Freo’s Basic Instinct

Freo’s Basic Instinct

GuyWhoLikesSport

I’ve never identified with Michael Douglas.

My dad wasn’t Spartacus, for starters.

But looking at Fremantle’s list, I finally understood why his character in Basic Instinct couldn’t resist Catherine Tramell.

She was the Michael Jordan of being hot, sure. But she was also a walking red flag—writing books about murders that kept happening in real life, tying people up, and making it obvious she was bad news.

Yet, despite knowing she was trouble, he still dived in headfirst.

Now, I get it.

Catherine Tramell’s basic instinct was to kill. Fremantle’s is to kill dreams.

And yet, like Nick I can’t help what I see.

I am into the Dockers.

I must confess, I really liked Fremantle last year.

I thought they were a contender who just copped too many injuries at inopportune moments.

They were an elite clearance and control team sitting third in clearances and fourth in disposals while scoring at the fifth highest rate from the back half in the league.

They did this with a varied and explosive midfield built around Caleb Serong, and Hayden Young headlining for other star level players like the ruckmen and Andy Brayshaw.

They also scored in different ways, sitting above average in scores from both stoppage and turnover while generating the fourth best shots in the league by expected score.

They did that missing crucial forward pieces throughout the year including Josh Treacy, Sam Sturt and Jye Amiss all missing time at key points.

Beyond that, they were elite defensively.

They gave up the second fewest scores per inside 50 and the second fewest total points while still scoring heavily from the back half as I mentioned.

Their defensive personnel is like the US export list – full of guns – with Luke Ryan, Brennan Cox and Heath Chapman.

More than the numbers, I thought they were well coached.

For instance, in their round 20 win against West Coast I remember a passage of play where Caleb Serong, as usual, got first hands to the ball.

He didn’t even have to look back as he knew he had Bailey Banfield behind him. Banfield opened the game up by going in-board to Brandon Walker again without needing to look.

He handballed inboard again to Andy Brayshaw who by this point was in the corridor and in space.

Maybe a second has now passed.

Brayshaw, instead of straightening up and kicking to a 3v3, kept going wide because he knew that Jeremy Sharp’s running patterns on the wing would have him screaming inside 50.

Brayshaw was right, Sharp took a chest mark and Freo got a shot.

They were one of not many teams that blended high-level coaching with elite personnel.

Anyway…they didn’t make the finals because they lost four straight games to close the season.

Minor detail.

If last year was them changing in front of me and making sure I saw it, this year is the interrogation scene.

 

If I liked them last year, I LOVE them this year.

Beyond baking in improvement from their younger players, the addition of Shai Bolton has me frothing at the mouth.

Last year they were surgical but occasionally a bit bland, particularly forward of centre. Shai Bolton is anything but that.

He’s brilliant and explosive.

I am most excited for the rotation/partnership with Hayden Young,

where Bolton can play mostly forward but pinch hit as a midfielder and Young can do the opposite. In that situation, each guy can bring their different strengths to each line when they’re in either spot. And they will be a nightmare when they’re together.

Bolton also fills gaps for Fremantle.

The Dockers were 14th in forward 50 ground ball gets last year, Bolton was second in that stat among all mid-forwards.

Fremantle struggled to get enough pressure inside 50, sitting 12th in tackles inside 50. Shai Bolton was third in tackles inside 50 last year among mid-forwards.

Bolton is the rare offseason addition that is both cream on top and gap plugger. He’s perfect.

Like Nick with Catherine, I know what I’m getting into when I get into bed with Fremantle. They’re going to kill me with an ice pick.

Also like Nick, I don’t care.

I’m into the Dockers.

 

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