Fremantle ahead Sam Switkowski has backed the Dockers to show their fortunes round in entrance of the sticks this season, regardless of shedding their main objective kicker.
Switkowski booted 11 targets throughout 14 video games for the Dockers in 2022, in a season the place the facet’s productiveness within the ahead 50 proved to be a disappointment.
Fremantle ranked twelfth within the league for factors scored final season and Champion Data additionally confirmed they had been additionally twelfth for inside 50 differential and thirteenth for scores per inside 50 share.
In an additional hit to the ahead line, Rory Lobb was traded to the Western Bulldogs within the low season after main the Dockers’ objective tally with 36 throughout 21 video games.
Despite this, Switkowski mentioned Fremantle may match the lofty requirements set by their defence over the previous few years.
“I feel like our backline has been pretty set for the last few years and they’ve been performing really strongly,” he mentioned.
“There’s little doubt our offensive recreation most likely wanted a bit extra enchancment than our defensive recreation and with that personnel change, and there’s a bit extra uncertainty.
Sam Switkowski. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
“But there’s a lot of depth now, there’s a lot of options we can go with, there’s good competition for spots, which is really good.
“As long as everyone can stay healthy, I see our forward line functioning really well and excited for what our new guys can bring in.”
Switkowski frolicked across the stoppages in Fremantle’s match simulation at coaching on Monday and mentioned he was licking his lips on the anticipation of taking part in off Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy.
“Luke and Sean are both training ruck and forward, so I think we’ll likely see a bit of a mixture and some other options of guys who can go in there as well,” he mentioned.
“Anytime we get a forward 50 stoppage, my eyes just light up. It’s a chance for me to get involved and get that first touch off the first hit from those rucks, so if they can be dominant, it makes me happy.”
Switkowski was restricted to simply 14 video games with a again damage final yr, however was one of many competitors’s finest small forwards when he was on the sphere.
In his 12 common season video games, the Dockers had a 10-2 and scored a mean of 83.5 factors per recreation, which dropped to 73.7 with out him.
Champion Data ranked Switkowski because the primary small ahead within the league for ahead half strain factors per recreation – a stat which measures the weighted sum of strain acts (bodily, closing, chasing and corralling) – and rating assists, whereas he was additionally rated inside the highest 5 for ahead 50 groundball will get.
Switkowski mentioned he felt wholesome and had his sights set on overcoming his earlier damage woes to play a full season.
“How I make that happen is a variety of factors, consistency of my training and hoping for a bit of good luck as well, but at the same time, keep improving my game,” he mentioned.
“There’s a lot of competition for spots so you can’t get complacent – just because you’re in the picked 22 last year doesn’t mean it’ll just happen naturally again.”
