https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/fremantle/fremantle-dockers-track-watch-young-defender-heath-chapman-suffers-hamstring-injury-in-final-drill/news-story/b4a11feda29c7c9f6efc73746dc8eb41

Fremantle defender Heath Chapman has been dealt another costly injury blow, injuring his hamstring in the final drill of the Dockers’ main training on Wednesday.

Chapman, 21, had only just returned to full training after missing the past three matches with a calf injury.

It’s not the only injury concern at Fremantle ahead of its clash with Brisbane on Saturday. Star midfielder Andrew Brayshaw was in and out of the rehab group and didn’t partake in match simulation as he continues to battle a knee complaint.

Titus chimes in:-

Fremantle (69) v Western Bulldogs (118)

First, can I apologise for the lack of columns recently, I’ve been unwell. So unwell that last week I lost my voice completely.

This was welcomed as a blessing for those that deal directly with me.

Luckily, I’m on the mend, but my doctor says I may need to start thinking about something called ‘exercise’ and eating exotic foods like fruit and vegetables.

It’s a credit to the Dockers that by round six they can give off serious ‘season already over’ vibes.

 

On 4/24/2023 at 1:42 AM, Sydney_Demon said:

Would you also also criticise Stan Alves & Greg Wells for leaving the Club?

Stan Alves didn't leave. He was sacked. Skilton became coach and advised him that he was going down a youth path and although he was the Captain he was sacking him. He got a call late in the pre season from the great Ronald Dale inviting him to join North. That Sept he was doing cartwheels on the wing as a Premiership player thanks to Skilton not him. 

Melbourne had some very good players in the seventies and should have played some finals. Problem was we had shocking coaches incl Jones and Skilton even Ridley.

The club was run by old boys club morons.

 

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

What a disgraceful comment. As if Luke doesn’t have the weight of WA on his shoulders already - what an absolute jerk.

5 hours ago, deelusions from afar said:

I think that's a bit of revisionist history there - we got a bit of a run on but had struggled to beat most of the top 8 sides during the season (although had a number of close losses such as Geelong x2).  We beat West Coast but only when our finals were on the line and it was already sewn up for them.  Even our finals match against Hawthorn after starting strongly they stiffled our movement until well into the last quarter.  We had a great season and on our day could mix it with most... but our key defenders were Frost and O Mac!  We overperformed to get to the final 4.

Not sure how Marxism is relatable to the MFC/AFL? An over used term on this site is Revisionism… 

3 hours ago, Its Time for Another said:

Stan Alves didn't leave. He was sacked. Skilton became coach and advised him that he was going down a youth path and although he was the Captain he was sacking him. He got a call late in the pre season from the great Ronald Dale inviting him to join North. That Sept he was doing cartwheels on the wing as a Premiership player thanks to Skilton not him. 

Had it been in existence, would have had a strong show for the Norm Smith. Another awful blunder. Didn't want to go.

2 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

What a disgraceful comment. As if Luke doesn’t have the weight of WA on his shoulders already - what an absolute jerk.

Cornes will end up in court - mark my words.

Edited April 26, 20232 yr by Queanbeyan Demon
Typo

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

Factually correct. If this is the case in 10 years time, who knows? LJ has a lot to achieve to reach the impact Grundy has had at AFL level (premierships aside… I could name many premiership players…). 
 

Kane’s desire for click bait clouds his words. 

24 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

What a disgraceful comment. As if Luke doesn’t have the weight of WA on his shoulders already - what an absolute jerk.

Total jerk. Jackson is an emerging super talent and Grundy is an all-Australian around the peak of his powers. Comparing the two as though on equal footing is ridiculous, although to be expected from Cornes the Clown

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

What a nasty and unnecessary thing to say by somebody that works in the AFL media.

I am still incredibly confident in the player Luke Jackson will in time become. but the pressure of being at a club like Fremantle on that sort of money this early in his career is a legitimate risk to his development 

25 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Cornes will end up in court - make my words.

He'll end up on a Cob

It’s almost bullying what Jackson is copping. People never learn.

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

Kane Cornes can GAGF his entire career is clickbait, he never owns up to his many, many mistakes and his bias towards Port Adelaide is some of the worst of any commentator in the league, to the point it effects his stories (see Kozzie to PA story last year).
As others have said Jackson has ten years to do what Grundy is doing and we didn’t get Grundy FOR Jackson, we got draft picks, which are hopefully getting higher and higher due to Freo’s current woes.

If anyone got checkmated by Grundy to Melbourne it was Collingwood, although they’re doing fine, I’m glad we got Grundy and yes the impetus for us getting him was Jacko leaving but this is rubbish from Cornes, that I doubt he believes. He’s the worst.

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

Is this the same Corn that was up in arms about the treatment of Horne Francis

33 minutes ago, Dwight Schrute said:

I am still incredibly confident in the player Luke Jackson will in time become. but the pressure of being at a club like Fremantle on that sort of money this early in his career is a legitimate risk to his development 

Yep. And doesn’t get a do over on this phase of his development. 

And worse for his development is the fact he has to play out of position. He is not a forward, he is a ruck.

And more the point, that is where he wants to play

I heard him say mutiple times when at the dees his preference was to ruck because he likes 'to be where the ball is'. 

As I wrote a few times last year, the smart play, family stuff notwithstanding,  was to extend for two years, learn his craft under the best ruck of the modern era, maybe snag a flag, and head home.

By which time he could maybe cross over with nik nat, a player he modelled himself on, and take his mantle as number one ruck.

Unless freo and Darcy part ways, he will remain the number on ruck at the dockers.

Leaving what for Jackson?

60% forward with a little midfield experimentation thrown in? How does that work for him?

 

Grundy is better than Luke at this stage. What’s controversial about saying that?

Luke Jackson will come good. Just hope it’s not this year though.

It’s a very stupid comparison. Like saying check mate Gawn is better than Jackson. Well yeah. So are most ruckmen with 10 + years of experience. Darcy is also better than Jackson for now. It’s why you don’t pay a 20 year old nearly a million dollars a year on potential and trade away the farm and then cry about it when it doesn’t immediately work out. 

Jackson never showed any consistency at Melbourne. He was what all 18-19 year olds are at that stage of their career and especially at that height. Inconsistent. But Jackson was also blessed to play under a generational ruckman at Melbourne and with a highly successful team. So his inconsistency wasn’t on display and nobody cared. It was just part of being a kid learning the craft. 
 

The pressure was ALWAYS coming for him when he took that contract. Especially going back to a two team footy mad state and playing for a club starved of success. It isn’t fair but it’s how it is. He should have seen it coming. It’s happened many times before. 

15 minutes ago, binman said:

Yep. And doesn’t get a do over on this phase of his development. 

And worse for his development is the fact he has to play out of position. He is not a forward, he is a ruck.

And more the point, that is where he wants to play

I heard him say mutiple times when at the dees his preference was to ruck because he likes 'to be where the ball is'. 

As I wrote a few times last year, the smart play, family stuff notwithstanding,  was to extend for two years, learn his craft under the best ruck of the modern era, maybe snag a flag, and head home.

By which time he could maybe cross over with nik nat, a player he modelled himself on, and take his mantle as number one ruck.

Unless freo and Darcy part ways, he will remain the number on ruck at the dockers.

Leaving what for Jackson?

60% forward with a little midfield experimentation thrown in? How does that work for him?

 

Hard agree.

Jackson's absolute strength is his follow up work.  It's the point of difference with almost every other ruckman in the league.  His tap work is average, but his post clearance possession work and ball use could (should?) see him become a similar type of follower to Tim English. Cannot see him getting the opportunity to become this with Darcy as the main ruck. 

It's worth noting that at the same age, Grundy was established as Collingwood's no.1 ruck and on his way to averaging 18 touches and 26 hitouts a game. Can be forgotten how quickly Grundy became a high quality AFL ruckman.

Edited April 26, 20232 yr by ChaserJ

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

Just to add a bit more context to this, this is actually what Cornes said.

Melbourne made out clean with Jackson and Grundy moves

“Checkmate Melbourne. Grundy is a far superior payer to Luke Jackson as highlighted by his connection with the Melbourne midfielders, particularly after halftime on Monday night.

“Gawn was deadly when he went forward, so that combination is just working.

“We all wondered how it might work, well we saw it work on Monday.

“Collingwood are paying his wage and the Dees own Fremantle’s first and second picks after already the Dockers already coughed up pick 13.

“Great trade from Melbourne.”

4 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Just to add a bit more context to this, this is actually what Cornes said.

Melbourne made out clean with Jackson and Grundy moves

“Checkmate Melbourne. Grundy is a far superior payer to Luke Jackson as highlighted by his connection with the Melbourne midfielders, particularly after halftime on Monday night.

“Gawn was deadly when he went forward, so that combination is just working.

“We all wondered how it might work, well we saw it work on Monday.

“Collingwood are paying his wage and the Dees own Fremantle’s first and second picks after already the Dockers already coughed up pick 13.

“Great trade from Melbourne.”

Thought it was rather benign to when I listened to it…

We are making out really well and if Twomey is right that we are gunning to get up to ND1 - we might get a talent back similar to LJ for the deal we made.

Seriously I believe Jackson was a better player during his first 30 games. Seems now to be settled in some kind of limbo since second half of last season. Neither here or there and flatlining.

If the Dockers stay where they are, we get picks 6, 16, 25 and 35.