Is Fremantle the sleeping giant in this year’s premiership race?
“Surprising” numbers have revealed the Dockers are “in very good shape” and may just be ready to let the competition know where they sit,” as put by Saints legend Leigh Montagna on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
It comes ahead of defining month for the 5-3 Dockers where they face Sydney (Optus Stadium), St Kilda (Marvel Stadium), Collingwood (Optus Stadium) and Melbourne (TIO Traeger Park).
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Round 9
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The numbers don’t lie, with Fremantle’s profile among the elite sides of the competition to see the club looking more like its 2022 run to a semi-final after tumbling to 14th last year.
Starting in defence, the Dockers have been “elite and back to their 2022 numbers” — ranked second in the competition in points against, third in inside 50s against, fourth in opposition score per inside 50 and third in points against from turnovers.
Montagna highlighted that 15 of the last 19 premiers have sat top six in both inside 50s against and opposition score per inside 50, while 14 of the last 20 premiers have finished top three in points against from turnover.
“Right now they’d have three (defenders) in the All-Australian squad — Alex Pearce, absolutely, Luke Ryan, absolutely, and Jordan Clark is having a hell of a year,” he said on AFL 360.
Led by Caleb Serong’s superstar ascension, Fremantle’s midfield has been “one of their greatest strengths.”
They’ve ranked first in the AFL in clearance differential, fifth in points from clearance differential, sixth in contested possession differential and third in points against from turnovers.
“We know how elite their midfield numbers are,” Montagna added.
“Caleb Serong is the sixth-highest rated player in the game, Hayden Young is now a top 25 midfielder. Sean Darcy is back as a top five ruckman in the competition.”
The one area that’s let the Dockers down in recent times has been their forward line and ability to score, however there’s reason to be optimism about it improving.
While Freo has rated only 10th in points for and 15th in inside 50s, it sits fourth in score per inside 50 percentage.
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“When they do get the ball inside 50, they have been scoring, their issue is just generating more inside 50s,” Montagna noted.
Josh Treacy last weekend announced himself as a key cornerstone of that forward line alongside Jye Amiss, with Treacy kicking a career-best four goals against Richmond.
Montagna pointed out that Longmuir’s side improved from 44 inside 50s to 55 last week, while it’s been third in the last fortnight in scoring (100 per game) by playing at a quicker pace.
“This is what they have adjusted in their ball movement that has given them a chance to get more entries to score — this long kick down the line,” the dual All-Australian added.
“The first six weeks Fremantle was the worst team in the competition at winning their own down the line play. The last two weeks they’re now sixth in the competition.
“It puts speed on the ball so all of a sudden you don’t look slow. It gives you great looks and great opportunity going inside 50.
“Their handball receives numbers off a mark have doubled the last two weeks from what they were doing the first six weeks of the season. It’s a massive reason why your inside 50s are significantly more — that one handball breaks a line and team defence.
“If they can add this ball movement to what they’re already doing contest and defence wise, this next month we might find out a lot more about Fremantle and they may be put in the same basket as five or six of these other teams we’re talking about.”
