How will FREMANTLE fare in 2006?

[CyberKev]

STRENGTHS: With players like Pavlich, McPharlin, Farmer & Medhurst the Dockers shouldn't be struggling to kick reasonable scores. The side also has good peripheral players and appears to be progressing well with its rucks. Promisingly, the club registered numerous good wins away from Subiaco last season for the first time in its existence. With players like Bell, Haselby & Schammer the Dockers also have the basis of a sound midfield.

WEAKNESSES: While the Docker midfield is not without talent, it can be run off its feet by quicker midfield divisions. Question marks remain over coach Connolly's capacity to draw the best from his charges and, worryingly, the side lost too many games at home in 2005. The defense is solid, but unspectacular, and proof is yet to be seen that the side has cast-off its soft underbelly.

PREDICTION: Fremantle is a sleeping giant of the comp and given better efforts at home, should be a big finals chance.

Fremantle - 8th

 

[lockyno1]

8th-10th, just don't hav ethe class. Pavlich aside there is no big stars that are needed to win the flag.

 

[meltiger]

Pavlich

Pfft


My tip - Premiers.

 

[lockyno1]

Pfft


My tip - Premiers.

My tip 10th! We will see who is closer!

 

[meltiger]

My tip 10th! We will see who is closer!

Pavlich being sh*t ... My tip is closer ;-)


With regards to where they will finish, probably you but Freo SHOULD be a premiership chance.

 

[lockyno1]

Pavlich being sh*t ... My tip is closer ;-)


With regards to where they will finish, probably you but Freo SHOULD be a premiership chance.

Where did I say Pavich was rubbish? I said that they don't have stars apart from Pavlich! One-man team!

 

[CyberKev]

Where did I say Pavich was rubbish? I said that they don't have stars apart from Pavlich! One-man team!

Nah, you misunderstand, Craig doesn't rate Pavlich...

Bit odd that he does seem to rate the Dockers, when most other tragics only rate them to the extent that they revere the Lova Boy.

 

[lockyno1]

Nah, you misunderstand, Craig doesn't rate Pavlich...

Bit odd that he does seem to rate the Dockers, when most other tragics only rate them to the extent that they revere the Lova Boy.

Well I didn't know! And that is very weird, I only vaguely respect the dockers becuase of Pavlich, not saying they will win the comp though!

 

[meltiger]

Nah, you misunderstand, Craig doesn't rate Pavlich...

He's over rated?


lol

 

[AuckMel]

I still have serious doubts over Freo in Melbourne. They have a good side though and should make the 8.

 

[meltiger]

That's the thing, they actually did manage to win some away games last year.

They should be able to reach the top 4 just as easily as their neighbours do, they also have 12 games at Subiaco. Say they split the derbies 1 each, that's 11 wins straight up they should have on their home ground alone. Beyond that, 4-5 wins away from WA would get them a top 4 finish.

 

[CyberKev]

That's the thing, they actually did manage to win some away games last year.

They should be able to reach the top 4 just as easily as their neighbours do, they also have 12 games at Subiaco. Say they split the derbies 1 each, that's 11 wins straight up they should have on their home ground alone. Beyond that, 4-5 wins away from WA would get them a top 4 finish.

Except that the extra away wins they gained last season were offset by extra losses at home.

The current Docker side isn't especially well suited to Subi, which privileges plenty of run to breakdown the wider open expanses. Freo lack genuine runners and legspeed and appear little chance of winning 11 games at Subi as a consequence.

It'll be interesting to see their mindset in round 1 next week.

 

[meltiger]

Except that the extra away wins they gained last season were offset by extra losses at home.

This is pretty much my point, they should be capable of landing at minimum 10 home wins. Beyond that they have shown they are now capable sometimes of winning away. Still very inconsistent once they step on the plane though.

Last year for example had a great win, in rain and slush nonetheless at Kardinia Park, the worst possible conditions you could imagine for a WA outfit, yet were utterly woeful against Richmond at the G in sensational weather.

 

[CyberKev]

Last year for example had a great win, in rain and slush nonetheless at Kardinia Park, the worst possible conditions you could imagine for a WA outfit, yet were utterly woeful against Richmond at the G in sensational weather.

The Geelong performance was excellent, but pretty much serves as evidence of my point that the Dockers lack genuine run and are more vulnerable than you would expect on the wide open expanses of Subi. I actually think they'll be far happier about playing us in Tassie than they would be about playing us at Subi.

 

[meltiger]

Pfft


My tip - Premiers.

hmmm.....

 

[camsmith]

Well considering a side as bad as Sydney won the flag last year, i wouldn't put it past Freo to win it.

 

[meltiger]

If they sneak into 4th and West Coast takes top spot ... Freo could very well only need to play 2 finals on Subiaco to make the GF...

 

[CyberKev]

If they sneak into 4th and West Coast takes top spot ... Freo could very well only need to play 2 finals on Subiaco to make the GF...

I'd love to see Freo coffee scroll the E-girls in a final.

 

[meltiger]

I'd love to see Freo coffee scroll the E-girls in a final.

Thinking about it though.

Even if they snag 4th and the Crows hold top spot, on the assumption that the home teams win in week 1, that would give Fremantle -

Week 1 - Away @ AAMI
Week 2 - Home @ Subiaco
Week 3 - Away @ Subiaco


This weeks game against St Kilda is probably one of the most important games of the season.