How Fremantle’s Unheralded Stars Are Fuelling A September Push

Fremantle’s Round 4 win against GWS was excellent. 

The Dockers were tough when they needed to be and in the last quarter broke away with speed and skill, blowing away the 2019 runner’s up with a 6 goal to zip final stanza. 

In years gone by, it’s always been Nat Fyfe and David Mundy leading Fremantle in their most eye-catching displays. At times it’s been Michael Walters, occasionally Matt Taberner, but for the most part Fremantle’s top-tier contributions have been limited to the same familiar faces. 

For those who were bullish on the Dockers in 2022, the performance in Round 4 represents a significant turning point, and one where the team perhaps graduated from “getting by” to looking both established and strong. 

The Stat Insider future's model now has them as a 30.8% chance of breaking their their 7-year final's drought, though it is important to note their remaining fixture has been assessed as being the league's most difficult from here on in.

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Most encouragingly, Fremantle have proven to be not-so-reliant on their best group of players, but rather those coming through underneath. 

Against the Giants, there was no Alex Pearce, Caleb Serong or Fyfe. Sean Darcy, Matt Taberner and Luke Ryan had quiet games while even Andrew Brayshaw didn’t have his usual influence.

That’s what made the victory so special and what reaffirms the opinions of those advocating for Fremantle’s 2022 contendership.

Heath Chapman has had an excellent start to his second season in the AFL. The highlight play may have been arguably the greatest defensive spoil in AFL history to save the Round 1 clash against Adelaide, but the 20-year-old has shown himself to be a two-way threat through the season’s opening month.

Averaging 18.5 disposals, 5.5 marks and 6.2 intercepts a game, the aerial impact Chapman has had to start the season has afforded Fremantle the luxury of playing Ryan as a more defensive-minded player.

The former first-round pick has used the ball particularly well, with an above average kicking efficiency of 79.5%. While the Dockers started the season off slowly with plenty of ball retention tactics in mind, it was Chapman’s kicking, combined with his 316 metres gained that showcased the defender’s ability to get involved offensively.

12 contested possessions for a tall defender was an exception result.

The duo of Sam Switkowski and Lachie Schultz were the two most underrated forward flankers in the competition, yet the recognition has started to flow through, particularly after the latter’s best-on-ground performance in the Derby.

Both players finished with just 12 disposals and 1.1, but combined for 14 tackles, 6 inside 50s and 10 score involvements. When the Dockers play their preferred, quicker style, these two represent the most key components in the whole system.

They push extremely high up the ground to be peripheral members of stoppage situations and to offer outlet options with their work rate. The pace at which they move both physically and with the ball is ideal for a team trying to slingshot, and they rank amongst the league’s best tacklers inside 50.

Through 4 games, Schultz is ranked second in the league for goal assists, while Switkowski is fourth for running bounces.

Perhaps Griffin Logue is even unheralded within his own four walls. Having been dropped from the team, the former pick 8 was a late inclusion for the absent Pearce.

The 23-year-old had an excellent overall game, but his last quarter against GWS was a prime example of the depth the Dockers have created when the list is at full strength.

When the game was in the balance, Logue had 7 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles and a remarkable 6 intercepts to completely halt GWS’ offensive impact.

Punters- At TopSport, the Dockers are paying $2.3 to play finals for the first time since 2015

Fremantle’s best area of depth is in defence and having the luxury of brining in Logue late highlights the talent of the players ranked 23-28 at the club.

If you watched Nathan O’Driscoll and felt an eerie sense of similarity to a young Mundy, you weren’t alone.

He had 20 disposals and kicked 2.2, but in just his second full game, he also had an excellent final term, ending with 6 disposals, 3 tackles playing as a high half-forward. Earmarked as a potential debutant in the preseason, O’Driscoll joined the impressive depth brigade.

Players in all areas of the ground were truly excellent, but the midfield battle between a depleted Dockers and a GWS centreline rated amongst the competition’s best was perhaps most impressive of all for the unheralded Dockers.

Blake Acres has often been a whipping boy throughout his time in the AFL at both St Kilda and Fremantle.

The sample size is small, but the 26-year-old has patrolled the wing region to great effect and his fitness levels have clearly been matched by decisive positioning.

As one of the bigger bodied wingmen in the competition, Acres’ ability to win contested ball and be a marking target is underrated. 

In the opening month of the season, he’s averaging 21.3 disposals, 5.5 marks and a career-high 4.5 inside 50s. Encouragingly, he is also rated as an elite kick for players in his position, also rating elite for intercept possessions (5.5), intercept marks (1.3), score launches (2.3) and marks.

The Dockers operate as one big machine with each component designed to fulfil multiple roles and showcase a flexibility we’ve seen from the best teams. Acres’ game has been elevated by his defensive coverage, a previous knock on his game.

Finally, when talking about the lesser players that have taken Fremantle forward, it’s hard to go past Will Brodie.

The 23-year-old had 37 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 6 clearances, 6 intercepts and 2 goal assists against the Giants, in just 73% gametime.

His fitness is one of his biggest knocks, with most of his career staying in the 60-70% range.

We know that Brodie could never establish himself in his five seasons at the Suns, despite being a top-10 pick. We also know that he was traded as a salary dump, packaged with a first-round pick just for Gold Coast to get rid of him.

Even through an impressive opening month, there have still been huge critics of Brodie.

Yet once again, this is an indictment on those who follow the game greatly and express such opinions.

Too much focus is directed at Brodie’s shortcomings and he clouds what people perceive greatly.

Sure, the former Sun is an old-school, one-dimensional inside midfielder. He was also assumed to be a depth recruit who, through four games, is in the league’s top 5 for contested possessions, top 10 for clearances and top 20 for tackles.

Focusing on what a player cannot do is a trap many voluntarily fall into, but the art of coaching allows for the use of talents in certain positions to maximise what they’re great at.

Brodie was consistent in all four quarters against GWS, got the ball forward at a good rate and most importantly, was tougher and stronger in the clinches against some of the league’s best midfielders.

And that, ultimately, is how Fremantle have become a better team overall.

Punters- At TopSport, the Dockers are paying $6 to maintain their top four spot.

Unlike many analysts and fans of the game, coach Justin Longmuir has shifted the focus to maximising a player’s best traits, rather than focusing on what they can’t do.

It makes for a more enjoyable environment for the playing group, who can play with full confidence, but also enhances the buy-in of not only the best 22, but the rest of the depth within the squad.

Round 4 was a turning point in Fremantle’s season, as they sit 3^rd on the AFL ladder with a wide variety of performers in each game.

We haven’t seen a full-strength Dockers outfit for years, which tells us that the upside in this group is scary.

It has been the unheralded Dockers that have set the club up in a strong position to start the season and the only way is up once the best players start to reach their potential.

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