The Fremantle Dockers had a massive trade period after a disappointing finish to the 2024 season which led to them missing the finals.
They traded for ex-Richmond superstar Shai Bolton who should add a touch of class to their forward line and drafted youngster Murphy Reid with the 17th pick who is a classy, smooth-moving midfield forward hybrid.
Here’s why they are going to be a strong team by the end of the season.
Fremantle have a very strong list with an A-grade midfield, including the likes of Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw.
For Freo’s midfield to become truly dominant they need a strong year from Hayden Young who could be the difference. Young’s main attribute is his genuine speed and kicking ability.
He started his career at halfback due to these skills, but his transition to the midfield is well-needed for the Dockers.
Their midfield without Young last year didn’t have that genuine breakneck speed that is required to tear apart games. Serong and Brayshaw are both great accumulators, but they need that explosiveness to complement them.
Bolton is another great addition to this midfield as he is a dominant forward but can also be used in the midfield to break open the game.
Shai Bolton is tackled by Sam Berry. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
One potential issue I see with the Fremantle is their key forwards. Jye Amiss had a disappointing season last year as his tally of goals went down from 41 to 36.
Many expected him to have a breakout year in 2024 but instead, it was his partner in crime Josh Treacy who increased his goal tally from 15 to 45 in only three more games.
Their two key forwards along with Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy pinch-hitting forward should be enough height, but their depth is a real issue.
Patrick Voss had a solid year last, but at only 21 shouldn’t be relied on to be a strong contributor for a team with aspirations to push for a flag.
If Treacy or Amiss suffer any injuries, the Dockers could be in a lot of trouble.
The key forwards do have an important role in crashing the packs and making sure the ball gets to the ground, with the likes of Sam Switkowski and Shai Bolton roaming the forward line waiting for the ball at ground level.
When the Dockers play good footy they often find a way to get their small forwards involved. Lachie Shultz had his best years at Fremantle in 2022 and 2023 when their talls managed to get the smalls involved.
Jye Amiss of the Dockers. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Replacing him, after a year, with Bolton is important in them scoring enough to win a lot of games, as their backline is certainly strong enough to not allow high scores.
The Dockers should also transition from their older players to a more youthful approach. While Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters are club legends, for Freo to succeed they need to give opportunities to youngsters.
Murphy Reid is certainly a player who should be given the opportunity to showcase his talent throughout the year.
His elite kicking skills as a high half-forward means he could be a distributor into the forward line hitting up leading forwards.
Another youngster who deserves his opportunity is Neil Erasmus who only played four games last year after 14 in 2023.
He dominated the WAFL grand final last year having 26 touches and 11 tackles in a man-of-the-match performance.
If the Dockers don’t manage to find him more games throughout the year they could risk losing him to a rival who can offer a more important role.
Where do you think the Dockers will finish in the 2025 season?
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