Troubling signs for Fremantle

Fremantle has spent the entire 2010 season in the top 4, an area of the ladder the Dockers are historically unfamiliar with. Eleven wins so far, an attacking game which is ranked 3rd for points scored and 2nd for kicking the ball long, and on the back of having faith in its promoted youth, its brave and commendable use of the rookie list and through the continued excellence of Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands. It's form which has resulted in a contract extension for coach Harvey and a re-evaluation about the potential of this habitually underperforming club. Unfortunately for the Dockers however it's by looking at the club's performance in the ever important contested football category which may signal that their time in the top 4 may be running out.

As it stands the Dockers are allowing their opponents an average advantage of 8.9 contested possessions per game, an area where only the free falling Brisbane Lions are fairing worse. Most alarming for the Dockers is that in the past decade only 17 teams have finished their campaigns conceding more than 8 contested possessions a game to their opponents. Only 2 of those 17 went on to play finals. Significantly, only one (the Bulldogs in 2006) went on to win a match in September, and only to be bundled out the following week by 12 goals. The inability to win 50-50 ball at this level has more often than not spelled failure for most teams.

The Dockers have won the contested count in just 5 of their matches this season. They've only two players ranked in the league's top 50 for winning contested ball. Their highest ranked was rookie sensation Michael Barlow whose sickening knee injury has ruled him out for the rest of the season. Next best is Sandilands who at 211cm tall really shouldn't be the man relied upon to win the type of ball generally fought for at ground level. The Docker's third best performer in the contested possession stakes is Pavlich who's surely much better served plying his trade in the forward line where without his 44 goals, Fremantle's position in the top 4, let alone the 8, would be suspect.

Fremantle's admirable youth, run and long ball attributes won't take them far without being complimented by at least a moderately effective contested possession game, particularly down the stretch. They will play finals in 2010 however if they don't improve their ability to win contested possession significantly, then they've no solid claims to trouble anyone once there.