Gary Buckenara analyses Fremantle’s list after the 2018 season

WHAT does the addition of Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb mean for Fremantle’s potential in 2019? Gary Buckenara analyses the Dockers’ list and looks at the impact of the new recruits and the loss of Lachie Neale.

Art for Gary Buckenara on Fremantle

FREMANTLE had an up and down season but I’m optimistic about what the list can produce next year.

The Dockers have had a shocking run with injuries to key players over the last two seasons. Nat Fyfe, Stephen and Bradley Hill and Aaron Sandilands have all missed long periods, which has had a major impact on on-field performance but there’s still no hiding the fact the club has been disappointing since its last finals appearance in 2015.

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I do believe, however, if Fremantle can get some luck on the injury front then it can push to play finals in 2019.

Let me explain why.

There’s a lot to like about Fremantle’s refurbished backline led by Joel Hamling and Alex Pearce, who have proven they are more than capable of matching it with the game’s best forwards, while Ross Lyon has moved his better ball users to halfback to generate some run and carry via Connor Blakely, Nathan Wilson and even Stephen Hill at times. Add Luke Ryan who emerged as a gun intercept defender and young gun Griffin Logue into the mix and there’s a solid back six to work with. They have also added Reece Conca from Richmond who can play down back and through the midfield.

Nat Fyfe needs some luck with injury.

Into the midfield — Fyfe is a superstar and was producing his best season since winning the Brownlow Medal before suffering a hamstring injury, the Hill brothers add pace and class, Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra are young guns, Ed Langdon and Darcy Tucker had breakout seasons and David Mundy, at 33, is still a damaging player. Michael Walters can also go through there and Bailey Banfield had an impressive debut season. It’s a really strong midfield group that has pace and class — characteristics many clubs are searching for.

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The only concern is the forward line. Is there enough star power to kick winning scores consistently?

The answer is probably no but Matt Taberner finally showed signs he could be the player the Dockers have always hoped he would be before suffering an injury, while Brennan Cox came into his own late in the season. Cam McCarthy has been disappointing since crossing from GWS but we know he’s got talent and then there’s Walters, Brandon Matera and Hayden Ballantyne as smalls. That front six doesn’t scream firepower but with enough midfield supply any forward line can get hold of teams.

Michael Walters is a star. Picture: Getty

Then there’s Harley Bennell. He’s the wildcard that if, and it’s a big if, he can get his body right he’s a class player who adds another dimension to the midfield/forward mix.

The injury curse has exposed Fremantle’s younger and inexperienced players to the cauldron that is AFL level but it will hold them in good stead for 2019 and beyond. Brayshaw, Cerra, Banfield, Stefan Giro, Sean Darcy, Mitchell Crowden and Taylin Duman all played key roles at various stages and were exposed consistently enough to senior level to learn exactly what it takes to become good AFL players. It should serve as an invaluable experience for all of them.

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So there is enough talent at this club to push for a finals berth next season, it’s just a matter of how much the players want it.

One key aspect that will affect its finals chances is what happened during the trade period — Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb are huge additions.

Hogan is exactly the type of player Fremantle has been screaming out for. He’s a dominant presence and has already established himself as one of the best young forwards in the game, booting 44 goals in his debut season followed by hauls of 41 and 47 in three of his four 20-game or more seasons.

The club played hard ball but at the end of the day it simply couldn’t let this opportunity go to waste.

Fremantle must get the Jesse Hogan deal done. Picture: Michael Klein

Then the addition of Rory Lobb from GWS is the icing on the cake for a great trade haul. Not only does he become the potential heir apparent to Sandilands when he retires (depending on how Darcy develops) but he will be the second tall forward alongside.

I rate Lobb very highly — I think he’s probably the best forward/ruckman in the AFL.

Playing Hogan and Lobb with McCarthy and Taberner as the other forwards gives Fremantle a much more dynamic look with Walters, Matera and Ballantyne at their feet.

Neale has left and although he’s a gun midfielder who has just entered the prime of his career at 25 years of age, I think they can cover his loss. Fyfe, the Hill brothers and Sandilands are A-grade players, while the recruitment of Travis Colyer from Essendon will be handy.

Rory Lobb is one of the best forward/ruckmen in the AFL, Gary Buckenara says.

FREMANTLE’S LIST NEEDS

There was a worrying lack of star power inside 50 for the Dockers and that was clearly the biggest area that needed to be addressed but now with Hogan and Lobb coming in, it completely transforms the forward line.

Ballantyne is nearing the end of his career and there is still no clear heir apparent to come in and play that nippy small forward role. Finding a player who applies manic pressure and has good goal sense would be very handy.

Can Harley Bennell play some footy next year? Picture: Daniel Wilkins

PLAYERS WHO NEED TO STEP UP IN 2019

What’s happened to McCarthy? He was once a bright young star and one of the best emerging forwards in the competition but since he spent a year out of the game before finally crossing from GWS to Fremantle, he hasn’t been anywhere near the player we saw during his breakout year in 2015 when he booted 35 goals from 20 games. He kicked just 19 goals from 17 matches this year, which is just not good enough from a guy who is supposedly leading the forward line.

The Hill brothers had injury-interrupted years, while Bradley also had an off-field indiscretion which marred his season. The Dockers are dependent on both of them to be the speed and class through the midfield, so putting in a big summer on the training track to get in peak physical condition for the season will be critical. Stephen and Bradley should be leaders of this club. It’s time to step up and drive the standards to get Fremantle back into the finals race.

It goes without saying Bennell must get his body right and repay the incredible faith Fremantle has shown in him. Can he play some footy (at AFL level) in 2019? He simply must or it’s surely career over.

Cam McCarthy has been disappointing since joining the Dockers. Picture: Getty

Taberner started the season well, kicking four goals against Essendon in Round 2 and averaging 18 disposals and six marks in the opening month before injury struck and he missed 13 matches. He didn’t quite find that form again when he returned for the last four weeks of the season — can he find it in 2019 and become the forward Fremantle desperately needs and has always hoped he’d become?

Shane Kersten failed to fire up forward again this year, so Lyon moved him down back and he looked OK in patches. Is that where his future lies as an AFL player? He’s likely on his last chance.

CRYSTAL BALL

Having a fit and healthy list to choose from is critical to what Fremantle can produce in 2019 and how far they can go. I believe if the majority of the list can stay fit, combined with the addition of Hogan and Lobb, even despite the Neale departure, the Dockers should be knocking very loudly on the top-eight door.