Murray MiddletonFabric Softener
July 10th 2008 10:48
During the week Fremantle’s Peter Bell pulled the plug on an illustrious career. Bell’s retirement took effect immediately. At the end of last season Bell signalled his intentions to retire. Upon the insistence of the club, he agreed to play on. In hindsight the move was a mistake. Bell played the first half of 2008 by correspondence. He lived in Geraldton and rarely trained with the team. There have been no issues with Bell’s form. The reason that the Dockers were so keen for him to play on in 2008 was because the club expected to be in finals contention.
The Dockers clearly overestimated the state of their list at the beginning of the season. Coach Mark Harvey made a mistake by bringing Mark Johnson and Kepler Bradley to the club. If either player had been worth a senior game, Essendon wouldn’t have delisted them. Although it has not been officially announced yet, this will be Johnson’s last year. Bradley will probably last one more year. It is time that Mark Harvey severed all ties with his previous club. He should never bring an ex-Essendon player to the club again.
Once the Dockers were officially eliminated from the finals race, changes began to take place. Matthew Carr retired. He was only twenty-nine years old, but the perception was that he would not be a part of the next Dockers challenge for a premiership. Peter Bell is now gone. Mark Johnson will follow suit. It is also time for Shaun McManus to retire. McManus is a foundation player of the club who is the most experienced player on the Docker’s list. However, to be blunt, McManus is part of the problem. He has let the team down in crucial situations too often. They are better off without him.
Jeff Farmer poses an interesting question for the Dockers. Farmer’s contract runs out at the end of this season. He was recently dropped for behavioural reasons. This alone could spell the end for Farmer. However when a host of experienced players all leave a team at once the bottom can fall out from underneath it. Farmer is on his last legs as a footballer. He has played some good football at times this season and might be able to offer the Dockers one more year. Whether they are prepared to put up with his regular indiscretions is another matter. Perhaps Farmer, more than anyone else, represents the fabric of the only AFL team not to have won a premiership?
In recent weeks speculation has grown that Josh Carr is seeking a trade back to his old club. Mark Williams spoke highly of Carr during the week, saying that he would be prepared to make a bid for the premiership-winning midfielder. Josh Carr’s five seasons as a Docker must be considered a failure. He has been unable to curb his aggression and has drawn the ire of his coach. Most importantly, he was recruited to help the team win a premiership. He has not delivered. Carr’s brother has now left the club. A return to Port Adelaide should be considered a distinct possibility.
It is worth mentioning that Paul Hasleby has been a huge loss for the Dockers. He is their best midfielder and was reportedly primed for a great season. Des Headland has missed the majority of this season due to injury and will also add to their midfield stocks when he returns. Like Carr, it would be fair to say that Headland’s career at Fremantle has been a failure. He is no spring chicken. While Headland has openly mocked Leigh Matthews’ tough and disciplined approach to coaching, it is worth mentioning that Headland played his best football under Matthews. More friendly coaches have allowed Headland, a player of immense talent, to cruise through his AFL career.
The Dockers played in a preliminary final in 2006. They appeared to be on the brink of a successful era. This has not happened. Interestingly, former coach Chris Connolly said that Fremantle’s 2006 finish was as far as he felt that group could go. This is clearly why he traded for Tarrant and Solomon the following season. Although both players have been serviceable, neither has set the world on fire. Connolly eventually fell on his own sword. He was a victim of the expectations that his playing group had created.
The one common quality in all of the Fremantle players who have underperformed in recent seasons – Carr, Farmer, Headland, Tarrant, Solomon, Mark Johnson - is that they have been recruited from other clubs. Palmer, Ibbotson and Maybe represent the next generation of Fremantle players. They are all young, talented and quick. If the club can hold onto the services of Aaron Sandilands and Robert Warnock, they will have a lethal ruck combination for the next five years. Matthew Pavlich is a great leader. Any criticism directed at him this season lacks intelligence. He is the one Fremantle player who seems to be fighting the fabric of the club.
The Dockers clearly overestimated the state of their list at the beginning of the season. Coach Mark Harvey made a mistake by bringing Mark Johnson and Kepler Bradley to the club. If either player had been worth a senior game, Essendon wouldn’t have delisted them. Although it has not been officially announced yet, this will be Johnson’s last year. Bradley will probably last one more year. It is time that Mark Harvey severed all ties with his previous club. He should never bring an ex-Essendon player to the club again.
Once the Dockers were officially eliminated from the finals race, changes began to take place. Matthew Carr retired. He was only twenty-nine years old, but the perception was that he would not be a part of the next Dockers challenge for a premiership. Peter Bell is now gone. Mark Johnson will follow suit. It is also time for Shaun McManus to retire. McManus is a foundation player of the club who is the most experienced player on the Docker’s list. However, to be blunt, McManus is part of the problem. He has let the team down in crucial situations too often. They are better off without him.
Jeff Farmer poses an interesting question for the Dockers. Farmer’s contract runs out at the end of this season. He was recently dropped for behavioural reasons. This alone could spell the end for Farmer. However when a host of experienced players all leave a team at once the bottom can fall out from underneath it. Farmer is on his last legs as a footballer. He has played some good football at times this season and might be able to offer the Dockers one more year. Whether they are prepared to put up with his regular indiscretions is another matter. Perhaps Farmer, more than anyone else, represents the fabric of the only AFL team not to have won a premiership?
In recent weeks speculation has grown that Josh Carr is seeking a trade back to his old club. Mark Williams spoke highly of Carr during the week, saying that he would be prepared to make a bid for the premiership-winning midfielder. Josh Carr’s five seasons as a Docker must be considered a failure. He has been unable to curb his aggression and has drawn the ire of his coach. Most importantly, he was recruited to help the team win a premiership. He has not delivered. Carr’s brother has now left the club. A return to Port Adelaide should be considered a distinct possibility.
It is worth mentioning that Paul Hasleby has been a huge loss for the Dockers. He is their best midfielder and was reportedly primed for a great season. Des Headland has missed the majority of this season due to injury and will also add to their midfield stocks when he returns. Like Carr, it would be fair to say that Headland’s career at Fremantle has been a failure. He is no spring chicken. While Headland has openly mocked Leigh Matthews’ tough and disciplined approach to coaching, it is worth mentioning that Headland played his best football under Matthews. More friendly coaches have allowed Headland, a player of immense talent, to cruise through his AFL career.
The Dockers played in a preliminary final in 2006. They appeared to be on the brink of a successful era. This has not happened. Interestingly, former coach Chris Connolly said that Fremantle’s 2006 finish was as far as he felt that group could go. This is clearly why he traded for Tarrant and Solomon the following season. Although both players have been serviceable, neither has set the world on fire. Connolly eventually fell on his own sword. He was a victim of the expectations that his playing group had created.
The one common quality in all of the Fremantle players who have underperformed in recent seasons – Carr, Farmer, Headland, Tarrant, Solomon, Mark Johnson - is that they have been recruited from other clubs. Palmer, Ibbotson and Maybe represent the next generation of Fremantle players. They are all young, talented and quick. If the club can hold onto the services of Aaron Sandilands and Robert Warnock, they will have a lethal ruck combination for the next five years. Matthew Pavlich is a great leader. Any criticism directed at him this season lacks intelligence. He is the one Fremantle player who seems to be fighting the fabric of the club.
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