Long time supporter of this site, valkorum, has put down some thoughts about the Fremantle Dockers – the AFL team he is passionate about.
FREMANTLE DOCKERS
B: Silvagni, Dawson, Broughton
HB: Hill, McPharlin, Ibbo
M: Suban, Barlow, Morabito
HF: Duffield, Pav, Fyfe
F: Balla, Clark, Mayne
R: Sandilands, Mundy, DeBoerB: Lower, Mzungu, Pitt
Sub: McPhee (Util)
Grover/Faulks are depth for Dawson, Silvagni, McPharlin
Roberton/Forster are depth for Hill/Ibbo
Crichton/Michie/JVB/Thomas/Neale/Sutcliffe are midfield depth
Walters/Mellington are depth for Balla, Mayne
Crowley/Crozier are depth for Duffield/Fyfe
Griff/Keplar/MJ/Jack are depth for KPF/Ruck
Dawson comes in as the KPD who plays the lockdown role. McPharlin stays at CHB and Silvagni becomes the 3rd tall. Broughton plays lockdown on the small (sorry DT)
I would actually like to see Hill (replaces Roger) and Ibbo coming out of half back with Suban pushing in to the midfield. I think Hill’s kicking and speed is better suited to this role while Suban is harder at the ball and his low dart kicks are better suited to find a forward
on the lead. (PAV)
The midfield looks a lot harder along with 2 long kicking wingman – traits from Saints and Sydney (new coach appointments). I would be very very excited if Morabito could develop in to that tall, attacking wingman (Goodes/Goddard/Richo). DeBoer becomes the hard nose tagger (Jones) who gets a lot of the hard ball with Mundy and Barlow the prime movers attracting the tags. Lower (Kirk) provides a hard body to the inside midfield with Mzungu providing some speed and flair on the outside. Pitt plays as an outside mid where his kicking skills can be put to use – his body is still not big enough to playing inside but you want him in the team for his kicking.
The midfield depth is very young but has a lot of potential with a mixture of inside and outside. I think this is our weakest area but can be covered by half back/forwards moving to midfield. The depth cover for the half back/fowards would come in to the team.
Duffield (or Crowley) could go to to a half forward to be the defensive forward. Both are good kicks for goal so they still provide a legitimate threat as a 3rd tall forward. This allows FYFEY!!! to play his game as he will get a better defender on him this year, so having a hard body in Duffield/Crowley to provide cover will help.
Pav to go back to CHF for 50+ goals. Sandi and Clark rotating through FF and Ruck. Balla and Mayne in the pockets crumbing off the big guys and providing the forward pressure – I love watching their workrate during a kick-in.
McPhee is the sub because he can cover most positions on the ground (forward, back and tagging).
The depth is a mixture of young and experience. The experience is in the taller department (McPhee/Grover/MJ/Kep/Griff) where as the excitement and potential is in the youth (which is what it should be).
I like the looks of our squad on paper (when fit) and hopefully we pick up a couple of talls in the rookie draft to develop. Take a risk on see if it pays off – no harm in trying.
From a DT perspective this could mean changes of the normal from Freo. I no longer think Duffield and Broughton will be locks in the backline but do you want to pick Hill and Ibbo to become DT stars? At over $300k each and midfield only its a big risk. Suban moving on to a wing could prove a role change that could trigger a rise in output. Suban is $260k but needs to improve 35points to get to 90 avg.
I have always said Pav is a 5 point better player at CHF so that can only be good for DT. Fyfe will get a tag this year but should still avg 90 – 100 (Stevie J style) with the normal ups and downs of a half forward.
Sandi will avg 100 this year with less time in the ruck. Pick up a goal a game at FF to make up for less time in the ruck. (Sandi and Cox – Lock n Load)
Barlow will surely be in everyones team – at his price of $365k you have to take him as an underpriced premium. Mundy is a premium and will be in a lot of teams. Lower could be a good option but at $350k its a risk as he will need to improve 25 points to get a 100 avg.
So apart from the safe bets of Pav, Mundy, Barlow & Fyfe, I think there is plenty of risk/reward options at Freo this coming season. If you take the risk and pick the right one I think you can get a good jump on the field. If you pick the wrong one you are stuck with a 55 avg player who’s price is declining.
Morabito as a 7th forward needs to be mentioned – at $160k he is rookie priced.
Dont pick Dawson as he will become the next Presti.
Hit valkorum up on Twitter: @Q__Balls
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