Season 2026 Autopsy

WAFL East Fremantle
1

Well, our run of finals appearances has come to an end. 4 years in a row, a flag and a Prelim. It was a good run. Injuries really did play a part and with our Reserves getting flogged every week, depth was tested. We have a few players: Marsh x 2, Eardley, Jansen, Marlin all over 30 and now a year by year proposition. Even Baskerville, Montauban, Strnadica and Bailey, who are late 20s. And what of the coach, King Billy- is he up for another rebuild- I hope so- he’s done it before.

Who knows where we sit financially but there needs to be a number of players brought in this off-season if the stay out of the top 5 is going to be short one

2

Looking at the Bigger picture of 5 Teams in your Club(and all 9 WAFL Clubs),you could possibly end up with 2 Flags for the year,so it’s not all gloom and doom.

3

On the field, Smartt and Robinson proved to be worthy recruits, though a little inconsistent. Top 3 performers for me for the Lynn Medal:

  1. Cleaver- fantastic year- stepped up once Murdock was taken and became a prime midfielder in the competition
  2. Joyce - as above- great year despite missing a couple of games. Really missed him the past few weeks
  3. Mad Dog Marsh - sceptical about the move back but had a fantastic year.

Best Young Prospect - Luke Carrello - there’s a few but he looks like he’s going to be a handy midfielder going forward

Most Under-rated - Zac Rankin. Finds plenty of ball on the wing and can go to HB. Tough and works hard- rarely has a poor game

3 Likes
4

Cleaver for me is an easy winner KC, JMarsh a close second, and Strnadica there and there abouts…..the big fella has battled valiantly on his own most games….with young Fox and a few chop outs in Jansen, Bailey and JMarsh as support.

Started the 26 season on the back foot…..losing Murdock and Zadow last minute, plus an ongoing injury list that just never ceased….but that is footy…..good opportunity to blood more youngsters, some showed snippets, others not much. Grylls, Carrello, McManus, Nathan and Stockden have looked the part…..would like to see Martignago and Pauline given more opportunities.

Smartt and Robinson replaced the loss of Leggett and Hagan on the goal front…so well done Woewodin. Can see a bit of a cull coming on though, the reserves have showed the lack of depth outside the top 25- 30 senior players. The colts coming thru have battled hard in the reserves…..and should help the colts go deep in the finals once they drop back. The under age colts look like a fantastic group….and should keep EF colts strong for the next few years.

Gotta feeling Joyce may retire, as may HMarsh, reckon Eardley and JMarsh love the competitiveness, and may stay around…need Teakle back, and no doubt a few others. Been a disappointing back end of the season, but it is what it is…..may get the skipper back this week…and maybe HMarsh from his travels…

5

Have you been on holidays yourself Freeze?

6

Not any enforced ones mate lol….just flat out at work, winter is a busy time for any health worker I guess……especially at the coal face….Pneumonia, RSV, Flu A, Strep A, B, C and G seem to be rife this year….4 - 6 hour waits are classed as a cruisey shift these days :grinning_face: ….never short of a punter or 3 these days.

2 Likes