill, David Mundy, Shaun McManus
HF: Michael Walters, Matthew Pavlich, Hayden Ballantyne
F: Jeff Farmer, Tony Modra, Justin Longmuir
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Nat Fyfe, Peter Bell
I/C: Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Paul Hasleby, Ryan Crowley
Sub: Lachie Neale

The Dockers' most successful team is the group that led it to the 2013 Grand Final, with 11 of those players represented here, including champion forward Pavlich, dual Brownlow medallist Fyfe, and Freo games record-holder Mundy, who are arguably the three greatest players to represent the club. Sandilands, Crowley and Neale are other club champions from that era to feature, with Neale playing 135 games as a Docker. The key forward roles were difficult, but Modra's 77 goals across 2000-01 get him in, with Longmuir as a third tall and back-up ruckman. Walters (365 goals), Ballantyne (254) and Farmer (224) sit second, third and fourth respectively on the club's all-time goalkickers list, filling out the forward line. Of the inaugural Dockers, Parker played 150 of his 238 games from 2000 onward, while wingman McManus played 170 of his 228. Triple club champion Bell returned in 2001 and played 161 games with the club this century, earning selection in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Players unlucky to miss include Michael Barlow, Troy Cook, Chris Mayne, Alex Pearce and Clive Waterhouse. – Nathan Schmook
Reckon we'll be adding 5-7 of the current squad to this in the next 10. If I were guessing:
Amiss
Young
Treacy
AP
Bolton
Clark
Jackson
 
Not quite sure how Modra gets into our team of the century here, given that technically he only played 11 games for us this century. Even when incorrectly including the year 2000, even Amiss has kicked more goals this century:




B: Antoni Grover, Shane Parker, Roger Hayden
HB: Michael Johnson, Luke McParlin, Luke Ryan
C: Stephen Hill, David Mundy, Shaun McManus
HF: Michael Walters, Matthew Pavlich, Hayden Ballantyne
F: Jeff Farmer, Tony Modra, Justin Longmuir
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Nat Fyfe, Peter Bell
I/C: Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Paul Hasleby, Ryan Crowley
Sub: Lachie Neale

The Dockers' most successful team is the group that led it to the 2013 Grand Final, with 11 of those players represented here, including champion forward Pavlich, dual Brownlow medallist Fyfe, and Freo games record-holder Mundy, who are arguably the three greatest players to represent the club. Sandilands, Crowley and Neale are other club champions from that era to feature, with Neale playing 135 games as a Docker. The key forward roles were difficult, but Modra's 77 goals across 2000-01 get him in, with Longmuir as a third tall and back-up ruckman. Walters (365 goals), Ballantyne (254) and Farmer (224) sit second, third and fourth respectively on the club's all-time goalkickers list, filling out the forward line. Of the inaugural Dockers, Parker played 150 of his 238 games from 2000 onward, while wingman McManus played 170 of his 228. Triple club champion Bell returned in 2001 and played 161 games with the club this century, earning selection in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Players unlucky to miss include Michael Barlow, Troy Cook, Chris Mayne, Alex Pearce and Clive Waterhouse. – Nathan Schmook

Just goes to show how little we've had in terms of tall forwards outside of Pav. Really puts into perspective how talented the current team is compared to previous Freo teams too
 

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