Match Thread: Fremantle v Swans

[MattW]

Well we didn't deserve to win it. We were 20 points up at one stage and then stopped playing in the 3rd quarter. What a shocker of a performance. Seriously, umpiring is not to blame, it was a poor team effort in the 3rd. Seems like we thought we were just going to cruise to a win. Congrats Freo, they out played us.

'Shocker of a performance' is way too harsh.

[Markwebbos]

We were outplayed in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, even if we somehow won Q2 on the scoreboard. Inside 50s 69-45 is pretty comprehensive.

They were way better than us in the air, I think we had one contested mark in Q3. As others have noted McLean got annihilated.

Lobb was also a constant threat when they got it forward.

Our list lacks key position players. Hopefully we’ll recruit several this off-season.

It was disappointing to lose because a victory would have cemented our place in the 8. But I think they were the better side.

I wonder if Sam N is ready to take over and give Hickey a spell?

[MattW]

Heeney had a shocker. He wasnt alone

Nah mate, he didn't. We expect a lot of players, the least we can do is be measured with our posts.

He had 24 disposals, some critical contested possessions and flew for marks. Suggest a rewatch would produce a different view.

- - - Updated - - -

We won 3 of the 4 quarters on the scoreboard.

We lost by 2 points.

We had a realistic opportunity to goal in the last minute

I’m confident our #1 ruckman, who seems to be the barometer of the team played injured for 3/4 of the game.

I think we deserved to win if we had have won.

A 2 point lost is just a kick, a play or an umpiring decision that didn’t go our way. You win some. You lose some. Tonight we lost. But not for want of trying for 3 quarters.

Disappointing 3 quarter, granted. But they will hurt from it. They will learn from it.

Really well put man - thanks.

[goswannies]

You keep on writing what I was going to write.

Any thoughts on Hickey? Should he now be rested for a few weeks? And if so, would it be too early for Naismith to be his replacement?

I posted the moment it happened that if he didn’t already have a torn PCL, the mechanism of injury would be consistent with a PCL injury ... the Freo ruckman’s knee pushing Tom’s shin back. For Tom, this could result in no additional damage, a degree of discomfort, or potentially other ligamentous or soft tissue injury (couldn’t see it from the replay and don’t have a replay to try to analyse it. But given how limited he looked (didn’t jump as much as usual, limited kicking, limited running, limping at times) I’d guess that is wasn’t “no problem”. But he did play on which (if the medicos are responsible - and I can only assume they are) then they assessed Hickey as unlikely to cause more significant damage.

Rest would depend on how sore he pulls up (he actually might be ok), if there is deemed any additional injury after the game, and the risk of future injury. Naismith too soon in my (uninformed relative to the club’s knowledge of him) opinion. But from an ACL perspective, he will have played a couple of VFL games, which is a much slower pace. If he comes back too soon and the knee isn’t ready for the rigours of senior footy, the risk of another (possible career ending) ACL is more than I’d be comfortable with. Plus, if you swap Hickey for Naismith you can’t really ease him into the side. But that’s my uninformed opinion.

[MattW]

Similar to the Melbourne loss, where we had one dud quarter, but were probably the better side for the rest of the game. Be nice if we could get rid of those flat quarters, but that's easier said than done, as they're also the result of the opposition playing very well.

I think Hickey getting injured cost us. While it was admirable how he battled on, we did lose the hit outs 59-29. Which I think contributed to Freo getting on top in the clearances in the second half. And at times, that enabled them to maintain control the ball.

On the positive side, Dawson had a very good game. Franklin showed how idiotic it is, for people to write him off. Mills had an excellent first half, but faded in the second. Rampe contributed his usual sterling effort. And it was a strong act of collective will, to get back into the game, after we looked gone at three quarter time.

You learn a bunch about players in a game like that, and Dawson was absolutely sensational. Offer him whatever he likes. He's a big game player.

I had the same thought re Franklin too. The doubting of him was disrespectful and obviously wrong. How many times do you need to see a game like that to just trust and respect him. He's a champion. We're fortunate to watch him. He kept is in it.

Other players I thought really stood up: Cunningham, Lloyd, Rampe, McCartin, Papley, Heeney.

Courageous effort from Hickey.

A learning experience for some younger players.

[dejavoodoo44]

I posted the moment it happened that if he didn’t already have a torn PCL, the mechanism of injury would be consistent with a PCL injury ... the Freo ruckman’s knee pushing Tom’s shin back. For Tom, this could result in no additional damage, a degree of discomfort, or potentially other ligamentous or soft tissue injury (couldn’t see it from the replay and don’t have a replay to try to analyse it. But given how limited he looked (didn’t jump as much as usual, limited kicking, limited running, limping at times) I’d guess that is wasn’t “no problem”. But he did play on which (if the medicos are responsible - and I can only assume they are) then they assessed Hickey as unlikely to cause more significant damage.

Rest would depend on how sore he pulls up (he actually might be ok), if there is deemed any additional injury after the game, and the risk of future injury. Naismith too soon in my (uninformed relative to the club’s knowledge of him) opinion. But from an ACL perspective, he will have played a couple of VFL games, which is a much slower pace. If he comes back too soon and the knee isn’t ready for the rigours of senior footy, the risk of another (possible career ending) ACL is more than I’d be comfortable with. Plus, if you swap Hickey for Naismith you can’t really ease him into the side. But that’s my uninformed opinion.

Ta, thought it was probably too soon for Naismith. I just hope we can keep on playing Hickey without breaking him.

[MattW]

Why are we losing the inside 50s to such a degree? Is it as simple as getting smashed in the midfield or is it allowing the game to come to the backline as we seem to set ourselves up so much better (usually) from the back?

Our ruckman couldn't move a centimetre from.the ground.

[cherub]

I thought Hickey's injury gave Freo a huge aerial advantage. We didn't have anyone who could go with Lobb. Hickey was lion-hearted, but we lost his mobility around the ground once he was injured.

[MattW]

I thought Hickey's injury gave Freo a huge aerial advantage. We didn't have anyone who could go with Lobb. Hickey was lion-hearted, but we lost his mobility around the ground once he was injured.

Exactly - unfortunately Hayden was a non-factor and clearly Blakey isn't a back-up ruck. Might need to bring Amartey in until Reid is back.

It'll be interesting to see whether Naismith plays a full game tomorrow.

[dejavoodoo44]

I had the same thought re Franklin too. The doubting of him was disrespectful and obviously wrong. How many times do you need to see a game like that to just trust and respect him. He's a champion. We're fortunate to watch him. He kept is in it.

Yes, I find it hard to work out, if the criticism of him is genuine stupidity, or attention seeking trolling? Either way, it's pretty tiresome. Although if he keeps up tonight's form, the criticism might be hard to maintain.
'No, really, most of his thousand goals were lucky'.

[Ludwig]

Has everyone forgotten that we have a backup ruckman in Sinclair. He was our #1 ruckman for the past 2 years. I don't think he's a #1 ruckman on a top team, but good enough in situations like this when your top 2 ruckmen are not fit to play.

[MattW]

Yes, I find it hard to work out, if the criticism of him is genuine stupidity, or attention seeking trolling? Either way, it's pretty tiresome. Although if he keeps up tonight's form, the criticism might be hard to maintain.
'No, really, most of his thousand goals were lucky'.

He'll keep up today's form if he stays fit - he's Lance Franklin.

I think it's time to bring Logan in with him.

[707]

We’ve beaten the Lions, Tigers and Geelong. And lost to GW$, Melbourne and Freo by a combined losing margin of 13 points. With a fairly young side. I think that the season hasn’t been a waste so far

A sane and sensible comment. Remember it's never as good as it seems and never as bad as it seems.

Haven't watched the game yet, can now do so in a relaxed state knowing the outcome.

[MattW]

A sane and sensible comment. Remember it's never as good as it seems and never as bad as it seems.

Haven't watched the game yet, can now do so in a relaxed state knowing the outcome.

Excellent - when you're done, let us know your thoughts.

[TheBloods]

Just terrible. What is going with our mental application that we cannot play well against these ordinary sides ? Freo on their home deck are no push overs but they should not have outclassed us.

Wicks might be on his last chance. Without his fwd pressure its obvious he doesnt have a lot to his game. Florent is skilful but dumb. That last play an example. Heeney good but needs to be less of a showpony and do more of the basics. So does Papley. McLean had a shocker.

Here i was worrying that Rowbottom and Blakey might not be good enough to be in the 22. Turns out they might not be good enough to even be on the list long term !! Re-signing them for another 3 years looks worse with every game they play.

If we dont re-sign Dawson we're @@@@@@