Squad Breakdown: Fremantle Dockers 2023 SC analysis

All aboard quite possibly the biggest hype train in the league right now!

GO DOKERS.

Freo boasted one of the best young midfields in the league last season (despite trading Adam Cerra to the Blues) led by Andrew Brayshaw and now they’ve added former Rising Star winner Jaeger O’Meara into the mix.

Couple that with one of the best young rebounding half-backs in the comp (Hayden Young), and you’d have to assume that Freo’s best is yet to come.

The forward line is an area that has and will continue to need fixing, especially now that their leading goalkicker Rory Lobb got traded to the Bulldogs; but the signing of Luke Jackson – regardless of whether he spends more time in the ruck or up forward – is one that is sure to fill any void.

The Dockers will be looking to improve on their fifth placed finish and Semi Final exit year, and I think they have the ingredients to do so.

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Team

FB: L. Ryan, A. Pearce, H. Chapman

HB: H. Young, B. Cox, B. Walker

C: J. Aish, C. Serong, J. Clarke

HF: W. Brodie, M. Taberner, M. Walters

FF: M. Frederick, L. Jackson, L. Schultz

FOL: S. Darcy, J. O’Meara, A. Brayshaw

INT: N. Fyfe, S. Switkowski, J. Amiss, N. O’Driscoll

SUB: B. Banfield

EMG: J. Treacy, L. Henry, C. Wagner, J. Corbett,

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List Changes

Ins: Josh Corbett (trade, Gold Coast), Hugh Davies (No.33, draft pick), Josh Draper (category B rookie), Tom Emmett (No.41, draft pick), Luke Jackson (trade, Melbourne), Max Knobel (No.42, draft pick), Jaeger O’Meara (trade, Hawthorn), Liam Reidy (rookie draft), Corey Wagner (No.57, draft pick), Conrad Williams (category B rookie)

Outs: Blake Acres (trade, Carlton, Connor Blakely (delisted), Mitch Crowden (delisted), Rory Lobb (trade, Western Bulldogs), Griffin Logue (trade, North Melbourne), Lloyd Meek (trade, Hawthorn), David Mundy (retired), Darcy Tucker (trade, North Melbourne), Joel Western (delisted)

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Lock & Load

Hayden Young (DEF, $508,200, 10%)

It feels slightly weird putting anyone who’s NOT Andy Brayshaw in this section, but I have to show some love to Hayden Young for how good he has looked this pre-season.

Entering his fourth season, Young has seen a rapid uptick in scoring since his debut season; going from 52 in 2020, to 77 in 2021, all the way to 92 in 2022.

I really think he can boost that to 100+ this season, if not higher.

Numerous reports have suggested that Young has been a standout in Freo’s match sims, and we already know how much Longmuir loves the ball in his hands.

Speaking to SEN WA, Longmuir said: “(Young) has taken a massive step forward this pre-season as a half-back. He can win the ball back but also distribute the way he does. Looks like one of our players who’ll take a big step fwd this year”.

I’m tempted to pick him at D1 instead of Sicily…

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Mid-Pricer

Jaeger O’Meara (MID, $472,400, 1%)

It’s easy to point the finger at JOM and say he had a terrible season last year, but it honestly wasn’t his fault.

He’s a midfielder. Plain and simple.

So, when he’s rotating forward for whatever reason, he is understandably lost. Have you seen the size of him?? He doesn’t below anywhere except in the middle of the ground.

Freo have brought him in for a reason and it’s because they want his massive frame at the centre stoppages to assist the slightly smaller bodies of Brayshaw and Serong.

He’s yet to average 100+ in his career, but has shown that when he’s given that consistent midfield role, he can safely average 90+.

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Cheapie

Corey Wagner (DEF/MID, $117,300, 29%)

The Melbourne and North Melbourne reject managed to find some career best form in the VFL last year for Port Melbourne in a new position off half-back.

He averaged 105 SuperCoach points last season, but from Round 17 averaged 124!

There is a vacant spot up for grabs with the departure of Blake Acres, and with AFL experience under his belt, Wagner could be the first in line to snatch it.

He’s currently working his way back from a hamstring injury so a Round 1 debut looks unlikely, but I guarantee you he will play at some point this season.

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Avoid

Nat Fyfe (MID/FWD, $313,600, 39%)

I know, I know.

He’s cheap, he’s under-priced, he has only averaged below 100 three times in his 14-year career, and he’s literally Nat Fyfe…

BUT there is no way in hell I’m picking him this year, and I implore you to do the same.

At 31 years of age, his best years are no doubt behind him, and his last three years in particular have been riddled with injury.

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Fyfe has reached the point of his career where – similar to Dusty – his midfield minutes are a thing of the past, and his evolution into a fully-fledged-forward has reached its peak.

I can’t see Fyfe moving into the midfield very often this year, and for that reason alone (plus his horrible injury record), I think there are much better forward options out there instead.

I really don’t see the hype with him, and I’m struggling to empathise with the 39% of the comp who do?! Oh well, the more people that own him, the better it is for me when he inevitably comes crashing down.