With the excitement of the trade period over maybe it’s time to take one last look back at 2024. Sorry, I started this soon after the season (for Freo) ended but art exhibitions, medals and travel have got in the way. Delistings have happened and some suggestions (eg Corbett have been followed through – hint hint Sebit). But anyway, here we go with this completed in Dartmouth Nova Scotia, just over the water from Halifax.
So, Fremantle had a pretty good season. They were well-beaten only three times (one on a tragic day), the midfield was recognised as one of the best in the business, the forward line has an enviable three young tall targets and there’s still a premiership look to the defence.
But, Fremantle didn’t make the finals despite being spoken about as a premiership contender after the winning the derby in round 20. So what happened? Slow starts were a continuing issue but bad finishes kind of crept up on us. Injuries didn’t help either. Those with a (dark Freo) sense of humour could concede that winning a derby and then nothing else for the rest of the year is a Dockery as it gets.
In the past I’ve had a close look at the top-10 in each AFL club’s fairest and best award. Part of my ‘analysis’ was to look at players who had come from other clubs and obviously found success at their new home. I didn’t do it this year but something stood out very clearly. Freo fans will know the names of these 2024 AFL Club Champions: Lachie Neale (Brisbane), Jesse Hogan (GWS), Sam Collins (Gold Coast) and Lloyd Meek (Hawthorn). They may also reflect that during the season-defining last four rounds the Dockers needed a ruck, a key forward, a key back and missing link in the midfield. Anyway.
Shai Bolton is an ideal addition to the Fremantle list. The local media will amp him up as “premiership maker” but even they know it’s bullshit. There’s no free ride to the flag – just look at the heartbreak Brisbane has gone through over the past few seasons along with Port Adelaide with their “under pressure” coach; GWS with their truck load of concessions and also note that Geelong played some incredible footy in the preliminary final and didn’t even win their way through to the grand final.
Oh, and our images suggest, kicking straight would be nice.
Strap in for a wild Freo ride… and here’s some thoughts on those who took the journey in 2024.
James Aish (20 games, 0 goals): Funny season as he drifted out of the team. A good type to have as a back-up but he’d surely want to be more than that. And that’s his challenge.
Jye Amiss (22 games, 36 goals): The promise is evident and a big pre-season will help. Maybe the fourth umpire could have a look at what’s happening to leading forwards. Strangely lost his main weapon and – those yips can cost games.
Bailey Banfield (22 games, 20 goals): Finds himself in a similar position as at the end of 2023. A regular but not a certainty. Effort is always there but sometimes the skills let him down. Commendable too that he says ‘lessons’ rather than ‘learnings’.
Andrew Brayshaw (23 games, 7 goals): Another great year. Gets to where the ball is and is always willing to do what is needed. More goals please.
Will Brodie: One of the most talked about players on the Fremantle list and he didn’t play a game. Admirable performer for Peel
Heath Chapman (16 games, 1 goal): Showed how much he was missed last year. Cool, strong in the air, adventurous and uses the ball well.
Jordan Clark (23 games, 3 goals): So important that some teams gave him extra attention this year. Great runner who knows when to go and when something more defensive is required. His 100th game against old team Geelong was inspired.
Josh Corbett: Seems to be one of the best people in the world. No footy this year and surely there will be something else for him to do brilliantly around the club. And the club agrees!
Brennan Cox (9 games, 1 goal): A little reminder to the AFL that in Australian Football the push in the back is not only against the rules but is bloody dangerous – just ask Brad Shepherd. Oh yeah, Cox’s season was buggered up by a push in the back in round one and he didn’t even get a free kick.
Sean Darcy (12 games, 6 goals): He’s important. Get fit – high priority for player and club because he’s good and important.
Hugh Davies (2 games, 0 goals): Got a bit of a feel for it this year and seemed more confident in the WAFL. Good in the WAFL finals and tell me this – as he prepares to kick does he shape as though he’s a left footer and then kick right?
Jack Delean: Showed some spark early but ended up in the Peel reserves.
Josh Draper (20 games, 0 goals): What a bonus. Makes good position and takes marks in defence and takes the game on when he gets the chance. Similar in his approach to Alex Pearce and that’s good.
Tom Emmett (13 games, 7 goals): Didn’t make the most of his chances during the season as a whole and during games. Didn’t get going in the WAFL finals. Delisted.
Neil Erasmus (4 games, 0 goals): Highly consistent and, at times, classy in the WAFL particularly with handball. Grand final Simpson Medal was a great reward – Luke Ryan won one of them too.
Michael Frederick (20 games, 23 goals): His pace makes him exciting and dangerous but, particularly late this season, he became a bit of a fumbler and missed too many goal scoring opportunities.
Nat Fyfe (22 games, 5 goals): Well, he played out a season without injury and who knows what role his new role played in making the midfield so successful. Will need to fight for his spot in 2025.
Ethan Hughes (6 games, 0 goals): Has had a pretty good year for Peel but is not at the level of the other defenders. Finished off with a WAFL premiership. Delisted.
Luke Jackson (23 games, 21 goals): Last year I said he was Fremantle’s best player. Might sneak into the top 10 in 2024. Remains an exciting prospect but must take more marks. He is not capable of leading the ruck.
Matthew Johnson (19 games, 7 goals): An unusual player who seems to invite physical contact and opens things up in the process. Created some good scoring chances but was very wasteful when shooting for goal.
Odin Jones: What he does in the WAFL looks good but there’s not much of it.
Sebit Keik: Deserves great credit for getting back on the field in 2024. Delisted but I’d give him another chance because right now it seems getting snapped up the mid-season draft was exactly what his footy career didn’t need.
Max Knobell: Whoever identifies ruck talent at Fremantle knows what they’re doing. Still playing reserves for Peel but looks right at home when he pops into the league team
Oscar McDonald (1 game, 0 goals): Did well to get back into the WAFL after a serious round one injury. Turns out that he was badly missed.
Ollie Murphy: Chugged along for Peel. Unlucky with injury.
Nathan O’Driscoll (2 games, 1 goal): Really unlucky with injury again. Looked the part when he got back for the last two games and his WAFL finals form was fantastic. He’s the winger the team requires – and more.
Jaegar O’Meara (22 games, 8 goals): Much better this year. Covered a lot of ground and his presence was important in a young team. No certainty for a place in 2025.
Alex Pearce (15 games, 1 goal): Was on All-Australian pace when he broke his arm. Strength, leadership and daring were dearly missed at the end of the season. In fact the end probably came too soon because the captain was missing.
Liam Reidy (2 games, 0 goals): It might have been useful if he’d been slotted into the team in Darcy’s absence more often. Looked ok at AFL level and was wonderful in the WAFL.
Luke Ryan (23 games, 0 goals): All-Australian again. Wins the ball from improbable positions and controls a lot of what goes on. Could look for alternatives to the long bomb.
Caleb Serong (23 games, 11 goals): All-Australian again. I reckon his kicking improved and there are signs more goals might start coming. Clearly a leader and now a dual Doig Medal winner.
Jeremy Sharp (23 games, 10 goals): Nice addition to the team and his willingness to run was vital. Long kicking is impressive, short stuff is something for the summer.
Cooper Simpson (2 games, 0 goals): There are signs but he didn’t really come along as expected at AFL or WAFL level. A solid pre-season would be beneficial.
Ethan Stanley: Strung some games together towards the second half of the WAFL season but missed the grand final. Delisted.
Sam Sturt (13 games, 21 goals): Unfortunate to miss out early due to injury. As a result 2024 looked like 2023 with a good finish and promise of things to come.
Sam Switkowski (20 games, 12 goals): Important player, particularly at stoppages and some of his defensive acts are team lifting. Not enough goals.
Matt Taberner (5 games, 6 goals): For a Rookie draftee to play 125 games and kick 173 goals over 12 seasons counts as a success. Completes his time at Freo as a dual WAFL premiership player with a bad back.
Josh Treacy (20 games, 45 goals): Strangely his breakout season didn’t come as surprise to those who had been watching closely. Works hard, marks well and could teach his team mates a thing or two about kicking for goal.
Patrick Voss (7 games, 7 goals): Strong and enthusiastic addition when required. Needs to kick straight.
Corey Wagner (12 games, 0 goals): Adventurous defender who did pretty well when the opportunities came late in the season.
Brandon Walker (19 games, 1 goal): Had some big tasks and generally performed well. Sometimes a bit hasty with disposal. He’s young and takes the game on.
Michael Walters (17 games, 17 goals): Had a tough year but it’s always nice to see the ball in his hands – 2025 will be interesting.
Conrad Williams: Played five league games for Peel. Delisted.
Karl Worner (4 games, 0 goals): Was playing the best footy of his AFL career when he got a whack on the head in round one. Finished off with a friendly-fire smack on the nose in the WAFL GF.
Hayden Young (23 games, 13 goals): Powerful and effective midfielder who provided an important point of difference.
australianrules.com.au 