u/lasping

Can we bounce back in our first away game of the season?

Some questions:

• Skills looked down in our first game of the season (especially our i50 entries)—is this just shaking off cobwebs, or should we be worrying?
• We lost hitouts and got smashed at clearance; do we need to reconsider the midfield mix?
• Do we need any special attention to Mon Conti?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

The Home and Away season draws to a close with the minor premiership already sewn up.

Some questions:

• The outcome of this game cannot change our position, and can only very mildly change Carlton's wildcard—are we going to playing bruise-free footy, or do we need to keep grinding out improvement?
• Do you want to see anyone rested? (And how many rests can we get away with before there's strife from AFL house?)
• How did you evaluate our very tall defensive structure? Can we play the same set-up against a medium-heavy Carlton?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

Season 2026 kicks off at Cockburn!

Some questions:

• What do you expect our midfield mix to look like for s2026?
• How do we fit all our talls in the same forward line without losing ground level pressure?
• Which player, new or established, are you most excited to watch this season?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Our last home and away game at Optus—can we remain undefeated at home?

Some questions:

• Do we have any structural issues to worry about after the Melbourne loss, or was this just coming up against a good side at home, playing out of their skins?
• Do you expect any changes to the team, rests or otherwise?
• Jackson had trouble with McAndrew's height last time they matched up—do we need to rethink our #1 ruck role for this game?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

A big day out at the MCG... hopefully not the last time we see the 'G in 2026.

Some questions:

• Gawn was dominant in our r2 match-up, and just had another awe-inspiring showing in Carrara. Which rucks do we play, and do we change our midfield set-up in anticipation of a rare hit-out deficit?
• Any other changes to a winning side? (Can we afford to give B. Cox another week, or are we starting to risk conditioning issues with three weeks sidelined?)
• Melbourne are desperately scrapping for a top 4 spot, and will have the home crowd cheering them on—how can we handle 4 quarter intensity if there are no opposition lapses to take advantage of?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

Another loud Friday night at Optus to warm up those vocal chords for finals.

Some questions:

• The Bulldogs undersized defence is going to struggle to contain our 3-headed beast without some help from their game plan. How do we handle extras in defence or a congesting, flooding game plan?
• Do you have Wagner or O'Driscoll making way for Young? Any other changes?
• Teams are going to start paying close attention to young Murphy Reid—how do we help free him for those beautiful i50 kicks?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

After a scare in Adelaide, we turn our attention to the only remaining game of the year that matters. ...hang on, wait, this isn't our grand final any more.

Some questions:

• West Coast's mix of high draft picks and experience at stoppage seems to be working, while our stoppage numbers have been on decline in the back half of the year. Who do we need at center bounce to make sure we win it out of the middle?
• The perennial question for this season: which rucks are we picking?
• Is it time for Johnno to try his hand at tagger once more?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

The final stretch is upon us, and we don't want to take our points berth for granted.

Some questions:

• We've had some diabolical goal-kicking performances recently—is there some fix you'd like to see implemented, or is this just bad luck we have to roll with?
• Do you forecast any changes to the side? Any rests for senior players?
• How do we keep our killer mindset in another weird timeslot, against another injury-decimated side, and avoid another GWS-like upset?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

Finally, some real pre-game discussion to be had—but at what cost.

Some questions:

• Do you evaluate the GWS loss as a blip, the wake-up call that we needed, or are you concerned about an exposed systemic weakness?
• Who replaces Young? Do we need any additional non-forced changes to deal with Sydney?
• After being cut up by Stringer, how will we handle Curnow in blistering form?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

Another boring win chalked up by JL's boring Dockers.

Some questions:

• Despite an overall dominant performance, we went -12 on clearances in a down week for our inside midfield. Was this the greasy conditions, did Gold Coast's inside star power finally click, or are there genuine concerns about our mid mix?
• GWS gave Hawks a real scare at home by pressuring and forcing turnovers. How does our handball-heavy transition handle GWS's big bodies bearing down on us?
• I'll be honest I'm actually running out of discussion questions, there's not a whole lot to fix, we're going alright hey

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

The elimination final rematch is on at Optus.

Some questions:

• Gold Coast's 2026 midfield is dominant on paper, but has been among the worst clearance sides in the comp. Do we just hope this trend continues, or do we need special attention to any stars?
• With Jackson going so well, do we pull Sean Darcy from the WAFL to be Robin to his Batman?
• Gold Coast have shed mature role players in the off-season, and are going to be one of the youngest teams we match up on this year. How can we take advantage of our maturity, and force errors from their prime ball movers?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

After the horrifying deprivation of last weekend without Murphy Reid, we're straight back into Thursday night football.

Some questions:

• Our first 2026 rematch arrives. What did we learn from the Geelong loss, and what will Geelong have learned about Freo in the interim?
• Which changes do you expect to see? (And could we be playing our true b23 this week?)
• Do we need any direct match-ups, like a Johnno or Voss tag?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

We're in for a week without Freo footy, so maybe it's time to rewatch the North game for the sixth or seventh time.

Some questions:

• How do you evaluate our first half of the season overall?
• Which players or aspects of our coaching have impressed you most in 2026? Has anything disappointed you?
• What do you expect teams to throw at us, as we become the team to beat?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

Sitting pretty at the top of the ladder ...so long as we don't drop any silly games.

Some questions:

• If Johnno pulls up okay, do we play it cautious with Hayden Young (as we're apparently doing with Serong's calf)? Or are we at risk of underestimating a much-improved Roos side?
• Sean Darcy had 35 hitouts, 6 marks in his limited WAFL minutes. Do we pull him straight back in to help Jackson tag team Xerri?
• How do we neutralise the burst speed of North's young, explosive midfield?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

Our record-breaking win streak is imperilled by a trip up to the Gabba.

Some questions:

• What on earth went wrong with Brisbane against GWS? Can we replicate it, or should we batten down the hatches for the Lions storming out with a point to prove?
• With Young back, how do we readjust our midfield make-up for Brisbane's (normally) formidable stoppage firepower?
• Should we expect another Vossy WWE match-up on Harris Andrews? Do we need any other specific negating match-ups?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

Freo eye off a new record of ten consecutive wins, against a certain former coach who loves to rain on our parade.

Some questions:

• How will the dual 5 day breaks (for us and our oppo) change the game style?
• Some pretty abysmal skills (particularly from McVee, and Erasmus). Do the kids get a stay of execution on account of the wet weather, or will we see changes to a winning team?
• Ross is guaranteed to congest our forward line—how do we produce gaps to hit up leads, and not spam long bombs i50?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

After a well-earned 10 day break, we face Essendon at the MCG.

Some questions:

• Who will we bring in to replace Pearce and cover off the Bomber's young star in Nate Caddy?
• Forecast for Sunday at the 'G is very wet; how do we adjust for a scrappy, wet weather contest?
• Will we finally see a fully fired up Patrick Voss against his old side?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

Freo are 7-1, facing down a huge test for our premiership bona fides.

Some questions:

• Has a god-tier performance from Hayden Young and Shai Bolton rearranged our inside midfielder squad?
• Despite the "ducking is prior" rule change pre-season, ducking seems to be getting rewarded. How do we defend without these manufactured infringements?
• Do we squeeze McVee back in after a win?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.

Can we keep up the winning streak against an undermanned Dogs side?

Some questions:

• If Voss is straight back in, who comes out?
• Even though we got the 4 points, this was yet another game with lengthy momentum swings against us. Is this just what our more aggressive play style looks like, or do we need to reconfigure the game plan?
• Would you like to see any modifications to our game to take advantage of our opposition's injuries to experienced KPP stocks?

Permalink to the FremantleFC subreddit Discord.

Match Thread will go up approx. 1hr before game start.