Fremantle Dockers 2023 AFL Preview & Predictions

<p>The Fremantle Dockers were one of the feel-good stories of last season. They brought through a number of exciting young players, conducted smart business off the field, while adopting an entertaining and effective style on it.</p> <p>Their fearless, never-say-die attitude transformed them into the best travelling team in the competition, as they won more away games than any other side last term.</p> <p>This season, however, presents a new challenge for the West Australians, with no less than five key players departing the club.</p> <p>Can they maintain last season’s resilience in the face of this mass exodus, or will this bulk change in personnel be too much, too soon for the Dockers?</p> <p>For all the expert Fremantle Dockers’ tips you need ahead of the upcoming AFL season, read our preview below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Gains</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Josh Corbett (Gold Coast Suns)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Hugh Davies (No.33 draft pick)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Josh Draper (Category B rookie)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Tom Emmett (No.41 draft pick)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Luke Jackson (Melbourne Demons)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Max Knobel (No.42 draft pick)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Jaeger O'Meara (Hawthorn)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Liam Reidy (Rookie Draft)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Corey Wagner (No.57 draft pick)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Conrad Williams (Category B rookie)</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>With mass departures, comes mass additions. The Dockers have been forced to hit the shops hard in an effort to replace all the talent that has walked out the door.</p> <p>Jaeger O’Meara has joined from Hawthorn to take up the unenviable task of replacing midfield general David Mundy, with the club’s hierarchy praying he doesn’t (Jaeger) bomb.</p> <p>Rising star and towering utility Luke Jackson has also signed on for the new season, with the local product keen to return home to Western Australia after two seasons in Melbourne with the Dees.</p> <p>Fremantle were more than happy to oblige and at only 21 and with a premiership under his belt, Jackson is someone they can build a team around for years to come.</p> <p>The other notable addition who is likely to see some game time in 2023 is forward Josh Corbett who has signed on from the Suns.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Losses</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Blake Acres (Carlton)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Connor Blakely (Delisted)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Mitch Crowden (Delisted)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Griffin Logue (North Melbourne)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Lloyd Meek (Hawthorn)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>David Mundy (Retired)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Darcy Tucker (North Melbourne)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Joel Western (Delisted)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Rory Lobb (Western Bulldogs)</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Where do we start? There’s no two ways about it, Fremantle have been gutted ahead of the new season.</p> <p>To begin with, last season’s leading goal-kicker Rory Lobb has left to join the Western Bulldogs after requesting a trade at the conclusion of last season.</p> <p>Lobb kicked a remarkable 79 goals in 66 appearances for the Dockers and a strike rate like that is near impossible to replace.</p> <p>Speaking of impossible to replace, legendary midfielder, former captain and one-club man David Mundy has finally hung up the boots at 37 years of age.</p> <p>The always consistent Mundy played 376 games for the Dockers across a nearly 20 year career, kicking 161 goals in the process.</p> <p>The other major losses for Freo are wingman Blake Acres who has left to solve Carlton’s problems out wide and defenders Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker who have both joined North Melbourne.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Player To Watch</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Nat Fyfe</strong></em></p> <p>Cult hero, second longest serving captain in Fremantle’s history, dual Brownlow Medallist. Nat Fyfe’s achievements read like an archetypal AFL fairy-tale.</p> <p>However, Fyfe enters season 2023 at somewhat of a crossroads in his career. Now over 30, the three-time All-Australian does not carry the same level of clout he once did.</p> <p>As of earlier this month, Fyfe has officially relinquished the Fremantle captaincy after six seasons wearing the armband.</p> <p>He has been replaced by key defender Alex Pearce who deputised for Fyfe at the back end of last season when he was sidelined with a hamstring injury.</p> <p>This season presents a unique opportunity for Fyfe, free from injuries and for the first time in six years, free from the burden of being club captain, the Freo stalwart can simply focus on doing what he does best, playing footy.</p> <p>There has been plenty of talk about him being used in a more attacking capacity this season and how he handles his new role will certainly be something to keep an eye on this year.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Fremantle Dockers’ Season Prediction</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Predicted finish: 9th</em></p> <p>One of only three active AFL teams to have never won a premiership, the Dockers will be hoping their time as flag bearers is coming sooner than later.</p> <p>Last year’s lofty fifth placed finish will have filled their supporters with the belief that their inaugural flag is on the horizon.</p> <p>Unfortunately, it’s taken one trade period to undo most of the club’s hard work. Losing their leading goal-kicker (Rory Lobb), a club legend (David Mundy) and one of the most improved players in the team (Blake Acres) at the same time could prove to be fatal to any title aspirations Fremantle had this season.</p> <p>While there is still a lot of quality within the squad and they have signed a host of promising new faces, the loss of this many key players all at once, could not only see them slide out of premiership contention, but also the top 8 altogether.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Fremantle Dockers’ Best 22</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>B:</strong> Luke Ryan, Alex Pearce, Heath Chapman&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>HB:</strong> Jordan Clark, Brennan Cox, Hayden Young&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>C:</strong> James Aish, Jaeger O'Meara, Nathan O'Driscoll&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>HF:</strong> Nat Fyfe, Luke Jackson, Sam Switkowski&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>F:</strong> Michael Walters, Matt Taberner, Lachie Schultz</p> <p><strong>Foll:</strong> Sean Darcy, Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong</p> <p><strong>I/C:</strong> Will Brodie, Brandon Walker, Michael Frederick, Jye Amiss</p>