News New Captain for 2023 - Alex Pearce

[Snuffaluphagus]

Pearce officially captain

'It was unanimous across the board' | Peter Bell

Hear from Peter Bell following the announcement of Alex Pearce as captain.

www.fremantlefc.com.au

 

[BStaff17]

The interview by JL was very revealing this evening. Pearce hasn’t done anything wrong by playing through the pain barrier - my issue is with the match committee that keeps forcing him to front up.
Let the guy go away and get right for next year. Give him a fair crack for gods sake!
Why on earth are they forcing him to play if he can’t train?

Longer term, we really can not knowingly go into next season with such an injury prone player as captain. It’s not fair on him not the rest of the team.
Pearce should focus on getting his body right and that’s all. Find his best form and he’s a B22 lock. Albeit I would like a game plan built around him not disposing of the ball by foot where possible as I don’t think he was ever a great kick even fully fit.

I reckon AP feels he has missed so much footy in his career.

He probably just wants to play and not sacrifice any more games on the sideline if he can get out there.

 

[Dockeroo]

I’m a big believer in your captain being a midfielder.
Of course there are good exceptions but at least in the midfield, your leader is always in the thick of the action.
There’s a good reason the majority of captains are mids. Bont, Merrett, Miller, Cripps, Dawson, Dangerfield, Toby Greene

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Just some examples currently. Those are all serial AA contenders, all in the top 30 players in the AFL.

Selwood, one of the great captains in recent times, got it aged 23 and was always there to put in a big hit or make an inspired play when the chips were down for Geelong.
Cotchin another great example.
Lockdown Key defenders don’t handle the ball more than 7 or 8 times a game.
The KPD That are captains like Andrews, Moore and Sicily are mainly playmakers that are key parts of their teams attacking plan.
Our captain should be in our best handful of players. His place in the side should never be in question when fit.
It’s never been an easier decision to make Caleb Serong

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Caleb Serong

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the captain in 2024.

 

[Dockeroo]

I reckon AP feels he has missed so much footy in his career.

He probably just wants to play and not sacrifice any more games on the sideline if he can get out there.

That’s all well and good. I can fully understand why Alex might think like that. But is that the best thing for Fremantle football club?

 

[Silencer83]

I reckon AP feels he has missed so much footy in his career.

He probably just wants to play and not sacrifice any more games on the sideline if he can get out there.

Which is why it really should be on the club to take the decision out of his hands.

Playing injured is not helping anyone.

 

[Joao]

Put me down as a vote against McGovern. WTF is wrong with our supporters!!!

Our expectations rose last year and most aren't able to adjust them for new data.

 

[G Mus]

Not badly injured, just cooked

 

[Joao]

You're not there for your teammates thought Alex, you keep letting the bad guys have the ball.

Take a breather.

 

[Midnite65]

Not badly injured, just cooked

Should have rested him a few weeks ago and played Hamling but I guess Hamling was not fully fit either then.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Regardless of opinions on form and output, the guy's body has been through the ringer the last 8 years and as Captain, he is clearly doing whatever possible to be on the field for his team mates (the dude drank bone broth to try to get healthy...) and physically hurting to try to do his best for the club. Hamling possibly would have been better a month or two ago when we had Cox to give AP a chance to heal up but until Cox is back out there, it's irrelevant because there is no way we're better off with anyone else from Peel playing instead.

I would hope, at the very least moving forward (and to be fair, most have done so already following JL's presser), everyone can recognise Pearce is sacrificing himself for the club and dial back at least a little bit on the opinions. If not to recognise a bit of respect for a club captain then at least to show a bit of compassion when we know someone with a close relationship to Alex is on here. It's an opinion board and I wont censor opinions but sometimes it pays to be nice

 

[poshman]

Regardless of opinions on form and output, the guy's body has been through the ringer the last 8 years and as Captain, he is clearly doing whatever possible to be on the field for his team mates (the dude drank bone broth to try to get healthy...) and physically hurting to try to do his best for the club. Hamling possibly would have been better a month or two ago when we had Cox to give AP a chance to heal up but until Cox is back out there, it's irrelevant because there is no way we're better off with anyone else from Peel playing instead.

I would hope, at the very least moving forward (and to be fair, most have done so already following JL's presser), everyone can recognise Pearce is sacrificing himself for the club and dial back at least a little bit on the opinions. If not to recognise a bit of respect for a club captain then at least to show a bit of compassion when we know someone with a close relationship to Alex is on here. It's an opinion board and I wont censor opinions but sometimes it pays to be nice

I think the majority here have been nice to the guy.

I do think we would be better off with him rested and Chapman in the team. If Chapman can't play let Ryan play tall and hughes can shuffle over and bring Wilson back. We have played with two of the three out before and can do again. Especially as the season is over.

Has he been through a lot with his body. Yes. Does he sacrifice himself more for the club than others? Hard to know. Should the club play him so out of form and injured? My opinion is no we shouldn't.

And the poster who has a relationship with him shouldn't be upset about that opinion.

Have I thought he was a bad pick for captain from the moment he was announced? Yes. I have detailed those reasons very fairly.

He is woefully out of form and if he is playing then the moment they cross the line, they are saying they can play and they will judged by their play.

The poster has not always been nice, although seem to have been better recently.

Hopefully he is not captain next year. And we all better hope there is a plan to move beyond him as sadly due to injuries he doesn't seem to have more than a handful of good games in him each season. He was in his prime a very good stopper. To have that back would be nice.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I think the majority here have been nice to the guy.

I do think we would be better off with him rested and Chapman in the team. If Chapman can't play let Ryan play tall and hughes can shuffle over and bring Wilson back. We have played with two of the three out before and can do again. Especially as the season is over.

Has he been through a lot with his body. Yes. Does he sacrifice himself more for the club than others? Hard to know. Should the club play him so out of form and injured? My opinion is no we shouldn't.

And the poster who has a relationship with him shouldn't be upset about that opinion.

Have I thought he was a bad pick for captain from the moment he was announced? Yes. I have detailed those reasons very fairly.

He is woefully out of form and if he is playing then the moment they cross the line, they are saying they can play and they will judged by their play.

The poster has not always been nice, although seem to have been better recently.

Hopefully he is not captain next year. And we all better hope there is a plan to move beyond him as sadly due to injuries he doesn't seem to have more than a handful of good games in him each season. He was in his prime a very good stopper. To have that back would be nice.

I think anyone would get upset knowing someone they care about has given a club a lot, suffered a lot of injuries and is barely getting through games but is criticised like he doesnt care or is no good routinely. It would drive me spare. Having said that, I have pulled up Kenyan repeatedly on how they respond and I think arguments on captaincy should be separated from form, it is more the form I'm talking about. Captaincy is mostly a separate discussion as indicated by your opinion prior to this year and to be honest wasnt really thinking of you making that post. I'm not saying not to have opinions or criticism, just at least be a little bit respectful in how they are present which I honestly think you do

I think your opinion on his form on last year is very harsh, he was at least a good AFL player last year

 

[poshman]

I think anyone would get upset knowing someone they care about has given a club a lot, suffered a lot of injuries and is barely getting through games but is criticised like he doesnt care or is no good routinely. It would drive me spare. I have pulled up Kenyan repeatedly and I think arguments on captaincy should be separated from form, it is more the form I'm talking about. Captaincy is mostly a separate discussion as indicated by your opinion prior to this year.

I think your opinion on his form on last year is very harsh, he was at least a good AFL player last year

When did I say he wasn't good? I said his form was dropping away last season when it came to his strength - stopping players.

His other weaknesses he has had throughout his career but they were covered over by his ability to stop his opponent and come and kill other contests for his other backs.

This season he has been poor fairly routinely. The number of good games could be counted on one hand.

I agree the not caring and the politics or appearance stuff is silly. Although I wish they would all stop any talk of politics as you cannot talk with them or to them it will always invite criticism.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

When did I say he wasn't good? I said his form was dropping away last season when it came to his strength - stopping players.

His other weaknesses he has had throughout his career but they were covered over by his ability to stop his opponent and come and kill other contests for his other backs.

This season he has been poor fairly routinely. The number of good games could be counted on one hand.

I agree the not caring and the politics or appearance stuff is silly. Although I wish they would all stop any talk of politics as you cannot talk with them or to them it will always invite criticism.

Sorry for editing my post as you responded, I did try to clear some things.

I took "handle of good games a season" to include last year as well, which I see as harsh

 

[muzzington]

Although I wish they would all stop any talk of politics as you cannot talk with them or to them it will always invite criticism.

You first.

 

[poshman]

You first.

I talk about it in a politics thread and am happy to have discussion. So you are not making sense mate.

 

[poshman]

Sorry for editing my post as you responded, I did try to clear some things.

I took "handle of good games a season" to include last year as well, which I see as harsh

Got it - No I think he was good to very good for most of the year last year and his form started to drop away from round 12, I think he started to carry increasing soreness after the Melbourne game.

 

[muzzington]

I talk about it in a politics thread and am happy to have discussion. So you are not making sense mate.

I meant in this thread.

 

[poshman]

I meant in this thread.

Where have I talked about it here? Other than to say it shouldn't affect how we think of someones form and that I wish players wouldn't talk about it when they are representing the club?

If you can show me where I will edit or delete the post and apologise. Genuinely.

 

[muzzington]

Where have I talked about it here? Other than to say it shouldn't affect how we think of someones form and that I wish players wouldn't talk about it when they are representing the club?

If you can show me where I will edit or delete the post and apologise. Genuinely.

No idea. It just annoyed me that it was brought up so much in this thread when it's more a criticism of the club as a whole.

Alex hasn't set the world on fire but some of the heat he's getting is unfair.

 

[poshman]

No idea. It just annoyed me that it was brought up so much in this thread when it's more a criticism of the club as a whole.

ok - thanks for acknowledging that. As mentioned I said it in reply to those adding it to some critique of his form and I said it and appearance don't have anything to do with it.

 

[muzzington]

ok - thanks for acknowledging that. As mentioned I said it in reply to those adding it to some critique of his form and I said it and appearance don't have anything to do with it.

I'll just blame Facebook.

 

[ignoramus]

ok - thanks for acknowledging that. As mentioned I said it in reply to those adding it to some critique of his form and I said it and appearance don't have anything to do with it.

In muzzington's defence, I thought exactly the same thing. Saying players (or even BFers) should keep the politics out of it is bringing politics into it. I'm not going to track down the precise post, but I was struck a few days ago by you bringing that point back up when the discussion had moved on, and I thought to myself, "Well stop introducing talk of politics then!"

Because I can compartmentalise when necessary, even if I disagree with the general principle, that's the last I'll speak of it here, regardless of however you respond.

 

[Van_Dyke]

That’s all well and good. I can fully understand why Alex might think like that. But is that the best thing for Fremantle football club?

i mean the club clearly knows what his body is like at the moment, and they think that it is. question the medical staff imo on this, not the player himself.

 

[Silencer83]

I respect your opinion Snuff and I hope you don't feel my posts have been crossing any lines.

I too never thought AP should be captain. Even last season I felt the Brayshaw / Serong pairing had more leadership displayed on field. For example Serong being the one who called everyone in for Hayden Young

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's first career goal or Brayshaw's run down tackles with ferocity.

A player being out there unfit or injured invites critique on form. Where that bridges over is when the critique takes aim at the person personally.

AP has not played well or even satisfactory for the majority of the season. He had an excellent game on Franklin first time around, whether Franklin had flu or whatever is actually irrelevant because he chose to play through it. That was point that I was addressing with Kenyan, Alex being injured does not excuse him being beaten by Franklin last weekend. Franklin has been well held by the majority of defences this season.

Fremantle's entire backline is down on form and Alex gets more criticism than most because he is the captain. That goes with the job.

Ziebell for North was horribly out of form last season and the exaggerations were rolled out of worst captain in history etc.

If you can't stand the heat captaincy isn't for you.

Kenyan only seems to come on here to defend Alex, and appears to be a Hawks supporter, would it not be easier for them to avoid our board altogether if seeing their friend criticised affects them so greatly? Would that not be more effective than them expecting an entire fan base to censor their emotions and thoughts to accommodate them?

If they choose to come here are they not consenting to see our posts? This the Fremantle Football Club board not the main board.

Kenyan has been a lot better about not playing the poster and responding to points rather than attacking the fanbase and I have no problem with their presence. However they are just as blind to Alex's faults and performance as anyone who rags on Pearce, Henry, Banfield etc and is blind to the good things they do.

 

[muzzington]

In muzzington's defence, I thought exactly the same thing. Saying players (or even BFers) should keep the politics out of it is bringing politics into it. I'm not going to track down the precise post, but I was struck a few days ago by you bringing that point back up when the discussion had moved on, and I thought to myself, "Well stop introducing talk of politics then!"

Because I can compartmentalise when necessary, even if I disagree with the general principle, that's the last I'll speak of it here, regardless of however you respon

Explained it better than I could.