Opinion Hanging on too long

[King Huskii]

Worst mod ever.


Wait, wot

Nah you were better than Alikat

 

[dominguez]

My thoughts are this.
Athletes be it football players who want to win a premiership for Freo hold on too long and don't know when to quit and clubs aren't always assertive enough to make the decision for them as the board develops a personal relationship with them. It's feel good.

I absolutely respect some of our senior players and Fyfe has been an absolute champion of the game.

The aim is to win the premiership this year or there's no point in finding a team. I've asked myself will Freo win it on gf day or even make it to the gf with Fyfe, Omera, Banfield and to a lesser extent Walters regularly playing? In my opinion, no. They will turn the ball over and not make enough contests.

So why do they get picked and why are they still on the list. Yes we msy not have the best depth but they are treated as best 22. Short term they msy be able to produce but as the year goes on some of those listed names I believe will block development and cost us games.

I rate our list and think Walls is doing a solid job. It's more retention of older players whose skills and pace have fallen away. Some with injury concerns.

If I do a best 22 with those players listed in the side then replace them with the players who missed, I believe the other best 22 is just as good with scope to be better once the season finishes and finals begins.

Thoughts

You're not going to get every list management decision right.

The short answer is they're contracted.

At the end of 2022 we played finals but Logue, Acres, Meek, Tucker and Lobb left and Mundy retired. With that exodus we brought in O'Meara to add experience but instead of O'Meara we should have done more to retain Acres. Our list management has been great the last 5 or 6 years but that was an error.

The club decided that Walters and Fyfe deserve to go out on their own terms by giving them 2 year deals at the end of 2023. Both looked near the end last season but hopefully both can contribute this year.

Banfield is pure depth that is a big body and can play multiple roles, barring injuries he'll be at Peel most of the year.

 

[dominguez]

Surely Raz plays over Fyfe?

Depends on their form leading in to round one.

If Fyfe contributes in the Indigenous game and against Melbourne I think he'll play round one.

 

[dominguez]

Feels like the next priority on the Trade/Draft front should be some sort of Aish replacement. A utility player who can cover most positions on the field for just such an occasion.

A kind of jack of all trades but master of none.

Those guys tend to be made, not drafted. Aish, deBoer, Crowley, etc were drafted as elite juniors that became role players at AFL level. Roger Hayden was drafted as a forward and couldn't get a gig and was told you've got one chance in the back pocket to prove you've got it.

 

[King Huskii]

You're not going to get every list management decision right.

The short answer is they're contracted.

At the end of 2022 we played finals but Logue, Acres, Meek, Tucker and Lobb left and Mundy retired. With that exodus we brought in O'Meara to add experience but instead of O'Meara we should have done more to retain Acres. Our list management has been great the last 5 or 6 years but that was an error.

The club decided that Walters and Fyfe deserve to go out on their own terms by giving them 2 year deals at the end of 2023. Both looked near the end last season but hopefully both can contribute this year.

Banfield is pure depth that is a big body and can play multiple roles, barring injuries he'll be at Peel most of the year.

I get what you are saying but I feel those mentioned will be picked in front of other's who are younger and will only improve the more afl games they get. I feel JLO is scared to drop Fyfe and co

 

[theGav56]

I get what you are saying but I feel those mentioned will be picked in front of other's who are younger and will only improve the more afl games they get. I feel JLO is scared to drop Fyfe and co

That's pretty normal, and if it did happen I don't think we'll here the word dropped. Rested. Managed. Niggles .Retired.

 

[BStaff17]

Mundy went out at the right time.

Still playing good enough footy, available every week and contributing enough

Fyfe & Walters are limping to the finish line its sad but i dont think we can win the flag with both in the team. We might get away with one of them.

But plenty of premierships have been won previously by teams who have had to cut a veteran/long serving player just before the Premiership weather it was the off-season before or in-season.

 

[ozzie69]

There is no doubt that a few of our older guys are well past their prime. In recent years we have been such a young group that having a few older guys made a bit of sense. Hopefully we are reaching the tipping point where the next generation are ready to take over and these older guys can be phased out - should definitely be the last year for Fyfe and Walters.

 

[King Huskii]

There is no doubt that a few of our older guys are well past their prime. In recent years we have been such a young group that having a few older guys made a bit of sense. Hopefully we are reaching the tipping point where the next generation are ready to take over and these older guys can be phased out - should definitely be the last year for Fyfe and Walters.

This is what I'm implying.