THE Fremantle Dockers have nailed their list build and 2026 could be the year they reap the rewards.<\/p>\n
From drafting superstars Caleb Serong and Hayden Young with consecutive picks, acquiring Luke Jackson, Jordan Clark and Shai Bolton via trade, and the savvy recruitment of Murphy Reid, Josh Treacy and Patrick Voss, the Dockers have hardly wasted an opportunity to improve over the last decade.<\/p>\n
Despite a series of heartbreaking season endings in years past, this season feels different.<\/p>\n
Through eight games, Fremantle has seven wins, including seven straight following a tough 10-point loss to Geelong in Round 1, a game the Dockers led by 35 points in the second term.<\/p>\n
A shift away from their typical defensive setup under coach Justin Longmuir has revitalised the side, introducing a much faster pace in attack that has benefited the side’s forward stocks.<\/p>\n
In ripping form and with talent across the ground, this year presents as a brilliant opportunity for the West Australian side, who, according to Garry Lyon, hardly have a hole in their best 23 and beyond.<\/p>\n
“The question over them still is how they move the footy and how effective they are from one end to the other,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.<\/p>\n
“If you’re talking personnel, they are pretty much stacked. They are stacked everywhere.<\/p>\n
“You ask all of the questions about them and say; have you got a key defender to play on the monster forwards? Yep, Alex Pearce.<\/p>\n
“Have you got run and carry \u2013 yep, Jordan Clark. Have you got midfield depth? Well, you have now, because Shai Bolton goes through, Murphy Reid goes through, and you’ve got one of the best ruckmen.<\/p>\n
“Have you got big power forwards? Yep, we’ve got three of them. Have you got small pressure forwards? Yep, we’ve got Sam Switkowski.<\/p>\n
“They tick all of the boxes, so if you want to get into the weeds, they’ve got better at it, but it was always a bit conservative from the back half, wouldn’t take the direct line and wouldn’t be aggressive, but they’ve got better at that.<\/p>\n
“I’m really bullish on the Dockers, but we need to see it in September.”<\/p>\n
Breakfast co-host Tim Watson has recognised a shift in the Dockers’ game, with star midfielder Andrew Brayshaw playing a variety of roles outside his typical midfield position.<\/p>\n
Watson likened it to a shift made by Richmond great Trent Cotchin that resulted in premiership success.<\/p>\n
“It was always about Andrew Brayshaw; it was always about Caleb Serong,” Watson said.<\/p>\n
“Brayshaw has had to modify the way that he plays, so in some ways, he has become a more rounded, complete player.<\/p>\n
“Like Trent Cotchin did. Do you remember when Trent Cotchin had that transformation from an accumulator to a great leader on field, capable of being able to go and play a different role?”<\/p>\n
Lyon said Serong and Brayshaw’s willingness to sacrifice individual accolades could ultimately determine Fremantle’s premiership hopes.<\/p>\n
“Serong and Brayshaw have won the last four best and fairest awards, which is great, but if one of them wins it again, they probably don’t win the premiership,” Lyon said.<\/p>\n
“That’s the way I see it. If Luke Jackson wins his first best and fairest, or if Murphy Reid wins his first best and fairest, you go, wow!<\/p>\n
“I know Caleb and Andrew very well, their mindset would be the same \u2013 someone else come up! We’ve had individual success, we all like winning best and fairest and being All-Australian, that’s cool.<\/p>\n
“But for them right now, it’s we want a medal. If that means we have to play a different role, we will. I think that’s an evolution of that football club as well.”<\/p>\n