Gary Buckenara analyses Fremantle’s list after the 2017 season
FREMANTLE suffered consecutive 100-point thrashings at the end of the season, which had many declaring their list the worst in the AFL. But is that really the case?
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FREMANTLE and coach Ross Lyon have a history of trading for players from rival clubs rather than investing in the draft and it’s time for that to stop, for now.
The Dockers need to invest in the draft to bring in top-end talent to replace the stars it has lost — Matthew Pavlich and Luke McPharlin — and those set to retire in the next year or two like Aaron Sandilands, Michael Johnson, David Mundy and Hayden Ballantyne.
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The challenge and courage it takes to build a list via the draft is to understand and accept the players you draft now can help you in three years, rather than straight away like a player from a rival club.
Ross needs to understand that this is the right call.
The way forward for Fremantle is to make tough decisions on some of the club’s experienced players and those who have been around for years like Danyle Pearce, Nick Suban, Matt Taberner and even Michael Apeness.
Clear out the players who won’t be in the club’s premiership model and take a bunch of picks to the draft for the next two years.
This year’s draft is an even one, but next year’s is likely to be the next superdraft and the Dockers can set up their next era from there.
Stop topping up with fringe players or C-graders from rival clubs.
The reason they struggled so much late was because of the injury toll and the list simply does not have the depth, despite having those experienced role players on the list, at the moment to cover for missing stars.
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The way to get that depth though isn’t by grabbing an experienced C-grade player or two from an opposition club.
Fremantle needs to develop their own because these young kids will likely to develop into better players, particularly if they’re taken with early picks, than a fringe player from a rival club.
Connor Blakely is a good example of this.
He was basically a consistent best 22 player this year and his development went through the roof and became one of the club’s best on-ballers.
This is exactly what I’m talking about in giving young players a go rather than role players from rival clubs.
On the surface, given the results at the end of the season with consecutive 100-point losses, it would appear the Fremantle list is in deep trouble, but that’s not actually the case — it’s not panic stations.
The list is a lot better than that, it just hasn’t had a lot of luck with injuries in the past two years, which has exacerbated the issues with the list and exposed holes.
But when it’s fully fit — and Nat Fyfe and Sandilands are the big ones — it can be competitive.
Look at the midfield with Fyfe, Mundy, Lachie Neale, the Hill brothers, Blakely, Ed Langdon, Lachie Weller, and with Sandilands in the ruck and Harley Bennell as the wildcard who can be an A-grader if he can now stay on the park.
That The midfield actually has some potency to it, and if all fit and firing will make Fremantle a very competitive team.
Down back I really like Griffin Logue as a young, developing player who I believe can become a good key defender alongside Joel Hamling, but hopefully with another big-bodied big man to help them in the future.
Alex Pearce has shown good signs but was injured for basically the whole season.
Luke Ryan can then be free to be the medium defender who can play that intercept-marking role that is so crucial now.
While I want to see Fremantle invest in the draft I wouldn’t be opposed to it asking the question of Aliir Aliir and Sydney.
He would be basically a read-made replacement for Michael Johnson down back as that tall defender who can intercept mark and create off halfback.
He would probably come at a reasonable price too — I’d offer a third-round pick and see what the Swans say — given he has played NEAFL basically all season.
He went to the Swans from WA, so being in more familiar surroundings might help.
The Dockers appear set to land Greater Western Sydney halfback Nathan Wilson, but for me he wouldn’t really be a priority for what this list needs.
While he is a good player, the priority for Fremantle should be talls.
What he does do, though, is add leg speed, and he really likes to run and create so he should add some dash off that half-back line.
How the Dockers get the deal done will be interesting as they don’t have a second-round pick this year.
It could cost them a second-rounder in next year’s draft, although I’d be very hesitant to give any 2018 picks up for next year given the strength of the draft and the fact Fremantle needs to rebuild.
They should also land Gold Coast small forward Brandon Matera, which is an OK move.
He’s not a star, but Hayden Ballantyne won’t play forever so he’ll be that small forward replacement.
He shouldn’t cost too much, perhaps a third-round pick.
WHAT THEY NEED
The club is still feeling the loss of Pavlich.
Cam McCarthy had a disappointing season and will need to put in a big pre-season to increase his engine and Shane Kersten will benefit when he’s the third tall rather than the second one.
Key position players must be a focus in the draft, particularly with early picks.
UNDER THE PUMP
McCarthy and Kersten need to stand up next year and perform more consistently as the club’s two focal points, while there are some big decisions to be made at Fremantle on players including Danyle Pearce, Suban, Apeness and Taberner.
Are McCarthy and Kersten capable of being consistent performers like Fremantle needs them to be?
They both have talent but have their issues — Kersten has always struggled with fitness and work ethic and McCarthy has talent but had personal issues.
If they can get themselves right and throw everything at becoming the best AFL players they can be then Fremantle will be in a good position, but if they don’t then it will set the club back. That’s why the club must draft young key forwards, because there are a few question marks.
Taberner has been given plenty of chances and Apeness was also pencilled in as potential replacements for Pavlich, but they’re struggling.
BUCKY’S LIST CHANGES
Zac Dawson, Garrick Ibbotson and Shane Yarran have retired, while Zac Clarke, Jonathon Griffin, Sam Collins and rookies Josh Deluca and Matthew Uebergang have been delisted, so that is a lot of changes.
But I’d also move on Danyle Pearce and Suban so the club can stockpile young talent.
I’d also facilitate the trade for Harley Balic back to Victoria given his personal circumstances this year.
CRYSTAL BALL
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Fremantle knocking on the door of the top eight in 2018, but a lot will depend on it having a healthy list with Fyfe and Sandilands leading the way, McCarthy and Kersten becoming consistent performers and Hamling developing further into his defensive role.
If the club can move on more of those experienced players — and I back the decision to move on back-up ruckmen Clarke and Griffin — like Pearce and Suban and bring in some talented youngsters via the draft and watch them develop, I expect them to be in the mix to play finals for the next two to three years.
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