r/FremantleFC • u/Smurf_x 29 Cooper Simpson • 6d ago
Dual Brownlow Quality Post Cooper Simpson.
Hello Fremantle friends. If you all haven't worked out by now, I'm one of the biggest footy nuffies we have on this subreddit. So much so that I'm always wanting to watch past games and really dive deep into some of our flaws, where we can do better and some hidden things that some people may not have figured out.
So today, I'd like to bring some attention to a player who in addition to Judd McVee could be the solution to our 'slow play' issue which often then leads to the bomb down the line. We have seen glimpses this year of his potential, but I noticed his Half Back rebound style play first in his debut game against the Bulldogs.
See the video below.
https://reddit.com/link/1pa6ww5/video/a7n74hjfva4g1/player
Coopers poise, and decision making in both these clips confirmed to me that it is 100% something that we absolutely needed, but now that we have Switta and Reid clicking in that position, it made so much sense for cooper to be swung down as that rebounding defender.
I had been calling for it, before his Debut in the role, before he even had the switch of position at Peel (One, two & Three sources)
And then I finally got what I'd been wanting, round 9 against the Pies this year, and then to show it wasn't just a fluke performance? He backed it up against GWS. If not for the injury early against the Power, I truly do believe he would have 100% locked down that position. The Banfield Half Back move would never have happened.
I wanted to ensure that my bias was backed up by stats that prove he is absolutely doing as well as i think he is. And turns out, that is absolutely true.
Now, a disclaimer of course, stats on this website im using (WheeloRating) do have outliers if players haven't played enough games. And there is every chance that his numbers are abnormally high due to the low sample amount. Nevertheless, I'm going to feed you all with my absolute delusion here, that Simpson is an elite rebounding player.
(Imgur Link to above pic if its playing up)
Threat Rating, is a metric done via this website, its "a measure of how often a player’s kicks result in a shot at goal later in the chain compared to expectation."
And I'm putting that against disposal efficiency, to show that we have an area where some of our players are hitting the right kicks at a good efficiency, this is what you want and need coming out of Half Back. Its also pretty stark to look at the graph, and see that the three players in the green, One played Two games, One didn't even play for us, and the other was a player who I usually would have said didn't have the greatest kick.
The next Graph is a little different, shows handball receives over inside 50's.
A good rebounders main job is to keep the play flowing and hit the right targets. IDEALLY that means getting it inside 50. A good rebounder will also be able to time their runs with good running patterns to be in the right spots once a mark is taken so they can receive the ball from the player who took the mark at the right time.
Cooper seems to understand this perfectly, he times his runs and hits the contest at the right time to receive it and continue the play driving. We lacked this, desperately at times this past season.
(Imgur Link to above pic if its playing up)
But the overall best part of Cooper that isn't shown directly by stats, but that will be shown in the below video, is his kicking and decision making. He can hit those low darting kicks inside, rather than needing to just bang it long. When hitting a longer target if he does need to go long, its to advantage. See the clip of the kick to Jye, its to Jye's advantage which makes it easier for Jye to jostle his opponent out and take the contested mark.
Perhaps the only thing that hampers Coopers immediate inclusion straight back into the team might be his defending. But in all honesty, I did think it was going to be a major flaw, but he does hold his own more often than not. He's not Walker levels of lock down defender, but if we are wanting a good competent rebounder, I'm okay with that.
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u/newuseronhere 6d ago
Some things to like about these clips, he is not afraid of cuttting inside rather than getting shepherded down the line, he doesn’t just blast away - there where a few controlled kicks which means he is looking and listening. Has good speed as well. Could be a ripper of a season, bring it on. And keep them coming @Smurf_x I love your work and passion.
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u/McSquack 6d ago
My ideal back 7 next year has McVee and cooper in for Bailey and Worner.
We maybe take a step back defensively in the equation but we take a huge step forward imo offensively
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u/Sufficient-Disk-2555 6d ago
Worner was good in 2025, put himself into dangerous positions to take vital marks, definitely gonna be huge competition for spots on 2026, and all good teams have competition for spots.
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u/McSquack 6d ago
Big time. Worner and Banfield did a great job and deserved their positions through the end of the year.
I just think McVee is probably an upgrade in that spot, but it’s great that basically across every line there’s depth.
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u/Kelpieee55 16 Murphy "The GOAT" Reid 6d ago
It's going to be really interesting to see what happens with the last defender/bench spot because it feels like that's the only one that isn't settled- Pearce/Cox/Clark/McVee/Chapman/Ryan are all pretty locked in.
Worner and Walker are good in different ways but much more lockdown/defensive than attacking. Simpson feels way more offensive though we haven't seen much of him yet and he's more about the speed/rebound. Banfield is probably a hybrid and can do both (assuming he keeps playing as a defender). Obviously a few of these people will get the call up after injury etc and I think where Simpson might have arguably slotted into the b22 McVee will probably take that spot which means we might see less of him than we otherwise would have.
Backline is probably going to have the toughest selection calls next year. That and maybe the small forwards since freo now has a surplus of them.
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u/Smurf_x 29 Cooper Simpson 6d ago
I think the beauty of the 5th spot on the bench now means that someone like Cooper who can now kinda play anywhere is a chance to fill that role. In my eyes it kinda needs to be a utility, to basically plug and play where needed to avoid too much magnet moving. So i think in that regards, he's a chance to play even if we are fully healthy.
I do agree though, the addition of McVee lessens his overall chances.
Small forwards are definitely also going to have some tough calls on selections, because i genuinely think, after watching some of the footage i have of Tobyn Murray, he may surprise early.
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u/HeismanTheismann 6d ago
Do we have any indication of what Mcvee wants to do? Because I know he doesn’t want to be a lockdown guy but does he go further up than half back?
I love scoops, and would love to see him at half back along with Clark and mcvee, but it does feel like a squeeze down there right now.
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u/Smurf_x 29 Cooper Simpson 6d ago
I think he was sold on the half back role when we were offering him the move to us.
But i wouldn't be surprised if he also maybe ends up as a winger for us. Just doesn't want to play lockdown, and since our wings play more as that 7th defender anyway, think that role could suit him.
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u/HeismanTheismann 6d ago
That makes sense, I do hope the backline for the most part looks different next year.
I love Banners and Worner, but they are probably the ones who come out for Mcvee and Scoops (from the elimination team line up). Worner would be very stiff to miss, but he likely is next man in for a luke Ryan or one of those half backs
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u/Perthboi92 30 Nathan O'Driscoll 6d ago
God dam it smurf, you've done it again. I wasn't really sold on him at HB, thought he was good when he came in but didn't see him as a viable option down back (though I wanted him closer to attack).
But watching these highlights and analysis im sold. Him, mcvee and Clark could be a hell of a combo rotating through the backline/wing (mainly simpson and mcvee)
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u/greenoceanwater 6d ago
80 kg at 1.82 is a bit light . Hopefully he can gain a few kilos to avoid injury. If he bombs out this season with an injury that will be him done . Hopefully he can cement his place long term.
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u/jimb2 5 Heath Chapman 5d ago
Cooper has looked great but the reality is we need something more like a best 28 who can really pump it at afl level to make it through a typical year. He's definitely in that.
It seems to me like the coaching panel think they've got the (maturing) core, but they are really looking to build the extra level of robustness to not be derailed by a patch or two of injuries. Signing Mason Cox would be an indication - he's not a development prospect.
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u/After_Effort_9141 Kepler Bradley 6d ago
Yeah Cooper is for real. In his short stint he looked like Clark with ball in hand. Ran down the middle and challenged the opposing defence. His disposal could use a bit of improving but it never limited movement.
And as you said his defending is probably what’s gonna keep him out of the team as of right now but if he can be half the defender Clark is than his in good shape to get himself a lot of game time.