Last 12 months’s ‘Flagmantle’ craze proved to be a tad untimely, however you get the sense one thing particular is about to occur on the Dockers.
On the opposite facet of city, West Coast’s ageing stars are in a battle to deliver their previous glories again to life because the membership makes an attempt to rebound from their worst ever marketing campaign.
But the Dockers ended their six-year finals drought final season courtesy of standout shows from rising stars resembling Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Michael Frederick and Sean Darcy.
Fremantle have been simply half a win away from securing a top-four berth, they usually confirmed enormous bravery in coming from 41 factors all the way down to beat the Bulldogs in a topsy-turvy elimination ultimate.
The Dockers’ 7-1 begin to the season, which included wins over Geelong and Carlton, noticed the Flagmantle hype kick off in Perth.
Two keen pundits even received matching Flagmantle tattoos.
Some known as them silly, however perhaps they have been merely a 12 months forward of their time?
Fremantle’s enormous step ahead final 12 months got here regardless of two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe barely enjoying a job.
Fyfe managed simply seven video games for the season – most of them underwhelming – in a marketing campaign blighted by accidents.
The 31-year-old is now totally match, freed from the captaincy burden and embracing a full-time function within the ahead line.
Fyfe’s six targets over two pre-season video games counsel he is able to launch.
The departure of Griffin Logue (North Melbourne), Rory Lobb (Bulldogs), Blake Acres (Carlton) and David Mundy (retired) damage, however they’re offset by the high-profile arrivals of Luke Jackson and Jaeger O’Meara.
Jackson already has a premiership below his belt from his time on the Demons, and at 21 the sky seems to be the restrict for him.
O’Meara is a seasoned campaigner who will add important expertise to the engine room.
“One of the great things about Luke coming to the club is he’s an unfinished product and he’s got so much growth in him,” Dockers coach Justin Longmuir says.
“He looks like he’s taken another step forward from his body of work at Melbourne, and he’s formed a great relationship with Sean (Darcy).
“Hopefully that is a ruck tandem that can provide us an edge and provides our mids first look.
“Jaeger’s been great. He’s such a pro. He’s been an asset on and off the field.”
Just just like the cliff got here for Fremantle on the finish of 2015, West Coast hit the skids final 12 months on the best way to posting a club-worst 2-20 marketing campaign.
Injuries and COVID-19 dramas meant the Eagles used a report 47 gamers throughout the season – six of whom have been WAFL top-ups.
Oscar Allen (0 video games), Campbell Chesser (0), Elliot Yeo (5), Dom Sheed (1), Tom Cole (0), Nic Naitanui (8), Jeremy McGovern (10), and Jack Petruccelle (8) both didn’t seem, or have been vastly restricted of their video games performed.
Naitanui and Yeo, hit by damage disruptions, have been enjoying catch-up on the health entrance and the membership’s general conditioning was broadly panned.
The Eagles tried to brush off the criticism however captain Luke Shuey later conceded there have been sure areas less than scratch.
“When there’s smoke, there’s fire,” Shuey mentioned concerning the health problem.
“A lot of people externally were calling us unfit last year – and they probably weren’t completely off the mark with that suggestion.”
The retirements of Josh Kennedy and Jack Redden, mixed with the departure of Willie Rioli to Port Adelaide, dampen West Coast’s hope of a swift rebound.
But first-round draft picks Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett have the potential to make a right away impression, whereas former Demon Jayden Hunt has loved a powerful pre-season and can present necessary bounce off half again.
With 2021 first-round choose Chesser, final 12 months’s No.1 mid-season choose Jai Culley, and up to date draftee Noah Long additionally pushing arduous for spots, Eagles coach Adam Simpson is eager to embrace the following technology.
“There’s a new era coming, absolutely,” Simpson says.
“We just want to get better, and we want to get our best players on the park.
“We launched some new issues final 12 months that we did not actually see (come to fruition because of the accidents).
“We’re seeing more of that this year, whether it’s better in transition, quicker ball movement, or team defence.”
West Coast’s 59-point loss to Adelaide of their official pre-season sport final week raised alarm bells that 2023 will probably be one other robust 12 months.
A protracted rebuild looms, with extra ache to return.
It could be sensible for Eagles followers to carry off of any flag-related physique artwork for the following few years.
As for the tattoo parlours in Fremantle – prepare for a busy interval as September nears.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
