2014 - Pass or Fail?

[Ricochet]

Have to concede and admit 2014 was definitely a fail for us. Injuries hit us, but they also hit Hawthorn so I'm not going to fall back on that excuse (although McPharlin, Johnson and Ballas would have been handy in finals). Depth is the key to success, and we do have it, but some just weren't quite there when it mattered. Probably the most disappointing thing was our experienced players on Saturday night. Spurr was beaten, DPearce didn't do enough, Pavlich was held, Mayne was down and Subes was average. All have been around long enough to know what is required and to stand up when needed. They didn't.

We may not have finished there, but we are a top 3 side in my eyes and on the same level as Sydney and Hawks. So to go out when we did and the way we did just wasn't good enough. To miss all those goals in the first half on the weekend was extremely frustrating, especially after the 2013 GF efforts and a real focus to improve our goal kicking under pressure this year.

But thats enough negative stuff from me. Looking on to 2015, we certainly won't fall away. Our kids coming through are good enough and have been putting pressure on the de Boer's, CPearce's, Sylvia's. Taberner has shown enough. Neale is already a gun and highly rated internally. And I rate Silvagni highly. To go the next step, we really need guys like de Boer, CPearce and Sylvia to improve/be injury free and force their way back into the side, because they are all very good players. Many times this year I've felt we've missed Clancee's ball use by foot and de Boer's pressure (especially when Mayne was struggling). Those two are pretty important for us going forward imo. And I'd love to see what a fit Sylvia brings to the table.

What are your thoughs boys? Valk, dirkdiggler, Adamant and co

[ossie85]

From 2nd to 6th, with Pavlich, McPharlin and Sandilands another year older is big fail.

Ross Lyon cut and run the last time his team started to decline, and he inherited 2 teams that were already decent football sides.

We haven't seen evidence of Lyon recovering a team from a decline yet. St. Kilda he took on the rise. Fremantle he took on the rise...

... that'd be my worry. Not saying he won't achieve greatness, but just nothing to base it on yet.

[Ricochet]

We have enough in the 2s to cover the retiring players. Taberner, Silvagni, Griffin to replace Pav, Sandi and McPharlin. And we have enough talented kids coming through as well. Which is why I'm not really worried about us falling away. For me its just about us taking the next step

[Ricochet]

Also Frawley met with us here in Perth over the weekend apparently

[jvalles69]

All I can say is why the hell did they change their game to an offensive attacking game?!?  They've done this over the past 6 weeks and it went away from their usual tactics of locking the game down for 2-3 quarters throwing the opposition off their game then counterattacking with a barage of goals in the 4th when the other team was already stunned?  This tactic took them to top 4 2 years in a row and a grand final.  Port used almost the same tactic against them.

When Pav, Sandi and McPharlin retire, you guys are going to struggle, leadership is a huge thing and having guys like that leave is a bigger difference than you think.  Look at Geelong, they've lost a few leaders and the young guys aren't stadning up like they did prior letting guys like Bartel, Selwood, Enright and Kelly do all the hard work.  Freo's young guns will struggle without those 3 names IMO.

[Ricochet]

I think our leadership group with be fine tbh jvalles. We'll have Pav and co for another year and Fyfe, Mundy, Spurr, Barlow, Ballas are part of our core experienced leaders. They'll have another year to develop and others will gain more experience while Pav and co are phased out

[jvalles69]

I think our leadership group with be fine tbh jvalles. We'll have Pav and co for another year and Fyfe, Mundy, Spurr, Barlow, Ballas are part of our core experienced leaders. They'll have another year to develop and others will gain more experience while Pav and co are phased out

Fyfe, Mundy and Barlow yes, the other 2 not so sure.  Anyway good luck, I'd be pretty confident in saying your window is slightly closing...whether or not Lyon can keep them at the top 6 level till they do rebuild some of that leadership is what's going to make or break you over the next few years.  Personally I think a few teams may leapfrog Freo next year unless a few of the younger guys take the next step.  Neale will be very solid for you next year.

[Ricochet]

I think our leadership group with be fine tbh jvalles. We'll have Pav and co for another year and Fyfe, Mundy, Spurr, Barlow, Ballas are part of our core experienced leaders. They'll have another year to develop and others will gain more experience while Pav and co are phased out

Fyfe, Mundy and Barlow yes, the other 2 not so sure.  Anyway good luck, I'd be pretty confident in saying your window is slightly closing...whether or not Lyon can keep them at the top 6 level till they do rebuild some of that leadership is what's going to make or break you over the next few years.  Personally I think a few teams may leapfrog Freo next year unless a few of the younger guys take the next step.  Neale will be very solid for you next year.

Thanks mate. Yeh Neale will be a star. Just so you know though, Ballas and Spurr are highly regarded as 2 of the best leaders at the club.

[jvalles69]

I think our leadership group with be fine tbh jvalles. We'll have Pav and co for another year and Fyfe, Mundy, Spurr, Barlow, Ballas are part of our core experienced leaders. They'll have another year to develop and others will gain more experience while Pav and co are phased out

Fyfe, Mundy and Barlow yes, the other 2 not so sure.  Anyway good luck, I'd be pretty confident in saying your window is slightly closing...whether or not Lyon can keep them at the top 6 level till they do rebuild some of that leadership is what's going to make or break you over the next few years.  Personally I think a few teams may leapfrog Freo next year unless a few of the younger guys take the next step.  Neale will be very solid for you next year.

Thanks mate. Yeh Neale will be a star. Just so you know though, Ballas and Spurr are highly regarded as 2 of the best leaders at the club.

Ballas just does too many boneheaded things and misses games, will have to cut that shower out if he's to be a true leader.

[Mailman the 2nd]

Anything under a Prelim coming off a Grand Final has to be a fail.

That said, I think Freo will still be up there next year, they had a pretty poor start they never truly recovered from

[valkorum]

Its a fail if you compare results from last year to this year. 

From a development point of view we got some great development in some younger players with Sutcliffe & Neale the 2 that come to mind.  They have made themselves best 22

Taberner made some big steps late in the season

[Jukes]

Overall probably a fail, but check your privilege and don't be sad about making the second week of finals while *some teams* haven't done that for a decade.

[Vinny]

Yeah I'd say fail after making GF, but I wish Carlton could do a Freo fail. :P

[AaronKirk]

Also Frawley met with us here in Perth over the weekend apparently

Freo apparently offered a 7-year contract to Chip. Would be a good replacement for McPharlin but is he worth a 7-year deal?

[Mailman the 2nd]

Nowhere near worth a 7 year deal. I'm sure Freo are smart enough not to go down that road though