Alex Pearce signs 2 year extension

valkorum · January 08, 2018, 07:25:17 PM

Great news for a Monday

Alex Pearce signs extension that keeps him at the club until the end of 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhyMBlX2qV0

Peter · January 09, 2018, 02:43:43 PM

I know we have an active Freo supporter on FF - is Pearce a likely Round 1 candidate, with Weller out?

Ricochet · January 09, 2018, 04:46:22 PM

Quote from: Peter on January 09, 2018, 02:43:43 PM
I know we have an active Freo supporter on FF - is Pearce a likely Round 1 candidate, with Weller out?

Wilson comes in for Weller

Pearce will go close but has missed a lot of footy

valkorum · January 09, 2018, 05:19:40 PM

A Pearce is a 197cm key defender, so completely different player to Weller. As Ricochet said, Wilson is the Weller replacement. If fit, and has shown a bit in the pre-season I believe Pearce is a very big chance for round 1.

Pearce and Hamling are the 2 x key defenders for Freo for the next 5 - 7 years.

Peter · January 09, 2018, 06:11:16 PM

Thanks - lets hope Ross Lyon plays him then

Gigantor · January 09, 2018, 09:33:45 PM

Quote from: Peter on January 09, 2018, 06:11:16 PM
Thanks - lets hope Ross Lyon plays him then

At 22 heâ€™s no longer a kid so Ross should play him

valkorum · January 10, 2018, 12:07:43 AM

Quote from: Gigantor on January 09, 2018, 09:33:45 PM
Quote from: Peter on January 09, 2018, 06:11:16 PM
Thanks - lets hope Ross Lyon plays him then

At 22 heâ€™s no longer a kid so Ross should play him

Ross has played lots of kids over the last few years, so please stop saying he doesnt play the kids.

anchorman · January 10, 2018, 01:28:05 AM

Alex Pearce is a key backman and would have had his spot well and truly cemented but for breaking his leg.. twice.Same as Nat Fyfe.
I think he will take a few games to fit in properly, but will certainly take a key position in the back line.
As has been stated, Wilson will more than take Wellers place in the back line.A much better kick and decision maker than Weller.Also as fast as Weller.

Peter · January 10, 2018, 09:28:01 AM

With the players Freo now have and the strength in their backline, they really must be a chance for the eight. Fyfe and Mundy supporting McCarthy and Taberner means looking ok. Whatâ€™s your thoughts Valkorum?

valkorum · January 10, 2018, 11:30:00 AM

I think 10 - 12 wins is a good season for us. As you said, our backline is looking very good with A Pearce, Hamling, Johnson, Logue, Wilson, L Ryan, Spurr.

Our top level talent in the midfield is great with Fyfe, Neale, Mundy, B Hill, S Hill, Blakely: but its the next group of players that we need the biggest improvement from.

Tucker, Langdon, Hughes, Nyhuis, Grey, Sherridan, Sutcliffe, Cerra, Brayshaw, Crowden, North

Admittedly, 4 of these guys are rookies so they will take a couple of years just to get up to elite fitness levels, body size etc.

Then there is our forward line. We have great small forwards with Walters, Ballas, Bennell and now Matera, but our key talls has been an issue. McCarthy & Kersten look to be good 2nd/3rd talls IMO. Taberner finally started to show a bit late in the season but just couldnt convert. Brennan Cox is an amazing mark but couldnt kick straight to save his life... from all reports he has been working very hard on his goal kicking over the off season. I have always been impressed with Apeness but he has been injured for most of his career, hopefully he can stay healthy and show us what he has got. Then we also drafted a couple of rookie talls in Dixon and Meek but I don't expect to see them in Freo colours next season.

Sean Darcy had an amazing year for a rookie ruckman, looking forward to see how he develops this year. Hopefully he has been working on his tank as that was letting him down late in games.

All in all, the future is bright but I don't see us pushing for the 8 this season... but you never know. We do have a soft draw and if we can string some wins together early it might be enough to get us over the line. My thoughts are: just miss the 8 this coming season but land comfortably in the 8 the following season and for the next few seasons start pushing for the premiership.

Peter · January 10, 2018, 04:47:07 PM

Yes, the draw was the factor I forgot to mention as very favourable. I not sure the three forward talls are that important as Tigers and Bulldogs have won the past two flags with only one decent forward. The ability of the decent mid-size guys to be an option is crucial - think Martin, Bont, Townsend, Fyfe; then the little guys to mop up. Hopefully no injuries

anchorman · January 10, 2018, 06:54:04 PM

Quote from: valkorum on January 10, 2018, 11:30:00 AM
I think 10 - 12 wins is a good season for us. As you said, our backline is looking very good with A Pearce, Hamling, Johnson, Logue, Wilson, L Ryan, Spurr.

Our top level talent in the midfield is great with Fyfe, Neale, Mundy, B Hill, S Hill, Blakely: but its the next group of players that we need the biggest improvement from.

Tucker, Langdon, Hughes, Nyhuis, Grey, Sherridan, Sutcliffe, Cerra, Brayshaw, Crowden, North

Admittedly, 4 of these guys are rookies so they will take a couple of years just to get up to elite fitness levels, body size etc.

Then there is our forward line. We have great small forwards with Walters, Ballas, Bennell and now Matera, but our key talls has been an issue. McCarthy & Kersten look to be good 2nd/3rd talls IMO. Taberner finally started to show a bit late in the season but just couldnt convert. Brennan Cox is an amazing mark but couldnt kick straight to save his life... from all reports he has been working very hard on his goal kicking over the off season. I have always been impressed with Apeness but he has been injured for most of his career, hopefully he can stay healthy and show us what he has got. Then we also drafted a couple of rookie talls in Dixon and Meek but I don't expect to see them in Freo colours next season.

Sean Darcy had an amazing year for a rookie ruckman, looking forward to see how he develops this year. Hopefully he has been working on his tank as that was letting him down late in games.

All in all, the future is bright but I don't see us pushing for the 8 this season... but you never know. We do have a soft draw and if we can string some wins together early it might be enough to get us over the line. My thoughts are: just miss the 8 this coming season but land comfortably in the 8 the following season and for the next few seasons start pushing for the premiership.

A good summary Valk. I am thinking we will cop some hiding during the coming season, due to inexperience,but we will have a better season that 2017.
I am tipping a big break out by Taberner this season.Like you I thought he showed he deserves to be playing AFL.As for Apeness, well we will just have to wait and see.He was my big win for us when we selected him.But unfortunately, he has been very injury prone.But if we get him on the park all season, he will be a wrecking ball for us up forward.
Darcy I am sure will go from strength to strength.Still the same weight I believe, but built into hardened muscle.
If I had to select one of our recruits to make it as a first season player, maybe other than out first two selections, I would go for Crowden.He looks ready made and a terrier.