Preview 2025 Best 22 Discussion

[anchor man]

The forwards are all going to have to be on their toes right now. The arrival of Reid with Bolton makes the area a mine field.
Cooper Simpson, with a full preseason under his belt must be a look in if he performs well at Peel.
A much talented player, with great skill to add to the crew lining up for spots.
A couple of bad games and bingo start thinking of wearing Teal at Peel.

 

[BoneBroth]

Re-watched the first 3 rounds of the 24 season. Both Fyfe and Walters had hot starts to the year, and contributed well. I had actually forgotten how well they both played early.

Fyfe will be battling with Ras for the 4th inside mid position and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts the season.

The only way I see Walters making his way in, is if they see Sturt as making us too tall. He could be a smaller option, with Darcy back and Jackson playing forward permanently.

Great depth if they are both pushed out


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[eastfreo75]

Re-watched the first 3 rounds of the 24 season. Both Fyfe and Walters had hot starts to the year, and contributed well. I had actually forgotten how well they both played early.

Fyfe will be battling with Ras for the 4th inside mid position and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts the season.

The only way I see Walters making his way in, is if they see Sturt as making us too tall. He could be a smaller option, with Darcy back and Jackson playing forward permanently.

Great depth if they are both pushed out


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Impossible to fit all the players who can play solid AFL footy.

 

[Dale147]

 

[King Huskii]

I personally would love to see Serong as captain

He has come over from country Vic, breathed life into our club and is next level driven to win freos first premiership. Hes also super vocal and wears his heart on his sleeve.

 

[greatgatsby]

Fremantle captain Alex Pearce defends broken arm decision, praises emergence of Josh Draper​

Alex Pearce is back to full training after a challenging 2024 that saw him break his arm twice. The Freo captain talks about his injury trouble and the difficult selection calls facing the Dockers.

@ByElizaReilly

4 min read
December 21, 2024 - 8:00AM
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/f...ory/eade7d477f3ed288c3aab85d22239192#comments
Alex Pearce has missed more football in the last five years than some players miss across their careers.

But the Fremantle captain is adamant that he made the right decision to return to the field after just three games on the sidelines with a broken arm.
The key defender originally broke his arm against Gold Coast on June 23. Pearce returned to the field against Melbourne on July 21 but suffered another break in the third quarter.
Some questioned whether Pearce returned too soon after his initial setback. But the 29-year-old has defended the call and the resilience it has instilled in him.

Alex Pearce had a challenging 2024. Picture: Getty Images

“With hindsight, I clearly would’ve had another week off,” Pearce said. “I spoke about it with our coaches and medical team at the end of the season and given the information that we had, the way it felt and the way I trained, I wouldn’t have made a different decision.
“You’re never 100 per cent sure but with all the data we had, if I was in that position again, I think I would’ve made the same decision.
“It’s fully healed. I’ve got a big scar that reminds me of it.
“It doesn’t remind me to be cautious but it’s a reminder that I’m still going and it won’t stop me. Through that disappointment and injuries, they’ve always driven me to get back and get better and this one has as well.”
Pearce was so desperate for Fremantle to feature in September that he would’ve been prepared to risk breaking his arm a third time had the Dockers qualified for finals. He was on track to play in week one after surgery but instead, Fremantle lost its last three games of the season and tumbled out of the top eight.
“I would’ve been pushing to play in the first final,” Pearce said. “The only silver lining of us not making it was that I didn’t put myself in a position to break it again for a third time.
“I was able to take my team and heal fully. I’ve been fully training and haven’t had too many issues. There’s still little things here and there and a bit of discomfort I get but it’s all healed really strongly.

Pearce is feeling confident in his body. Picture: Getty Images

“The way the season ended was really disappointing for me but it was disappointing for everyone involved. All you can do is focus on what you can do to make sure you return stronger and I’m really confident that’s what the guys have done.
“We’re really hungry. We have a strong desire to put ourselves in those high-pressure situations again but this time, come out on top.”
Fremantle’s backline is shaping up as some of the more intriguing selection battlegrounds this summer given the emergence of Josh Draper.
The 20-year-old was one of the Dockers’ biggest improvers in 2024 and won plaudits from around the AFL after his match-winning display against Sydney in round 16. After making his debut against North Melbourne in round 2 as cover for injured pair Brennan Cox and Oscar McDonald, Draper played 20 games for the season.

Joshua Draper is pushing for a spot in Freo’s best 23. Picture: Getty Images

Asked if there’s room for Draper in a fully-fit Fremantle backline, Pearce said his development would be hard to ignore.
“I think so,” he said. “A couple of us have the versatility to play on different-sized forwards.
“It’s going to be a really hard backline to break into. Our new coach Jade Rawlings has his work cut out picking that back seven.
“Heath Chapman is in really good form already. Luke Ryan is coming off another All-Australian season. There’s a lot of guys in there who are in good form and will be hoping to play round one. There’s too many good players to fit in the team.”
Pearce was battling a stress fracture in his foot the last time the AFL held an Indigenous All-Stars game. Now almost a decade on, Pearce has emerged as one of the best key defenders in the AFL.
Pearce was part of the second batch of players named in the squad to play against his current side Fremantle at Optus Stadium in February.

“The AFL has always done a good job of celebrating Indigenous football and this is going to add another element to that,” he said. “I think given the quality of players I’m going to have the opportunity to play alongside, I’m sure the boys will put on a good show.
“To have this game, you need someone to play against and I know that (Dockers chief executive) Simon Garlick and the club were really keen on being involved.”

Fremantle veteran Michael Walters and recruit Shai Bolton have also been named in the squad with the latter set to play his first pre-season practice match in Perth against his new club.
“I’ve been trying to keep my distance from him on the training track so he doesn’t embarrass me,” Pearce said. “He’s a tough man to tackle.
“I’m excited about what he can do for us this year and the legacy he can create for himself as a Fremantle player and a successful one. Hopefully, he can play more than 100 games for the club.”