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Docker blunder could lead to Fremantle's plunder
By Matt Marsden on Sat, 21/08.2010Sickening, gutless, pathetic. I sit here and think of many words that describe Fremantle's insipid "effort" against Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon. Woeful, spineless, weak. In the years that I have been watching the AFL, I have never seen a game from one side that has been played with so little interest.
I think back to Adelaide's smashing of the same Fremantle team during the 2009 season and although they managed more points this time around, there was less effort in this game and no genuine opposition offered. At least in last year's thrashing, Fremantle tried and failed. This time they just failed on an unbelievable scale.
Fremantle, supposedly a top eight (arguably top four) team, were thrashed to the tune of 116 points by a team that was barely hanging on to its' spot in the top eight. The question that must be raised however, is does the AFL have enough evidence to investigate Fremantle for bringing the game into disrepute?
The massive amount of outs due to 'soreness' that Fremantle posted on Thursday night offered enough weight to raise the eyebrows of the Aussie Rules public. While it had become obvious that Fremantle were resting their legs for their clash against Carlton, the huge number of quality players sitting in the stands gives the impression that Fremantle threw the game to concentrate on the big one next week.
Sure, no draft picks are at stake, but what Fremantle have effectively done is tank.
Furthermore, the Dockers have "tanked" at a questionable time. The Western Bulldogs losing to Sydney means that if Fremantle had won today and win next week, they would secure a second chance in the finals as well as a chance to have a crack at the ladder leaders in Collingwood. Now if they lose next week to Carlton, they will drop to at least seventh and be made to travel interstate. They've thrown away a chance to really make an impact in September. It's more than fair to say that after their display, nobody can take them serious as a contender for the 2010 AFL Premiership.
A win against the Blues is the only option for Fremantle to redeem themselves. A loss will signal a failed plan to rest key players and more than likely cost Fremantle their entire 2010 season.
Did Dockers coach Mark Harvey make the right decision in resting players and throwing the game? Leave your opinion in the comments section below:
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Definately made the right
Definately made the right decision in my eyes.
As for the AFL, they can do squat about this. A team has the right to prepare for the finals how they see fit.
Commonsense would dictate you'd rest players gradually but as was alluded to, because of our injuries, we haven't been able to do that.
At the end of the day, we'll see what happens. We could beat Carlton and Harvs would be hailed a genius. On the other hand we could get beaten and Harvs would have the boot sunk into him (nothing new here either).
Well written article but I'd have to disagree with the nature of it
The right decision was made and when you take into account the fixture and injuries, it was the only thing we could do
Each to their own, but
Each to their own, but there's a fine line between preparing for the finals in a way that gives a certain team an advantage and flat out controlling the game.
I see this as a very poor
I see this as a very poor choice by the coaching staff at Freo... To rest that many players and lose a game that badly will cause more negatives at Freo than a win against carlton will make up for....
Losing by 116 points will damage young promising players such as Roberton badly and will have a massive impact on their momentum going into the finals..
Even if they win next week, still a very very poor decision
Fremantle had no choice but
Fremantle had no choice but to make the decision they made because of the unfair fixturing of the afl. Freo have the worst timed road trips. A trip from Perth to Launceston with a 6 day turnaround before Round 22. All those Victorian media twits have no idea of the extra toll that travelling takes over a year. The AFL have been horribly unfair to Freo. They won't even play at the MCG this year until they have won a final. Collingwood think travelling by charter jet to Brisbane is an imposition.
Freo's team is very young and very tired with lots of niggling injuries. Harvey made a great call. making unpopular decisions is part of his job.
That's absolute bulldust,
That's absolute bulldust, Cherub and you know it. The West Coast Eagles and Sydney Swans had hectic schedules and threw every ounce of grit and determination into their 2005 and 2006 campaigns, winning games not only at home, but on the road. The bottom line is, if a club has enough discipline and depth in its squad, it will win games of footy playing in any state.
Put the violin back in the closet and stop making excuses. Fremantle had a golden opportunity to clinch a top 4 spot. An assault for the flag is better achieved through a winning team culture. Winning form should not be toyed with leading into finals.
Come on Ando, let's be
Come on Ando, let's be serious here.
What winning form has Freo had? Seriously?
Past 7 weeks
Lost to Richmond by 19
Beat Melbourne by 11
Lost to Bulldogs by 82
Beat West Coast by 75
Lost to Kangaroos by 54
Lost to Sydney by 9
Lost to Hawthorn by 116
If you call that winning form, well, I'm sorry, that's bulldust
Also we don't have the depth in our squad because of the Connolly/Schwab era of trading picks and topping up. Did you know that the past 2 years, we've cleaned out half our squad? How can you have depth when you have 15 players who are first or second year players?
I'm glad to see that the
I'm glad to see that the article has brought on some discussion.
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