Freo - what are people's thoughts

[Adz]

One of the first times in a while they haven't been in the bookies top 4 or 5 for the flag.
What are the expectations internally from the club?
How do people think they will go?

Do they have what it takes to be a top 8 team?

 

[WCE57]

It will be interesting to see how other teams deal with Sandilands this year.
If he hits top form, he gives them huge advantage in the middle. Him, Pav and some exciting young talent. See them sneaking into the 8, if they don't have a considerable injury toll.

 

[PAFC_1870]

Like most teams, they stay fit, they can make the 8.

Most likely just miss for me though.

 

[Blueinblood]

Since when is 4 a bag?

 

[Zarrix]

Going by the Freo way of things, they will continue to lose games they should win and vice versa. Going by that logic, it should be their year this year

But seriously, I think they will be around 12th-13th. Too many inexperienced players, and an obviously poor club culture. Although the closet cleaning last year will help them in eradicating that one would think.

 

[Riggy1]

Since when is 4 a bag?

Sine the AFL. and Carlton supporters said it was. So yesterday

 

[jimmy35]

I suspect they'll be a tipsters nightmare .

 

[Wizard]

Two weeks ago i thought 14th-15th but i'm more optimistic now. Not sure why but i think somewhere between 10th-12th which is still shit but much better then bottom 3 as i previously thought.

 

[Zarrix]

I suspect they'll be a tipsters nightmare .

Like every other year! I don't think that tipsters will learn that Reverse Psychology is required when considering Freo games. Then again, most likely, when tipsters finally do use Reverse Psychology, we will find that it will be required to reverse it again

Confusingly stated catch-22 I think

 

[Riggy1]

Like every other year! I don't think that tipsters will learn that Reverse Psychology is required when considering Freo games. Then again, most likely, when tipsters finally do use Reverse Psychology, we will find that it will be required to reverse it again

Confusingly stated catch-22 I think

Or you could just tip them all one way or the other.

Just tip them to go 0-22.

Youll get more right then wrong

 

[Eastern Rangers]

People drawing to much into the preason as usual?

 

[Silvagnis]

Fremantle have more talent than their 2008 results suggests.

They'll get Hasleby back and have recruited Hill who should play this year.

Suban could play a dozen game like Steven Browne did last year.

The proof will be in the pudding if they want to play Tarrant as a defender and Pavlich in the midfield.

Any other forwards coming through?

Their depth is the query and might be found wanting.

Their back up to Sandilands is Bradley.

Sandilands will tire if he plays every game on the ball and Kepler doesn't stand up.

 

[Ron The Bear]

Undertaking a much-needed rebuild. The exodus of Bell, Farmer, McManus, Johnson, Black and the Carr brothers represents a loss to the club of more than 1500 games' experience. No matter how good the kids are, that's going to hurt.

 

[Belnakor]

one thing you should take into account, is that yes, we lost like 1500 games of experience, but in the same breath, we also lost some genuine deadweight. This wasn't a rebuild where we got rid of a few guys who could have played a year or two more, because we were doing a total rebuild. We got rid of guys who were completely underperforming... so effectively we'll get some of a boost because guys like M.Carr and that dog J.Carr aren't dogging us... but we'll be really inconsistant and we won't make the 8.. we'll just be better than last year.

 

[VolgaBoatman]

Best position -> sneak into 8th
Likely Position ->11th or 12th

A lot will depend on the best players staying healthy, as the depth isn't there.

I would like to think that Freo are better than Melbourne and the Eagles so hopefully won't be competing for the wooden spoon, but if Sandilands and Pavlich get injured for significant periods then its possible.

 

[Magpie03]

one thing you should take into account, is that yes, we lost like 1500 games of experience, but in the same breath, we also lost some genuine deadweight. This wasn't a rebuild where we got rid of a few guys who could have played a year or two more, because we were doing a total rebuild. We got rid of guys who were completely underperforming... so effectively we'll get some of a boost because guys like M.Carr and that dog J.Carr aren't dogging us... but we'll be really inconsistant and we won't make the 8.. we'll just be better than last year.

I have to ask are you serious - 1500 games? I will be honest Im not going to even try and disprove you figures because I think your having a lend of all of us.

Im happy to be proven wrong but thats in you court - As for thoughts I expect you to around the 8 despite losing so may players.

 

[Scotland]

You never know what to think with Freo. When they look like they're on the up, they falter, and when they look like they've got no hope they occasionally turn it on.

If Freo had the same list in 2009 as they had in 2008, I'd expect them to either miraculously improve out of sight, or (if possible) get worse. Given the list has drammatically changed I really have no idea what to expect, but it should be interesting anyway. They'll probably get pumped a few times as happens with inexperienced sides, good or otherwise.

Belnakor makes a good point though, Freo have lost a ton of experience but also moved on a few spuds. They'll miss Bell, and to a lesser extent Farmer, but while they were important at stages throughout their careers, Carr(s), Black, McManus, Johnson & even Warnock weren't exactly holding the side together in 2008.

 

[Kapow!!!]

My thoughts are that if I had a beer every time I was enraged by what I saw when i watched my team play I'd have been killed by liver disease a LONG time ago and I suspect this year is going to be much more the same...though with a slight bit of optimism (aka 2002).

That's my thoughts at the end of 2008...I'll wait until the season is weeks old before I re-evaluate that.

 

[blues4flag]

Is Fremantle as experienced as some would have you believe?

Analyzing both sides played on the weekend:

Fremantle's 23+ players on the weekend (from their squad of 30):

Dean Solomon 29
Antoni Grover 29
Roger Hayden 28
Chris Tarrant 28
Paul Hasleby 27
Luke McPharlin 27
Matthew Pavlich 27
Scott Thornton 26
Daniel Gilmore 26
Aaron Sandilands 26
Brett Peake 25
Ryan Crowley 25
Steven Dodd 25
Josh Head 25
Andrew Browne 24
Michael Johnson 24
Paul Duffield 24
Byron Schammer 23
David Mundy 23
Kepler Bradley 23
Ryan Murphy 23


Carlton's 23+ players named in our squad of 29:

Nick Stevens 29
Brendan Fevola 28
Ryan Houlihan 26
Simon Wiggins 26
Jarrad Waite 26
Chris Judd 25
Bret Thornton 25
Richard Hadley 25
Kade Simpson 24
Brad Fisher 24
Cameron Cloke 24
Chris Johnson 23

21 of Freo's 30 were aged 23 or over. 10 of them were 26 or over.

12 of Carlton's 29 were aged 23 or over. Only 5 of them 26 or over.


Obviously not all of those players listed would be in their side's best 22. Though you'd think, all fit, a third of the Dockers' 22 would be made up of 26+ year olds.

 

[Flemy]

Probably 11-12. They have a very young and talented midfield and they are going to develope together as a team which will put them in a good position for the future but the inexperiance means that they will loose more close ones than they'll win and the're not going to be very competitive against the top teams like Geelong and Hawthorn.

Saying that i feel that although they may not raise up the ladder more than 1-2 places they will have a much better year than last.

 

[jonoman89]

10-12

 

[Ron The Bear]

Belnakor makes a good point though, Freo have lost a ton of experience but also moved on a few spuds. They'll miss Bell, and to a lesser extent Farmer, but while they were important at stages throughout their careers, Carr(s), Black, McManus, Johnson & even Warnock weren't exactly holding the side together in 2008.

In a lot of cases those spuds were considered by the selectors to be better options than the young blokes, who'll now be expected to step up without the settling influence of the experienced players.

IMO Freo is solid bottom-four material. It's a case of stepping backward in order to move forward. Everyone can be excused for showing optimism at this time of year though.

 

[Ripper]

one thing you should take into account, is that yes, we lost like 1500 games of experience, but in the same breath, we also lost some genuine deadweight. This wasn't a rebuild where we got rid of a few guys who could have played a year or two more, because we were doing a total rebuild. We got rid of guys who were completely underperforming... so effectively we'll get some of a boost because guys like M.Carr and that dog J.Carr aren't dogging us... but we'll be really inconsistant and we won't make the 8.. we'll just be better than last year.

Exactly right, Our form was better after most of those blokes retired . The only losses from the team that denied the Pies a top 4 spot in round 22 are J. Farmer, J. Carr & Mark Johnson.

Easily covered by Pavlich , Tarrant , Haselby , Hill , Suban , Soloman , Peake , Gilmore & Dodd.

 

[hawks_time]

Obviously not all of those players listed would be in their side's best 22. Though you'd think, all fit, a third of the Dockers' 22 would be made up of 26+ year olds.

Who cares how old they are as long as they get the job done? I'm sick of BFs obsession with youth.

 

[Moo]

Under Harvey we are a work in progress.

What I am expecting in 2009 is to be top 5 in clearances ...an area which has dogged us since inception. If we can get that ball out of the middle and quickly ...it will be interesting to see how Pavlich goes as he is a wonderful 1 on 1 player.

We look like we have really found some solid kids and all we can do now is selectively throw them in and monitor their workloads.

I get the feeling 2009 for us is more about setting up 2010.

Our list is reasonably thin though, I mean if McPharlin does not get up for round 1 - we look exposed ...however if McPharlin is there we are solid down back. We rely so much on Pavlich, Sandilands and McPharlin structure wise.

It will be an exciting year but as we are not in the class of a Geelong or Hawks - it aint going to finish as I want it too anyway.