Played: 22
Won: 6
Lost: 16
Finished: 14th
Best and fairest: Matthew Pavlich
2009 IN BRIEF
Coach: Mark Harvey
Captain: Matthew Pavlich
Coaching staff: Chris Scott, Dean Wallis, Barry Mitchell, Todd Curley (assistants), Michael Prior (skills and development), Steve Malaxos (development)
ARRIVALS & DEPARTUES
Arrivals
NAB AFL Draft: Hayden Ballantyne (Peel Thunder), Ben Bucovaz (Geelong Falcons), Zach Clarke (Oakleigh Chargers), Chris Hall (Woodville West Torrens), Stephen Hill (West Perth), Tim Ruffles (North Ballarat Rebels), Nick Suban (North Ballarat Rebels), Michael Walters (Swan Districts)
NAB AFL Rookie Draft: Greg Broughton (Subiaco), Casey Sibasado (Oakleigh Chargers), Matthew DeBoer (Claremont), Clancee Pearce (Swan Districts), Hamish Shepheard (East Perth), Jay van Berlo (West Perth)
Deletions
Retired: Peter Bell, Heath Black, Matthew Carr, Jeff Farmer, Mark Johnson, Shaun McManus (veteran – outside list), Luke Webster
Exchange period – traded: Robert Warnock (Carlton)
Delisted: Josh Carr, Ryley Dunn (rookie), Calib Mourish (rookie), Chris Smith (rookie)
FIXTURE
Fremantle gets the chance to open its season in style when it plays at home against preliminary finalist the Western Bulldogs.
The following week it travels to Docklands to take on Essendon – one of four trips there.
Of last year's finalists, Fremantle plays the Western Bulldogs, Adelaide and Geelong twice – including a trip to the Cattery to round off their home and away season.
INJURY LIST
Hayden Ballantyne (wrist) – may be available round one
Des Headland (calf/achilles) – expected to play round two or three
Chris Mayne (ankle) – may be available round one
Luke McPharlin (calf/achilles) – should play round one
Brock O'Brien (shoulder) – available round one
Brent Connelly (hip) – will miss 6-8 weeks
MATT BURGAN’S PLAYER RATINGS
5 – Luke McPharlin, Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands (3 players – 15 points)
Pavlich is quite simply among the best in the business, Sandilands will again vie for All-Australian honours as one of the game's top rucks, and few can play key back or forward like McPharlin. On the back of his NAB AFL Rising Star winning season, Rhys Palmer is roaring up the standings at Freo. Roger Hayden is a highly valued small defender.
4 – Ryan Crowley, Daniel Gilmore, Antoni Grover, Paul Hasleby, Roger Hayden, Garrick Ibbotson, Michael Johnson, David Mundy, Rhys Palmer, Byron Schammer, Dean Solomon, Chris Tarrant (12 players – 48 points)
Hasleby must find his feet quickly after a year out with a knee injury. Ibbotson had a breakout 2008 and will only get better. Solomon and Tarrant may have their critics, but remain firmly in Freo's best 22. Gilmore’s blistering finish to 2007 was ruined by injury in 2008, but his pre-season form suggests he will bounce back.
3 – Hayden Ballantyne, Kepler Bradley, Adam Campbell, Steven Dodd, Marcus Drum, Paul Duffield, Josh Head, Des Headland, Stephen Hill, Clayton Hinkley, Chris Mayne, Ryan Murphy, Brett Peake, Nick Suban, Scott Thornton, Greg Broughton (rookie) (16 players – 48 points)
First-year players Hill and Suban look ready to go, while rookie Broughton is also on target to play regularly. Ballantyne has been groomed for the big time but must overcome pre-season wrist surgery, with Headland another to have had injury concerns over the summer. Dodd, Peake and Thornton could improve with further input. Campbell and Murphy have talent, although the former had a recent knee set-back. Mayne should continue to show plenty in 2008.
2 – Andrew Browne, Zac Clarke, Andrew Foster, Chris Hall, Brock O'Brien, Michael Walters, Matthew DeBoer (rookie), Clancee Pearce (rookie), Casey Sibasado (rookie), Jay van Berlo (rookie) (10 players – 20 points)
Browne has had a wretched run with injury, but he is rated within the club despite approaching his sixth AFL-listed season with just 27 matches under his belt. O'Brien is also on the cusp of pushing up. Recruits, including 203cm ruckman Clarke (somewhat of a bolter over the pre-season), Hall and Walters could play a sprinkling of matches.
1 – Ben Bucovaz, Tim Ruffles, Brent Connelly (rookie), Luke Pratt (rookie), Hamish Shepheard (rookie) (5 players - 5 points)
Second-year rookies Connolly and Pratt will have competition this year, considering the club has eight rookies. DeBoer, Pearce, Sibasado and van Berlo may have the edge after exposure in the pre-season. Freo could utilise some of its rookies this year, as it has no players on the veterans list. Draftees Bucovaz and Ruffles will develop via the WAFL.
Total team rating: 136 (11 of 16, league-wide)
THE YEAR AHEAD
A successful year for Fremantle will involve more wins than 2008 and the rapid development of its 11 first and second year players.
Captain Matthew Pavlich and his deputy Aaron Sandilands will again be the twin pillars of the side, while a solid defence will remain the club's biggest strength.
Stephen Hill's entry to the AFL and NAB AFL Rising Star Rhys Palmer's second season will provide constant intrigue for fans, while the anticipated rise of middle-tier players Byron Schammer, Brett Peake and Steven Dodd could lift the side higher than expected.
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS
"Our game plan has probably changed a little bit defensively more than anything else with all the zones being used, so we're looking at our younger, inexperienced guys to fit in with that and what we're trying to do.
"Obviously the influx of 14 new kids will be a factor, but we don't expect too much from them. We do, however, need big seasons from the other 30-odd guys on our list.
"We hope to improve on last year and have more wins, but improving the list and player development is how we want to go about it."
- assistant coach Barry Mitchell
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
