Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw could easily be a contender for All-Australian honours in 2022. Photo: AFL MEDIA

FREMANTLE
2021 record: 10 wins, 12 losses (11th)

THE INS
Will Brodie (Gold Coast), Jordan Clark (Geelong), Jye Amiss (East Perth), Neil Erasmus (Subiaco), Matthew Johnson (Subiaco), Eric Benning (Claremont), Karl Worner (Oakleigh Chargers)

THE OUTS
Adam Cerra (Carlton), Stephen Hill (retired), Leno Thomas (delisted), Reece Conca (delisted), Brett Bewley (delisted), Taylin Duman (delisted), Stefan Giro (delisted), Tobe Watson (delisted)

THE STRENGTHS
The Dockers have two of the most exciting young midfielders at their disposal in Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong, and when you combine them with veteran superstars Nat Fyfe and David Mundy, as well as Sean Darcy, who is becoming one of the best ruckmen in the AFL, their on-ball brigade is a force to be reckoned with. In 2021, the Dockers ranked third on differentials for clearances and seventh for contested possessions, while they came in a respectable eighth for total inside 50s conceded to the opposition. Matthew Taberner took another giant step in his development last year, topping his club’s goalkicking list with a career-high 37 majors, and down back the Dockers have an All-Australian defender in Luke Ryan, as well as Alex Pearce and the dashing Nathan Wilson. Youngsters Griffin Logue, Hayden Young and Brandon Walker are also exciting prospects in defence. In attack, Liam Henry and big Josh Treacy look to have plenty of potential, while their ability to hang on to Rory Lobb, who wanted to head back to GWS, was crucial considering how important he is to their set-up. Fremantle wasn’t taking any risks at the draft table, either, recruiting all of its draftees from the WAFL, ensuring no chance of the “go-home factor” scuppering its future premiership plans.

THE WEAKNESSES
Fremantle’s midfield could have looked even more ominous this season, but unfortunately for the Dockers, they parted ways with Adam Cerra, who headed back to Victoria and linked up with the Blues. The Dockers also need a lot more luck on the injury front, because far too many of their players missed big chunks of the season. Their defensive stocks, in particular, copped an absolute hammering last year – Joel Hamling (21), Heath Chapman (16), Young (14), Pearce (12), Brennan Cox (10), Ethan Hughes (nine) and Logue (six) missed a combined total of 88 games. That’s far too much upheaval for one section of the ground to contend with, and there’s no doubt a lack of continuity with regards to forming chemistry would have hurt them. But their issues run deeper than that. Fremantle just wasn’t able to get its hands on the footy enough in 2021. On differentials last year, the Dockers ranked 14th for disposals and 17th for marks, while their pressure on the opposition ball carrier needs a sizeable increase after they came in a lowly 16th for tackles. And while they registered the ninth-most forward entries in 2021, on differentials they came in a woeful 14th for marks inside 50. It’s little wonder that their attack was ranked 15th in the AFL while their defence was No.12. If they want to be a finals contender, their record against the best teams has to improve dramatically as well. Freo could only muster one win against a top-eight side last year (Sydney by only two points), while suffering eight losses to finalists. In fact, seven of its 12 defeats were by at least 40 points. Too often when the going got tough, Freo just didn’t get going.

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ONE TO WATCH
Brayshaw’s trajectory is going upwards with a bullet. He had easily his best season last year and as he embarks on his fifth year in the AFL, could quite potentially knock on the door of the All-Australian team, so impressive was his 2021 campaign. If he continues improving at this rate, especially with Cerra out of the way, season 2022 could be a watermark for the young star midfielder.

UNDER THE PUMP
Michael Walters’ drop-off in the last two seasons has been stark – 29 goals from 30 games. He kicked 40 majors alone in 2019. Last year he just seemed to lack that pep in his step and spark that so often got his team going. He’s not in danger of losing his spot in the side just yet, but if he can’t get his act together in the first third of the season, guys like Bailey Banfield, Jordan Clark, Joel Western and Michael Frederick will be threatening to take his place.

BEST 23
B: Brandon Walker, Luke Ryan, Alex Pearce
HB: Nathan Wilson, Griffin Logue, Hayden Young
C: Andrew Brayshaw, Nat Fyfe, Travis Colyer
HF: Michael Walters, Matt Taberner, Lachie Schultz
F: Liam Henry, Rory Lobb, Josh Treacy
R: Sean Darcy, David Mundy, Caleb Serong
Inter: Lloyd Meek, Blake Acres, James Aish, Darcy Tucker, Bailey Banfield
Emerg: Joel Hamling, Connor Blakely, Jordan Clark

Having played just one game in the past two years, Hamling slides out of the best 23 and is replaced by Logue, who had a breakout year in 2021. It’s a good problem to have for the Dockers when the likes of Cox, Chapman and Ethan Hughes can’t even make it as an emergency at this stage of the year. Sam Switkowski, Mitch Crowden, Western and Frederick might not be in the 26 either at the moment, but they’re certainly good enough to challenge for plenty of senior games throughout the year. There’s no room for former Sun Will Brodie for now, while the Dockers have a real ace up their sleeve in Sam Sturt. The poor youngster hasn’t been able to buy a trick in the last couple of years due to injury, but could really loom as a joker in the pack up forward if he can get a clean run at it.