Who will be better in 2025? Fremantle or Western Bulldogs?

[Taper]

Both sides have been middle of the road in recent years, and despite having strong playing lists there are question marks over Longmuir and Beveridge.

Which side do you think will be better this year?

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

I think Freo are primed this year, and with a kind fixture will make top 8, possibly top four.

 

[fnerd]

Bulldogs are primed , easy fixture , talent on every line , top 4 beckons

 

[Mr Meow]

Both teams are primed, easy fixtures, full of talent and should make top 4.

 

[Macca180]

Freo.

Shouldn't lose at home.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Freo.

A lot of teams that lose an elimination final (Dogs) inevitably flop the following year.

I have grave concerns for Longmuir if he misses finals this year. It’s actually hard to comprehend them missing twice in a row (2023 and 2024) with their elite talent.

 

[Jezzitizle]

Both could be premiers or miss finals.

Lots of talent, and lots to prove.

Plenty of rhetoric coming out of Freo this preseason, so the club is very confident.

JL wouldn’t survive missing finals.

 

[Sirlemsip]

As a neutral I think this will be Freo's year.
My ladder predictor had Freo finishing in 2nd behind Brisbane, with the Dogs in the bottom half of the 8.

It should be another extremely close season though, so will be very dependent on things like injuries that happen through the year.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

JL wouldn’t survive missing finals.

Might be a blessing in disguise for Freo fans. At least you’ll be certain that JL is the wrong man if Freo miss finals, and you can then appoint a better coach.

I would expect Freo to make the 8.

 

[Robroy22]

Might be a blessing in disguise for Freo fans. At least you’ll be certain that JL is the wrong man if Freo miss finals, and you can then appoint a better coach.

I would expect Freo to make the 8.

Freo should be all over the other Longmire

 

[Mr Meow]

Freo should be all over the other Longmire

They need less u's and more e's in their Long coaches.

 

[Dazb86]

Freo should probably win most games at home. Can't say that about us to be honest.

 

[Philth]

Freo v Bulldogs Grand Final.

Dogs by 2 points.

Hayden Young wins the Norm Smith. And Brownlow.

 

[Mr Meow]

Freo v Bulldogs Grand Final.

Dogs by 2 points.

Hayden Young wins the Norm Smith. And Brownlow.

So close to perfect.

Young will win the Coleman as well.

 

[Philth]

Being serious though, Young is quickly becoming my favourite oppo player.

He's a gun.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Freo top 4
If they don't they might as well merge with West Coast.

 

[Deadly Darcy]

Freo has an absolute gem in Josh Treacy. We obviously have one in Sam Darcy.

On paper our team has more experience and should be better but I can easily see Freo passing us if they have Treacy on the park for the full year and Amiss comes on.

Our trade and draft period got us nothing that will immediately help so we are solely reliant on internal development to move forward. That usually doesn’t cut it for AFL level.

I think Freo make more ground and we’ll continue to be just thereabouts..

 

[Clive Kepler]

Neither team will lose a game.

 

[Freomaniac]

Freo.

Shouldn't lose at home.

I am a dockers fan. So.... Knowing my luck, they will lose home games versus sides they should beat, it's been a regular theme since I have followed them since 2002.

There's always a pattern here.

I just remind long time dockers fans about the Chris Connolly coaching era of 2002 to 2007.

Made finals in 2003, misses out on finals In 2004-5 and made a preliminary final in 2006.

Out side of the Ross Lyon coaching era of 2012 to 2015, dockers can't make finals for at least 2 years in a row while most average non Vic sides Can

 

[Piggy Smalls]

This is an interesting question.

Probably the two biggest underachievers last season, but I feel like the gap between Bulldogs' best and worst is far bigger. Freo lost a lot of close games. I can't really think of a game bar the first derby where we weren't still at least a chance of winning at 3QT.

You could probably throw Gold Coast into the conversation to make it even more interesting. All similarly placed for mine.

I'll say Freo with my heart though.

 

[rye]

surprised freo are winning the poll.

longmuir is a dud coach who tries his hardest to be a poor man's simon goodwin.

beveridge for his flaws managed a transition in gameplan pretty well last season. can see footscray pushing on with their back end of the year form in 2025 (sans the finals loss).

 

[Piggy Smalls]

surprised freo are winning the poll.

longmuir is a dud coach who tries his hardest to be a poor man's simon goodwin.

beveridge for his flaws managed a transition in gameplan pretty well last season. can see footscray pushing on with their back end of the year form in 2025 (sans the finals loss).

By 'a poor man's Simon Goodwin' are you suggesting he sniffs glue instead of crystal meth?

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Both sides have been middle of the road in recent years, and despite having strong playing lists there are question marks over Longmuir and Beveridge.

Which side do you think will be better this year?

Freo for me should be big improvers

Bolton for me is the missing link

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Freo for me should be big improvers

Bolton for me is the missing link

'Bolton is the missing link' is gonna be a fun drinking game in the early rounds.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

'Bolton is the missing link' is gonna be a fun drinking game in the early rounds.

There's definitely a poorly thought out BT quip about him being a bolt on improvement