The weekly Freo-centric thread for all things Fantasy Football.

Which Freo players are going in this week's fantasy team, and if you're feeling particularly traitorous, which non-Freo players make the cut?

Who is on your watch list? Which player is killing you and is on the chopping block?

Have you made a masterful trade that you want to gloat about?

This is also where you can engage in friendly bants - sledge your vanquished opponent from previous rounds, or let your upcoming opponent know how badly youre going to beat them etc

(Non-Freo fans welcome for intel gathering.)

Dont forget to set your line-ups (including subs, Captains and Vice Captains) each week once team sheets are announced

Top weekly score (last week):

Top weekly score (season):

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

What happens with Justin Longmuir’s contract? That’s just one of a host of key questions that the Dockers will look to come up with answers for ahead of a big 2025. Will Justin Longmuir’s contract be extended? Fremantle enter a second consecutive summer with their coach contracted for the season ahead – and no further. Longmuir inked a one-year extension on the eve of last season, and now the club’s hierarchy must decide whether they do similar or whether they hold fire and see how the start of the new year plays out. The Dockers were on track for a top-four berth in 2024 before a late-year meltdown, and the coach remains a popular and highly-respected figure at Cockburn, but the time for rebuilding and patience is over. Their time is now, as underlined by chief executive Simon Garlick’s sense of urgency when speaking at the club’s Doig Medal night. Longmuir enters his sixth season at the helm with just one finals campaign to show for it, and will be desperate to spearhead a big summer and strong start to the new year in a bid to improve on that record. Can Sean Darcy get back to full fitness?

Sean Darcy has struggled to stay on the park in recent seasons. No Central to Longmuir’s plans is the 2021 Doig medallist, who faces a crucial summer as he looks to shrug the injuries that have plagued his past two years. Darcy has played just 10 full games out of a possible 29 since late in the 2023 campaign. It’s meant the Dockers have struggled to have a regular look at the Darcy/Luke Jackson combo that the club has invested plenty into. Fremantle footy boss Joe Brierty last month revealed the club would seek “external support” in a bid to solve the issues with Darcy’s left knee, which required an arthroscope in September. If they can figure out a way to keep the 26-year-old on the park, the Dockers will be confident he can repay the faith and show the AFL he’s worthy of the lucrative six-year extension he inked late last year. What kind of impact will Shai Bolton have?

Shai Bolton is primed to have a big impact at his new club. No It’s been almost two decades since the Dockers secured an All-Australian at the trade table, and that player – Chris Tarrant – didn’t boast the premiership experience and game-breaking potential of Bolton. Firmly in his prime as he enters Year 9 in the AFL, the former Tiger gives Freo everything they need. Pace, explosiveness, class around goals, and the ability to turn a game on its head in a short period of time. The question for the coaching staff will be what the positional split looks like. Bolton attended 54 per cent of centre bounces in Richmond games last season, but expect that figure to be closer to the 20s or 30s as Freo continue to lean heavily on the Caleb Serong/Andrew Brayshaw/Hayden Young triumvirate at stoppages. Bolton has booted more than 30 goals in each of the past three seasons, and the Dockers will be keen to see that streak continue in purple. What’s the plan for Freo’s veterans?

Michael Walters and Nat Fyfe are entering what could be their final season. No Bolton’s midfield minutes are of course tied into Fremantle’s plans for Nat Fyfe, who had a centre-bounce attendance rate of 60 per cent last season – his highest figure since 2021. The two-time Brownlow medallist stayed injury-free in 2024, but at age 33, how much will Longmuir and co want to lean on him for heavy lifting in the midfield? Similar questions abound with soon-to-be 34-year-old Michael Walters, with both players candidates to fill the substitute’s role regularly in a bid to maximise their health and efficiency. They also, of course, face plenty of pressure from some of the club’s emerging talent to hold their spots. Two other experienced players who could face a selection fight are James Aish – a Longmuir favourite who was squeezed out of the first-choice team at the end of last season – and Jaeger O’Meara. How can the Dockers find a way to win close games?

Fremantle came up short in plenty of close games last season. 2024 AFL Photos Fremantle’s 2024 campaign could have been so much different had they been able to better hold their nerve down the closing stretch of tight contests. The Dockers featured in eight games decided by a margin of 13 points or fewer, and won just one of them. It included three of their final four matches as the WA side slipped from top-four fancy to missing the finals altogether. Is it a fitness thing? Is it tactical? Or was there a pattern of a lack of composure that needs to be addressed? It’s up to Longmuir and his staff to figure out to ensure there’s no repeat of late-game wobbles in 2025.

Week 10

Fremantle Oval, Whadjuk

4:05pm Boorloo time

We also have a match thread running on our r/FremantleFC Discord. Feel free to join in there if thats more your speed

Permalink to r/FremantleFC Discord

Link to AFL Match Centre

Finals are locked in, but can we squeeze into the top 4?

Some questions:

• How do we stay sharp against a struggling opposition?
• Are we happy with our inexperienced forward line? Is now the time to try anything new before finals?
• Is Mim an AA lock yet? Anyone else deserve the blazer?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

The weekly Freo-centric thread for all things Fantasy Football.

Which Freo players are going in this week's fantasy team, and if you're feeling particularly traitorous, which non-Freo players make the cut?

Who is on your watch list? Which player is killing you and is on the chopping block?

Have you made a masterful trade that you want to gloat about?

This is also where you can engage in friendly bants - sledge your vanquished opponent from previous rounds, or let your upcoming opponent know how badly youre going to beat them etc

(Non-Freo fans welcome for intel gathering.)

Dont forget to set your line-ups (including subs, Captains and Vice Captains) each week once team sheets are announced

Top weekly score (last week):

Top weekly score (season):

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Injury updates?

Honestly, I feel like there were so many games last season where we won the game on the defensive 50! Both from AP against the opposition forwards, or JT taking an absolute grab when Luke is kicking back from defence. These two, along with Brayshaw, Young and the next brownlow medal winner Caleb Serong, are so key to keep fit. I don't know, I just hope they are 100% for next season. I still absolutely think Fyfe is essential around the contest to give some muscle and leadership. When our future hall of fame players have an absolute rig of a two time brownlow medal winner watching their back, it gives them freedom! I can't remember a great team who didn't have some absolute hard cunts who were willing to stand up for their stars!

Prediction: Fremantle will finish top 4

Prediction: Caleb Serong will win the brownlow

Prediction: Jordan Clark will be All Australian and kick more goals and start moving forward more (ie. Young)

I have absolutely no doubt Shai will fit in like a glove!

Thoughts?

Week 9

Henson Park, Sydney

11:05am Perth time

We also have a match thread running on our r/FremantleFC Discord. Feel free to join in there if thats more your speed

Permalink to r/FremantleFC Discord

Link to AFL Match Centre

Back on the winner's list!

Some questions:

• How do we keep up form but also try to avoid injuries before finals?
• Should we bring Miller back if she's fit, or play it safe?
• GWS have struggled against quality midfields, how can we capitalise with a young forward line?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

My email came through on the 11th of this month and I only happened to see it in the junk folder this morning.

The weekly Freo-centric thread for all things Fantasy Football.

Which Freo players are going in this week's fantasy team, and if you're feeling particularly traitorous, which non-Freo players make the cut?

Who is on your watch list? Which player is killing you and is on the chopping block?

Have you made a masterful trade that you want to gloat about?

This is also where you can engage in friendly bants - sledge your vanquished opponent from previous rounds, or let your upcoming opponent know how badly youre going to beat them etc

(Non-Freo fans welcome for intel gathering.)

Dont forget to set your line-ups (including subs, Captains and Vice Captains) each week once team sheets are announced

Top weekly score (last week):

Top weekly score (season):

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Glen Quartermain Club legend Shaun McManus has called on Fremantle to extend coach Justin Longmuir’s contract by a year to “remove the narrative”. Longmuir has one year remaining on a contract that was extended by 12 months on the eve of round one this season. He enters his sixth season as coach with a record nudging just above 50 per cent on the win-loss ratio, but his future will be one of the talking points of the season and will be linked to a strong top-end ladder finish. “If I was the club I would extend by a year just to get rid of that narrative,” McManus said. “I just can’t see how they can’t have a good year. “The expectations are not just making the finals, it’s playing significant finals. “My excitement level is high that we are going to be playing massive games at the end of the year. “The only thing that can stop that happening are injuries. If injuries are at a low level I’d expect Freo to be in the top four. Way-too-early best 2025 line-ups for Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles after conclusion of trade period AFL trades 2024: Glen Quartermain’s analysis and rating of every club’s dealings in this trade period “Having said that, Brisbane won it from fifth this year, but I’d expect to go to Optus Stadium every home game and see them win every single time next season.” Former captain and inaugural Docker and Channel 7 commenator McManus, who played 228 games across 14 seasons, is convinced Richmond recruit Shai Bolton is the missing piece that can land Fremantle the elusive piece of silverware they have been chasing since their inception in 1995. Bolton has an impressive record at Optus Stadium, averaging 21.67 disposals, 4.6 marks, 3.5 tackles and 2.3 goals in nine games at his new home ground. His 21 goals there is the second most goals he’s kicked at a venue behind the MCG. “You are bringing in a guy who averages about 70 shots on goals a season. That’s incredible,” McManus said. “100 per cent he is the missing piece. “He is a game changer. “If you look at all the good teams they have one person in there who is the X-factor. The person who can change a game in an instant and he can. “He can kick the miraculous goal, pick the ball off the ground one-handed at full pace and dodge three people. He can take the biggest mark on the ground. He can flip through the midfield and play in that forward line.”

Shai Bolton. No “They have come to the fore the Freo big guys but they have missed that guy who is dangerous and absolutely electric around the goals. “They have a lot of players with speed and a lot of guys who work hard, but they haven’t had that player who when the opposition plays on them the whole time, they are shaking. He is that player.” McManus conceded veteran Michael Walters, who will be 34 in round one next season and has a year left on a contract, will find life tough breaking into the team behind Bolton, Michael Frederick and Sam Switkowski. “I would think he will battle to be in that top six,” McManus said. “Shai Bolton is a completely different beast. It just makes it so dangerous for the opposition. “When you play against those teams and you look at the white board, you say ‘Well we can stop him, him and him, but we don’t know what this guy can do. “It is going to be a big deal for Freo.” The Dockers paid a heavy price for Bolton, who had three years left on his Richmond contract, sending picks 10,11 and 18 to the Tigers and getting 14 and a future third back.

Shaun McManus. Yes “It was a lot to give away in the draft. Fremantle had the best draft hand of just about any team,” McManus said. “For that you could get three young guns who would play at your club. “But Fremantle need to win now. You can’t just keep bringing young talent in. “This is the time for Freo to get that player in and everyone knows he is going to have a massive impact.” McManus was confident of a top-four finish in 2025. Longmuir has guided the Dockers to the post-season just once, in 2022. The Dockers entered 2024 with the fourth youngest list and with 10 players with more than 100 games experience. Next year they will have 12 players with more than 100 games of experience but another eight in the 50 to 100 bracket.

Shai Bolton is now a Docker. No “Fremantle’s intention is not just to make finals, and it was this year, it is to contend for the title,” McManus said. “They are not in the business of making the eight. They want to do a lot better than that. “Clearly with the list they have on paper they will be doing that. “This year they fell down in the last four games. But up until the last four games they were sitting for the most part of the season in third position. “Most people expected them to be in that top four. “It is easy to say they should have won those games – and I was so disappointed – but at the same time the teams they lost to in the final three rounds (Geelong, GWS and Port Adelaide) all ended up in the top few teams of the year. “The injuries to Josh Treacy, Alex Pearce, Sean Darcy had a huge impact on the team. “If your better players are playing, I would think it is a top-four finish all day long. This year.”

The sub/5th bench player could be banfield, walters, o’meara, erasmus or worner

So I just watched the interview Shai did on the 16th on FFC site. Very impressed with how humble he seams firstly and more importantly that he is a young family man. This gave me absolute confidence this guy us here to play footy, 8 years in the system and settled at home. Perfect recipe! Anyone heard different or know of, before I name my next born Shai

Week 8

Sullivan Logistics Stadium, Perth

4:05pm Perth time

We also have a match thread running on our r/FremantleFC Discord. Feel free to join in there if thats more your speed

Permalink to r/FremantleFC Discord

Link to AFL Match Centre

Our backline is pretty scarce when Pearce goes down and I feel like we are pretty good at developing defenders. Have a crack?

He was bad this year, the injures and general poor level of fitness was a huge hamper on him the whole year. If this continues it’s gonna be really bad, we cannot keep having to make Treacy second ruck when he’s our best forward because darcy destroys his knee or gets a soft tissue injury for the hundredth time. I feel that he really needs to sort out his fitness and get in shape because we cannot have our ruckman miss 1/2 the season anymore with the list we have which causes so many problems for the team.

With Bolton coming in and another pre season into a few boys (hopefully!), thoughts on our best 23 (including sub, or potentially 5 man bench depending on what they decide in Febish?

Here's where I've landed.

FF Switkowski Amiss Treacy HF Bolton Jackson Sonny C Drizzle Brayshaw Sharp HB Walker Ryan Clark FB Cox Pearce Chapman R Darcy Serong Young I/C Fyfe O'Meara Sturt Frederick SUB Wagner

NO Johnson (arguably for O'Meara depending on his PS) Raz (again, needs to build his case after a great WAFL showing), Banfield (squeezed out of B22 by Bolton fairly comfortably), Cooper Simpson (definitely expect to be in the running at some point in the year for injury cover or bench spot). Everyone else is cover imo.

In terms of the bench, Freddy hopefully build his tank and can give a chop out on the wing, as O'Meara clearly can/has - the former could also play outside mid as needed after another PS, the latter obvs an inside bull. Fyfe inside mid/forward (I know....). A back goes down or we need more energy and we activate Wagner.

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?