Saturday night Fremantle beat Essendon by 16 points. It was a loss to an average Fremantle side. This is a Freo side who are in a phase of a rebuild. Four of their players had one game or less. You would have expected more from the Bombers.
The Bombers made them look a lot better than they are in the defeat. It was a big occasion for them and big build up for the first game at this new stadium. Despite there being a new generation of players coming through everyone expected the Bombers to back up their performance from Round One. Especially after John Worsfold renewed his contract by an extra 2 seasons.
Fremantle buoyed by the big crowd and Nat Fyfe were the first to everything it seemed for most of the night. Yes Fremantle will win games at home this year, but I cannot see them winning many games away from home. This is why Bomber fans will feel this was a result they will look back at seasons end and be disappointed with, much like I am right now.
Freo shut down the three Bombers tall forwards and they only managed 3 goals between them. Daniher was kept goalless for the first time in 39 games. His kicking once again his downfall.
Hooker worked hard and so did Stewart but the service wasn’t there and Stewart found himself in the ruck at a lot of contests. Green worked hard and so did Begley. Tippa found it tough and only kicked a goal from a horrendous kick in from Stephen Hill. Tippa and Stringer need to do more if this Essendon side are going to grow. Daniher definitely cannot be kept goalless and concerns with his confidence and media pressure will surely grow as the week progresses.
Two of three recruits are looking good, Smith was every where and worked hard and Saad’s game is always improving and will provide excitement and pace to the line up. Stringer is still struggling to find his feet and lets hope he does cause he has been nowhere to be seen so far.
Bulldogs, Port and then Anzac day against the Pies are waiting for the Bombers over the next three weeks. The next two are at Etihad, these are all very winnable games. Lets see how much this team has matured as what they dished out against the Dockers showed they have not.
There could be as well some hard calls to make as of who comes out now that Myers, Fantasia and Baguely are going to be banging on the door to return.
Catch you next week, Hopefully it is after a win and a better performance.