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10 things we learnt from West Coast, Fremantle practice match including the value of a fit Nat Fyfe and Elliot Yeo’s dominant day
The value of a fit Nat Fyfe? Elliot Yeo’s dominant day in the midfield? And is the Harley Reid hype real? We reveal the 10 things we learnt from Fremantle and West Coast’s pre-season clash.Follow
@ByElizaReilly
5 min read
February 25, 2024 - 12:42AM
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Pre-season derby: 10 things we learnt
Pre-season has officially hit another gear as West Coast and Fremantle clashed at Mineral Resources Park.
The Dockers had the better of the Eagles, prevailing 14.14 (98) to 5.16 (46).
Here are the 10 things we learnt.
1. Nat Fyfe could be devastating for Fremantle this year based on one thing and one thing alone – football smarts. Fyfe’s football IQ was on full display in the first quarter when he received the ball in traffic and dished it off to Sam Switkowski in space who snapped accurately for Fremantle’s third goal. That give and get mentality is what the Dockers missed sorely last year from retired midfield great David Mundy. It was also an improvement on Fyfe’s first effort when a ‘don’t argue’ gone wrong ended in a turnover and Eagles scoring shot. If Fyfe can draw numbers on the inside, it allows his teammates to sit wider in space and instantly become more effective when they get on the end of the veteran’s decision making.
Jaeger O'Meara was used on a wing at times. Picture: Getty Images
2. It shaped as one of Fremantle’s biggest selection queries this pre-season and it appears the Dockers’ wing roulette is still in full swing. Liam Henry’s departure has opened up a spot out wide. But an oversupply of inside midfielders forced Fremantle to get creative against West Coast. At the opening bounce, it was Nathan O’Driscoll and Matthew Johnson who started on the wings. At the start of the second, it was Andrew Brayshaw and Jaeger O’Meara, both traditionally inside midfielders. Jeremy Sharp was a supposedly late withdrawal with illness which caused a tactical reshuffle. The Dockers will fight hard to make room for a surplus of midfielders but the risk they run is lacking the qualities that a specialist wingman supplies – someone who can run end to end all day. Throwing an inside midfielder out there is fixing one selection problem but potentially creating another elsewhere.
Tom Emmett looks promising. Picture: Getty Images
3. Tom Emmett is in seat 1A when it comes to Lachie Schultz’s vacant position up forward. Emmett was one of Fremantle’s most lively in the opening half, kicking an excellent goal and just scraping the post from a set shot. What also stood out was his work rate, getting himself into position on the lead around the ground and his ferocity around the ball. Didn’t quite finish his work as well as he could’ve but he’s getting himself into the right spots and playing with vigour.
4. Fremantle’s half-backs are going to be a headache for opposition clubs this season. Hayden Young’s move to the midfield threatened to rob the Dockers of considerable drive out of defence but fans need not worry because Jordan Clark and James Aish look set to form a formidable pairing. Clark was everywhere all at once, his overlap running a highlight as Fremantle attempted a more daring game style this season. While after playing almost every position except ruck, Aish looks like a natural on the flank with his composure important when West Coast applied pressure.
5. Fremantle’s three-pronged forward line looks set to take the next step this year. The Dockers have undertaken a mountain of work to improve their connection in attack after it let them down at stages last year. And a large body of that work focused on Luke Jackson, Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy. Pleasingly, the trio kicked seven goals between them on a productive day at the office. Amiss kicked three in a single quarter to underline his progression into an AFL key forward. Jackson kicked two including a delightful dribble kick from the pocket in the fourth quarter. And Treacy kicked two. Albeit the Eagles were missing Jeremy McGovern, the combination is growing in confidence.
6. West Coast will ask a lot of Bailey Williams this season…again. Just before bounce down we learnt that Eagles recruit Matt Flynn had injured his hamstring tendon during the club’s captain’s run on Friday. A knick to the tendon is never good news and in some cases means surgery. The Eagles are still assessing the extent of the injury but you’d think Flynn definitely misses round one and probably longer. The news scuppers West Coast’s plans to send Williams up forward. The good news is that Williams rucked solo the majority of last year and as a result, looks more comfortable in the number one role. But the bad news is that West Coast’s prized recruit is out of action for the foreseeable future, terrible timing given just how good he’s looked this pre-season. You can never have enough ruck depth.
7. There’s been a lot of talk about whether Andrew Gaff will feature in Adam Simpson’s round one side. The answer appears to be yes. The veteran wasn’t the Eagles best but he wasn’t their worst either. Gaff presented well and gave West Coast an outlet out of the defence. He doesn’t do a lot with the footy but when he had it, it meant that Fremantle didn’t.
8. Why not both? Ryan Maric and Jake Waterman have given Adam Simpson plenty to ponder after the pair both had an impact against the Dockers. With Jack Darling still to come back from a hamstring injury, it was thought that there would only be room for one of them playing as a third tall supporting Oscar Allen. But after both showed glimpses against Fremantle, it’s worth considering whether there’s a place for both of them come round one. Maric is a natural footballer and his skills and his positioning were good. While Waterman is a genuine workhorse and helped the Eagles keep their structure up forward.
9. The Harley Reid hype wasn’t the headline act despite the number one pick making his first unofficial appearance for West Coast…although he would’ve drawn a fair chunk of the 5000 fans. Starting in the midfield at the first centre bounce, Reid had a few nice touches around the ground. The Eagles sent him to play on Nat Fyfe at some stoppages which is all part of the learning process. And Reid took the game on, most notably playing on from a kick-in, running through three Dockers only to turn the kick over. Then there was Reid’s ‘welcome to the AFL’ moment in the third quarter when he attempted to fend off Andrew Brayshaw only to be brought to ground in a tackle. Reid sent a scare through the Eagles camp late in the fourth quarter when he was undone by cramp.
10. A fit Elliot Yeo immediately changes the dynamic of West Coast. But he needs more of his teammates to lift to his level. Yeo’s intensity was a cut above and it quickly became clear how much the Eagles had been missing their midfield brute. His speed and power allows him to break away from stoppages cleanly, the highlight coming in the second quarter when he hit Jake Waterman on the lead from a clearance. Capped his day with a goal on the run in the final quarter.
