The Fremantle Dockers are fortunate that the one different crew on the town has been one of many worst the AFL has ever seen, as a result of by any measure their 2023 season has been poor.
West Coast’s dire marketing campaign, one which has yielded only one win from 16 outings, has insulated Fremantle from a lot of the blowback their season up to now has deserved.
Save for a four-week spell that culminated in them beating Melbourne away from dwelling, the Dockers have been underwhelming and hobbled by some horrible performances at Perth Stadium.
They misplaced to North Melbourne in an absolute shocker, have been vivisected by the Western Bulldogs and have been picked aside by a Richmond aspect years previous their greatest, earlier than what was a meek give up in opposition to Carlton on Sunday.
In that sport, one they wanted to win to maintain their finals push going, they have been by no means on the races and ultimately went down by 53 factors in entrance of a shell-shocked dwelling assist.
In truth, the trouble they dished up in opposition to the Blues was some of the disappointing by a WA crew this season – as a result of followers anticipated so significantly better.
Minus Nat Fyfe, who misses extra video games than he performs as of late, and Will Brodie, who’s injured however has solely been picked 5 instances this 12 months, the Dockers have been just about at full power for his or her conflict in opposition to Carlton.
Sean Darcy gave them first take a look at most balls from stoppages, but the Dockers have been soundly crushed within the clearances – pointing to a definite lack of urgency or craft from a few of their heralded midfielders.
Far too typically the Blues waltzed away from congestion, and Fremantle gamers have been left chasing shadows.
It was the second consecutive week that the Dockers’ midfield was overrun, after a final-term blitz from the Bulldogs’ engine room final Saturday left them uncovered when the sport was there to be gained.
This time it was Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps who uncovered Fremantle’s on-ball brigade.
Afterwards, Dockers coach Justin Longmuir was a dejected man.
“We obtained crushed up across the contest, and that was in all probability primarily our mids,” he stated.
“Positively in that third quarter we internalised, obtained caught in our personal heads.
“We simply went away from any resemblance of a related model.”
That is footy coach converse for “we weren’t superb”.
When requested why Fremantle had regressed after such a optimistic 2022, Longmuir conceded his aspect hadn’t “dealt with the stress”.
Fremantle had gained simply two first quarters all season heading into the sport, they usually once more seemed nicely off the tempo early in opposition to Carlton – leaving them 24 factors down on the opening change.
When quizzed in regards to the aspect’s poor begins, Longmuir appeared out of concepts.
“We’ll stick on the identical path,” he stated.
“We’re taking part in first quarters just like the sting’s gone out of video games. I’d say that is throughout the season.”
Whereas a lot has been fabricated from West Coast’s traditionally dangerous season, it shouldn’t be ignored that Fremantle haven’t carried out nicely this 12 months, exhibiting their greatest solely in glimpses.
The blowtorch skilled on their cross-town rivals has allow them to escape huge scrutiny up to now.
‘Strain is a privilege’ was a mantra of tennis legend Billie Jean King.
However the burden of expectation has weighed closely on their younger shoulders.
A glass-half-full strategy would recommend that the younger expertise on the Dockers has them well-placed to contend in coming years.
Somebody with a unique perspective should surprise about this repeated lack of a “related model”, and whether or not all of the items are in place to see the membership’s imaginative and prescient come to life.
For a aspect that has publicly acknowledged its intention of successful a maiden flag by 2025, and that gained a remaining final 12 months, Fremantle’s season to this point has been a bitter disappointment.
After a 12 months that promised a lot, the powers that be in Cockburn have some soul-searching to do.
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