Freo’s Top 22?

With Round 1 of the 2010 AFL Home and Away season quickly approaching, there are many new faces fighting to secure their place in the team.

Here are my choices for the top 22 Dockers who I believe should find themselves playing in the opening round. I have placed some players in slightly different positions then they would usually be, and will give reasons why I have done this.

Here we go…

BACKS

Roger Hayden

One of the most skilful back pockets in the league. He’s relatively quick, very accurate with hand and foot and keeps a calm head under pressure.

Chris Tarrant

Arguably one of the best full backs in the AFL. Unlucky not to be named in the 2009 All Australian team, I don’t think anyone could disagree with him being in this position.

Greg Broughton

Being upgraded from the Rookie List for the 2010 season, Broughton surprised many with his impressive performances in 2009. He is definitely one of the key players in the Dockers backline.

HALF BACKS

Paul Duffield

Duffield provides great run and execution of the half back flank. He’s not afraid to run off his opponent, take the ball through the middle, and hit a leading forward on the chest. In my opinion, Duffield is the best half back on the Dockers list and has been named as one of the leadership group for 2010.

Adam McPhee

Coming back to the Dockers after a long spell at Essendon, McPhee’s versatility means he can be used almost anywhere on the ground. He has been put at centre half back with the option to switch with Luke McPharlin up forward. McPhee expressed his strong desire to play through the midfield before coming to Freo, so it will be interesting to see if his wishes come true. This would allow Pav to spend most of his time in the forward line, as McPhee’s presence and experience would benefit the middle.

Clancee Pearce

One of the most under rated players in the AFL. Deadly accurate off the boot and not afraid to take a hit, Pearce is the quiet yet high achiever for the Dockers. He goes in hard every game and is one of the players being considered to take one of the two final senior list spots in 2010.

CENTRES

David Mundy

Mundy has been outstanding for the Dockers, particularly over the last couple of seasons. If you had asked me 4 years ago if I thought Mundy would ever make my top 22, I would have laughed and said no. Starting in the middle has really brought out his true potential, and his skills and abilities continue to improve. He has been rewarded this season by being named in the Dockers leadership group.

Rhys Palmer

The 2008 NAB Rising Star, Palmer spent most of the 2009 season out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee. Palmer was dominant in the midfield, exciting the Dockers faithful with his natural talent. Although he hasn’t played since round 5 2009, he has proven himself as a permanent starter for the club.

Matt DeBoer

A rookie listed sensation with football similarities to team mate Rhys Palmer. He deserves to start in the middle after consistent performances last year. He needs to focus a little more on his kicking, but his hard ball gets and contested possessions make up for this.

HALF FORWARDS

Garrick Ibbotson

Ibbotson provides great run for the Dockers, and by placing him off half forward, he can push up the ground and spend some time in the middle. 

Luke McPharlin

Great up forward or down back, McPharlin is a solid mark and neat kick of the football. With the addition of Adam McPhee this season, having McPharlin drift forward more often will compliment Matthew Pavlich’s full forward role.

Stephen Hill

Playing Hill off the forward flank will be beneficial to the Dockers for several reasons. 

1. He can still use his pace freely and have the freedom run wherever he desires.
2. He can drift up into the middle and draw out defenders, freeing up the forward line for Matthew Pavlich and his crumbers.
3. While still bulking up, he doesn’t have to be on the football and hitting packs as often as he would by playing in the middle.

Don’t get me wrong, Hill is sensational in the midfield, but in a team of the top 22 Dockers, I think he’d find himself on the forward flank.

FORWARDS

Chris Mayne

Energetic, exciting and explosive. Mayne brings pace and energy into Freo’s forward line. He can lead strong, take a grab overhead, crumb the loose football and kick truly. If Mayne can remain injury-free, he will be a sensation up front, particularly alongside his Captain, Matthew Pavlich.

Matthew Pavlich

The Dockers go-to man. Pavlich has proved his versatility up forward, in the middle, and has even drifted back to help out in defence. The leading goal kicker for Fremantle, Pavlich continues to lead his team from the front.

Hayden Ballantyne

The pocket rocket from Peel Thunder. Ballantyne is a small forward with a great leap, and strong hands overhead. He’s not afraid to take a hit or compete for contested spillages, which makes him dangerous around goals.

RUCKS

Aaron Sandilands

The 2009 All-Australian ruckman has dominated hit outs all season. His improved skills and versatility has made this big man, a very difficult task to all opponents.  

Paul Hasleby

In arguably his last season as an AFL footballer, Hasleby has inspired the Dockers midfield upon his return from injury. Watch Hasleby put it all on the line as he looks to finish his career on a high.

Ryan Crowley

Rated as one of the best taggers in the game, Crowley will have a point to prove this season, after spending much of 2009 on the injury list. Watch Crowley get the tagging roles on some of the best midfielders in the AFL in 2010.

INTERCHANGE

Nick Suban

Suban was impressive throughout 2009 in his debut season in the AFL. The only reason he finds himself starting on the bench in this top 22 is because of the calibre of team mates he is with. Suban’s skills and consistency allows his team to know that he will perform solidly in every round.

Byron Schammer

With the improvement of his skills and football smarts, Schammer has become a solid midfielder for the Dockers. Schammer regularly finds himself with the ball, and will also do the one percenters to aid his team mates.

Steven Dodd

Dodd is more regularly finding himself defending key forwards. He is strong and able to play on both small and tall opponents. He is certainly becoming a significant part of  the Dockers back line.

Michael Barlow

This rookie listed Victorian has dominated the VFL, and continued to impress in the NAB Cup. Barlow attracts an average of 30 possessions a game, and his disposals are clean and smart. Along with fellow rookies, Barlow is fighting for one of the two final spots left on the Dockers senior list.

EMERGENCIES

Des Headland

Headland is a strong, hard hitting Docker who attacks the ball 100%.

Michael Johnson

Johnson is a part of the leadership group in 2010.

Michael Walters

Walters has the potential to be a star for the Dockers. As soon as he can stay injury free and get a few more AFL games under his belt, we will see just what this guy can do.

Others including Scott Thornton, Ryan Murphy and Kepler Bradley only missed out because of inconsistency from week to week.  

Antoni Grover is in the leadership group for 2010, but the high level of talent in the top 22 made it difficult to drop others out of their positions. A strong, solid player who leads his team mates by example.

As much as I would loved to have put Anthony Morabito, Nathan Fyfe and Joel Houghton in this squad, I think it will take them a few games (and maybe even the season), to really settle into the style of AFL football. If they perform as well as many have predicted, they may certainly make the final 22 next season.

My own prediction is that Nathan Fyfe will one day take the place of Matthew Pavlich and be the dominating force in the Dockers forward line.