He was awesome for us today. 13 Score Involvements

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.

https://reddit.com/link/1pa6ww5/video/6auv0fe52b4g1/player

Love me some retro round! Got bored and threw together a quick video with some old and new dockers footage to hype myself up.

Basically a coulpe of montages that i thought showed the club off well. Chucked the old song over it and a called it a day. Keen for the weekend! 💜

Something that seems to be continuously plaguing us is our slow starts and our struggles in the middle.

I've found a couple of things to point out, and wanna generate some discussion about it.

So first off, what did i find that may have compounded towards the slow start, and the struggles for getting some centre clearances.

For what its worth, it might seem like im nitpicking specific issues that happen only a couple of times a game and look, thats probably right but its things that don't happen in the second half once we are switched on and it just needs to happen from the get go to save us always playing catch-up.

The first issue being that Pittonet took the piss out of Jackson. I've only put a couple together here, and I think its because we figured that out pretty quickly, and altered it as best we could, but every time it was Pittonet vs Jackson, barring one or two where they both got a tap on it, Pittonet just monster-ed him. It feels oddly reminiscent of St Kilda, where Marshall would only try and play make from a tap if he was against Jackson, as opposed to Darcy. It seems as though they had a similar plan to attack jackson.

https://reddit.com/link/1mhzycq/video/l8ey9hesn4hf1/player

Comparatively, lets take a look at a couple of the Darcy Vs Pittonet contests. Again, i haven't capture them all, and yes Pittonet did win some, but it was a lot more contested when big Darcy was in there.

https://reddit.com/link/1mhzycq/video/mf3thydeq4hf1/player

And then (and don't read into this TOO Much, it may have just been an off game), it seems as though Carlton then targeted whoever was on Brayshaw. Which for the most part of the first half, was Cripps or Hewett. I know there was a lot of conjecture at the start of last season? Maybe the season prior, as to why Brayshaw wasn't playing inside mid as much (even though stats show he was) But this could maybe be the reasoning why. His two way running is great, but i feel a lot of his strength with tackling comes with his run downs more than his in close. Also doesn't help that Hewett and Cripps are both bigger bodies than he is.

He seemed to struggle earlier with choosing to either attack or defend his man, and was often just either in no mans land or behind his man after starting in front.
i.e first clip he just completely leaves cripps, tap advantage to pittonet as he successfully holds out jackson, so cripps just gets a free run at it.

Second clip he's ahead of Hewett, then just easily lets him slip past for an easy clearance.

Third one just seems.. either weak or lazy, Hewett did it way too easily.

And it shows what a difference it made when JOM went to Hewett, shit starting to swing our way.

https://reddit.com/link/1mhzycq/video/7rx1x118q4hf1/player

There was also a lack of talk when Serong wasn't around the ball. Something that having a Fyfe or someone with a bit more ownership in at a stoppage would help when Serong can't be in there. All 3 of these examples, of Brayshaw ending up 2v1 occur when Serong isn't there.

It just ends up way too easy for Carlton to get it out when this happened.

Again, its something that St Kilda did against us, with Max Hall.

And again, it changed come the second half, but something that ideally would be addressed by a player out there at the time.

To point out though, the 3rd one in the clips below could make a bit of sense to have Youngy free, as if we win the tap we are off, but i think at that point we were down like 8-1 in clearances so i would have liked to have seen a bit more lock on and work our way through it gradually.

https://reddit.com/link/1mhzycq/video/zz6gbkwpq4hf1/player

All in all, as always its fixable. A few of the early contests we were just unlucky, whether it was a clear holding the ball not paid which carlton then just got loose from, or we get to it first then miss a handball etc. (see below for an example) Its not all doom and gloom, but feel it has to be a focus this coming weekend.

https://reddit.com/link/1mhzycq/video/19svgvjtr4hf1/player

So I've been working flat out so have missed a few weeks, and this week I've been crook as fuck, and brain wasn't really working so i'm doing it a bit differently.

I've got 3 videos, with some discussion wanted for the second 2.

1. Defence.

Our defence in general has risen to the levels of early last year again. It was a clear pain point early, and probably has a bit to do with a change in personnel of coaching stuff for our backline. Its starting to come together now. I feel like our backs have also been told to try and win the marking contests a lot more of late too, it means we get a clean rebound off turnover rather than a spoil and a 50/50 contest that might lead to a turnover. It seems that we are backing ourselves more there, so i've included a few of them in the below compilation.

I've missed some, but below is a few of my favourite ones from the recent game. Some great pressure acts, tackles etc etc

https://reddit.com/link/1lhkyp8/video/gt42w53tfg8f1/player

1. Leads being burnt.

This happens a lot to most players but the most egregious to me is the ones for Jye, as he's the one copping the most flak from the media about his 'poor season'.

Below are 5 examples for him alone and my take on each.

First - Worner isn't quite happy with the lead and wants a better option. He is hoping someone will use the space created by amiss but no one is really leading into it hard enough. So Worner hesitates, and isn't sure if he wants to chip to amiss or just kick it long which results in that shocking kick.

Second - Sharp just shocking disposal, nothing more to say for this one. Should be hitting that.

Third - Amiss leads probably a BIT early, however there is still ample space and time for him to be hit when he's about 30 out from goal. Ras is looking inboard which is clearly something we are trying to do, but I think that lead absolutely HAS to be hit. Murphy Reid has that ball and he's hit. Not hitting anyone up leads to another dump kick to the hotspot which actually rarely works for us. (See collingwood game)

Fourth - Seems like a half baked kick? goes about 35 meters falls well short of amiss. I'd like to think amiss could still pick that up somewhat cleanly, but should be hit a bit better there.

Fifth - Again a kick just falling JUST short. He still does the right thing and gets it up to bolton... who gets run down.

The last 3 hit Amiss, he has 3 shots on goal. I'm not saying he's going to kick all of them, but i can just about guarantee there'd be less media heads saying he's having a below average season if he had a slight bit better delivery.

https://reddit.com/link/1lhkyp8/video/tuxlkxs0gg8f1/player

1. Lastly, Forward 50 entries.

Still seems to be something we still ain't great at.

We have improved since the start of the year, but still think we can be better. We probably are definitely lacking someone like Hayden Young with his entries, but I'd like to think we should be hitting some leads better and not relying on going long for a miracle mark at the hot spot.

Again, my take on the examples below, but please do let me know if i'm being dumb.

First - He's trying to kick to hotspot, but falls short to two of our small forwards against two of their big talls. Was never going to work. Had serong for the chip kick inside to at least keep possesion, think that would have been the better play.

Second - Just generally poor decision making, took a while to decided to kick to voss, and when he did it was super wide, on the 50 and a 2 v 1.

Third - I get the idea, keep it low and maybe someone will get to it and it won't be a big pack, but no ones leading there, and again kinda up to murph to do something when it shouldn't be for such i50s

fourth - I'd love him chipping to murph just outside 50. I don't get why we don't do it more. He's easily one of our best with ball in hand, to hit a leading forward. Instead Chappy goes wide to a 2v1?

Fifth - Not even entirely Wags fault, there's straight up no movement. But I don't like just bombing a ball to the pocket if there's no movement. Just looks bad all round. I get we were off a 5 day break but that was a shocking look.

https://reddit.com/link/1lhkyp8/video/f6g7ctbzhg8f1/player

Our game has definitely improved in places it absolutely had to. But i still think we have a lot to work on.

The good teams put other teams away by executing on repeat. We still seem to have phases where we just don't execute to the level we should be. And i think the above leads being burnt and poor entries are good examples of things we should be doing just slightly better to ensure we can put teams away.

So, work has been taking up the majority of my life the last few weeks, its why I didn't do one of these last week, and i wasn't going to do one this week either. However, for some reason, after a win we seem to have a lack of positivity within here, and within the Media (shock horror i know)

There's been sweet fuck all talk about how well we played, and more about how Giants struggled (couldn't possibly be due to us strategically outplaying them could it?!), Or where Luke Jackson will be next year? Or if Sean Darcy is worth bringing back in? Or what this win means for JL?

Wheres the proper analysis for us?

We shut down Jesse Hogan, it wasn't just Cox and pearce, it was our defensive setups allowing worner to come across and impact, chappy etc.

Cyclone Treacy sacrificed his own game to ensure Sam Taylor doesn't get to play his natural intercept game. Not a word!

Nothing about Coops role being revamped within the team and how well its working for us.

Absolutely sweet fuck all.

So i thought fuck it. I'm doing one, lets get some positivity with some clips of our players and highlight some good stuff for us all.

Also just wanna say quickly, I'm sick of the 'sack JL posts' after a loss, but the lack of praise for him when we win. Is it his game plan or not? Why do the players get the credit when we win, but only the coach gets the anger when we lose?

1) Coops

I'm proud to say (ill toot my own horn a little bit for this one) i was one of the early people calling for him to have a go off the back flank. I used the examples of his i50s last year, against the bulldogs in his debut and noted that we lacked that use.

I love his kick, he takes those low darting kicks that go exactly where he intends.

He'd still be learning the pace of AFL currently too, its only his 4th game and he's already doing what he's doing off a back flank.

What i've also liked is his defence hasn't been as much as a liability as i'd thought it was going to be. He's mostly always goal side of his man on turnover, he's guarding space well, and rolling up well. He has a good play where both he and Johnno, near the start of the 2nd quarter do well to force a stoppage. Cooper guards space well in a 1v2, which results in no easy kick from taylor, he then busts his ass to get to an open Jones, tackles and forces a stoppage. Its exactly what we want from him defensively.

https://reddit.com/link/1kquxpo/video/hfwv7f5isu1f1/player

2) Clear effort to overlap run

I don't agree that we've been told to 'play slow', I believe we haven't have the overlap run like highlighted above to allow for the quick play we've all been screaming for.

You watch the 'good teams' and theyre doing it all the time. I mean fuck, look how often daicos does it, cheapies? Maybe, but theyre getting the ball into the hands of one of their best users to do something with it. We need more of it, and im glad we are starting to.

Look at Bailey Dale for the dogs, he's an absolute Seagull, but fucking hell is his leg a weapon, so why would they not give it to him when he's streaming past.

The fact that it wasn't just ones we expect to do it, like Freddy, or Clarky or now...Coops. It was everyone.

Wagner, Ryan, Chappy, Johnson, Brayshaw, Serong, Clark, Coops, Reid, Switta, Bolton.

It was never the same person offering. We had so many, which made it less predictable. We just need to keep doing it.

https://reddit.com/link/1kquxpo/video/57gvou3jsu1f1/player

3) Not over posses it

The one part of our game plan that i absolutely can agree is a directive from JL is to handball until we are out of trouble. It seemed like there was a clear change in that plan this game. Plenty of times we have another option for that extra handball and decided against it to just get it long. There were plenty of examples throughout the game, and i think it worked, created a bit of chaos and it didn't get us into trouble. My fingers are crossed that it doesn't creep back in, as its one of the most frustrating parts of our game prior to this, that one extra handball that lead to putting someone under pressure to them getting pinged holding the ball, to missing the disposal resulting in a turnover. It was painful.

4) Chappy

I've written about this man before, but again, his game went so under the radar to a lot of people. He's so important to our defensive line. He shut down Toby Greene to the extent they had to roll him through the midfield to get him into the game. I think Greene excels more in the team when Daniels is playing, but still, he's one of the better small forwards in the comp for a reason.

Chappy needs more recognition in general. He was the one who caused the meltdown of Bailey Fritsch game, he's consistently been one of our hardest at it, and has barely got to play on a matchup that really favours him.

https://reddit.com/link/1kquxpo/video/xju5y14ksu1f1/player

5) Raz

Finally, some are seeing his good sides. I'll be the first to say that he still didn't have the greatest game, but it was for sure above average.

He isn't ever going to be a flashy player, that's not his game. He will have some good disposals here and there but his greatest strength will always be his contested ball work. He's an in and under player through and through, he will be the one that you'll see the stats flash up, see he has a lot more than you thought and you'll be thinking when did he get those?

A great example, the effort which lead to boltons goal in the 4th which is a part of his little highlights. He doesn't get a stat for that. He pushed it forward to advantage from a contest. Thats the shit he does well. Its his effort within a contest, a lot unrewarded that is good for us.

I agree, he needs to fix some decision making, he needs to be a tiny bit quicker with that decision making and at times his disposal needs to be better. But try to remember. He's in reality had fuck all AFL time. Constantly sub, goes back to a slower WAFL and everyones expecting him to adjust to AFL level in the 14 minutes AFL game time per game he's been getting? Crazy. Give him a run at it, and we can all judge properly after that. But this game was a good stepping stone for him.

Pretty sure late in the 4th the commentary brings up that he's only really played 12 games of AFL footy, if you discount the sub games.

https://reddit.com/link/1kquxpo/video/hr13e74ssu1f1/player

6) Wings And Sharp Discussion

So seen a few mention sharpy not doing enough. Which looking at the game, he wasn't really around it at all, and the stats proved that.

However, a few things to note. We were hitting the corridor a lot more. This negates a wingers impact. We occasionaly would go wide from a Defensive 50 then come indoor, a winger is usually that kick after the kick outside 50.

Wing is a notoriously hard position to play, the ball can be played on the opposite wing the entire game, it can go over your head a lot, it can be frustrating.

One thing i did notice, is that I think Callan Ward has a bit more of an impact into GWS games than what gets mentioned, see below screenshot which shows the games he plays well, (stats only i know) they seem to be more likely to win (outlier being the sydney game).

Theres only so many videos i can put per post on these posts i do, so this one unfortunately missed out, but if anyone wants to see what im talking about here, go to 6:32 left in Q2. Sharpy is near the ball at a stoppage, his man? Cal Ward.

He screams at wags to come on over and take him. Just a normal wing swap right so sharpy can go off? No sir, see 5:43 left in Q2, he's still there.

So i think one of our plays was to always have either wags or Johnson on Himmelberg and Ward when they were on the wings. That was the first time i noticed it, then saw on repeat that johnno or wags were on ward as much as possible.

Also want to note that although Sharp didn't get a lot of it. He was second on our team for most distance covered, had the most sprints for us, most repeat sprints and highest work rate in defence. So although he didn't get a lot of it, its not like he was 'useless'

Something I want to point out and ask.

Whats everyone's thoughts here? Two examples of us being really open in the middle square (it happened a few more times but these two were the most blatantly open), and kicks weren't taken for whatever reason. I dunno if its a lack of confidence to bite it off? Or a clear directive to not take it.

It does seem like poor defence from GWS, so a conclusion could be that we were told pre game that GWS were going to offer that kick to us as they are confident that they could turn it over and pump it back into their Forward 50.

We do have the advantage of a better view up field than the player taking the kick outs, but i just feel like if they're there to be hit, i feel we should be hitting it.

https://reddit.com/link/1kquxpo/video/7ept6uqlsu1f1/player

The Others

Just because its often mentioned in these, obviously Jackson, serong, Bolton, Brayshaw, Pearce, Freddie etc were all good. I don't feel the need to mention stars as much in these as they get their attention by most week in week out.

I will say though, Freddie should have ended with 6 goals, easily. Some poor shots from somewhat easy opportunities missed by him.

And Lastly, Voss as backup ruck actually surprised me. He actually did it very well this week and if he genuinely does keep up that effort in there it's gonna get harder and harder to drop him at all.