This was published 4 months ago
Opinion
Dockers in dangerous position; Eagles fail to read the script
Paddy Sweeney
Nine Sports PresenterThe Dockers no longer have their finals fate in their own hands, a dangerous position. By the time they run out against Port Adelaide, their September dream may already be over.
Should it be alive, one of the most captivating ends to a regular season awaits. Whatever the outcome, it will shape the narrative and conversations around the Dockers this summer.
Jesse Hogan of the Giants grabs a mark during the round 23 match with Freo.Credit: Getty Images
Reaching finals would provide a springboard, a base to fuel greater ambition in pursuit of that elusive premiership.
Should they fall short of finals, the tale will be very different.
The off-season grind will be tougher, filled with external pessimism: fans questioning the inability to deliver when expectation grows.
Fremantle, third after Round 20, is now ninth after falling short against Essendon, Geelong and GWS.
They haven’t done much wrong, but ultimately weren’t able to capitalise on crucial moments. In all games they have led, but have not got their noses in front when it mattered. It’s part of a bigger picture: five of their nine losses were by 13 points or less.
And it’s reflective of their group.
Entering 2024, the Dockers had the fourth-youngest list by average age (23.9 years) and the second-most inexperienced players on average games (55.4).
Recently, they’ve missed key personnel: captain Alex Pearce, Sean Darcy and Josh Treacy. Fremantle will be better next year for whatever lies ahead in 2024, but the added experience from a finals campaign will greatly aid future growth.
Eagles fail to read the script
Jamie Cripps at the weekend. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Farewelling Andrew Gaff, celebrating game 250 for Jamie Cripps and eyeing three straight wins for the first time in three years.
Victory over the banged-up Blues was supposedly within reach for West Coast, and would have tightened Jarrad Schofield’s grip on the senior coaching role. But it appears the Eagles failed to read the script.
Yes, Carlton were highly vulnerable, with 17 players unavailable through injury. But they were also brave, determined and unrelenting, a side who weren’t ready to watch their finals aspirations slip through their grasp.
Minus Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, Brodie Kemp and Matt Kennedy shone. Kemp, who entered the game with just two goals from 41 games mainly as a defender, finished with four majors, Kennedy booting two to go with 23 touches. The second term was the difference, Carlton dominating.
Disposals (109-64), contested possessions (41-32), clearances (13-8) and inside 50s (16-7), booting 4.5 (29) and keeping the Eagles scoreless in a quarter for the first time this year.
They moved the ball with speed and purpose by hand, Patrick Cripps the architect. The skipper set the tone, before elevating his game to a level no one else got close to. He finished with 35 touches, 21 contested, 12 score involvements, 10 clearances, eight inside 50s and another three Brownlow votes.
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