After incremental improvements in the first two seasons under Coach Justin Longmuir, Fremantle made the quantum leap in 2022 by playing finals football for the first time since 2015. And they disappoint.
In a season filled with successes, the Dockers made tremendous strides finishing with 15 wins, six losses, and a draw. More than the actual win-loss record, the continual growth of its upcoming young players and middle to lower-tier players made the difference in becoming one of the more formidable sides to play against.
With an array of confidence under the belt, Fremantle made important moves during last season's trade period despite losing Rory Lobb (Western Bulldogs), Blake Acres (Carlton), Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker (North Melbourne).
Bringing home Jaeger O'Meara and Luke Jackson is going to shore up its midfield and ruck stocks respectively, whilst Josh Corbett has potential for more opportunities, having fallen out of favour at the Gold Coast Suns.
As the side's first match of the home and away Season is only days against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, these are the five burning questions hovering over the Dockers.
This season, Fremantle is planning on having Nat Fyfe play a permanent forward role. Season 2022 was a frustrating one for the two-time Brownlow medallist, as an assortment of injuries restricted him to only seven games. However, with the Dockers' midfield substantially deep, there won't be a heavy load for the superstar to carry on his shoulders.
Throughout his illustrious 209-game career to date, the 31-year-old has been a regular scoreboard contributor. In nine of his thirteen seasons, Fyfe has kicked 10 or more goals, including a career-high 24 in 2014 and 17 in the first of his two Brownlow campaigns in 2015.
After displaying his forward craft during pre-season hitouts against Adelaide and Port Adelaide, a bounce-back campaign is on the cards.
With Rory Lobb's departure to the Western Bulldogs during the off-season, Fyfe will fill the vacant tall spot. One less issue the Dockers have to contend with.
After the retirement of club legend David Mundy, Fremantle needed to fill a vacant spot left by one of its all-time greats. The answer: Jaeger O'Meara.
Already possessing one of the league's upcoming young midfield groups, O'Meara adds plenty of experience, having played 143 games. The former Sun and Hawk will slot into the role that Mundy did so effortlessly over his 376 games.
O'Meara is an excellent contested ball winner, solid clearance player, exceptional tackler, and most of all damaging by foot when given time and space.
O'Meara looked right at home during the club's final pre-season hitout against Port Adelaide, finishing with 22 disposals and a goal. Despite an innocuous ankle injury recently, he is in top shape to make an immediate impact back in his home state.
Speaking to the media in the aftermath of his trade last October, O'Meara said the chance to contend for a premiership was a deciding factor.
“I had a fair bit of due diligence and thinking. It's not often you have 48 hours to decide what your future holds for the next four years. There were a couple of restless nights, but I'm rapt to end up at Fremantle. Hopefully, we're playing finals footy next year again and having a crack at a premiership," he said.
The other big fish Fremantle are excited about is Luke Jackson.
The 2021 premiership player will help alleviate the pressure off Sean Darcy to form one of the best young ruck tandems in the league.
Jackson's forward craft has gotten better during his three seasons, kicking 16 goals in Melbourne's drought-breaking premiership year. What we will bring is the ability to ruck and rove considering his incredible aerial ability, providing centre clearances, plus being another additional midfielder.
This allows Darcy to spend time resting up forward, while Jackson gives him a chop out in the ruck. If Fremantle can get a 20-goal season from the former number-three pick, then it's a major win.
For Fremantle to go even further in September, a fit and firing Matthew Taberner will be critical. In his ten seasons in the purple, the 29-year-old hasn't played more than 17 games in a year.
Last season followed the same recurring pattern. The 198cm key forward was looking prime for a big year after kicking 12 goals in his opening four matches before injury struck again.
Hamstring and calf injuries restricted him to only 13 matches in 2022. When Taberner is up and running he is a real handful to contain. Keeping him injury free in 2023 is more important than ever after losing last season's leading goalkicker Rory Lobb to the Kennel.
Taberner was candid when speaking to AFL media last month about keeping even-keeled on his injury past.
“Things change pretty quickly with injuries and once you get one it can flow on, so I'm as confident as I can be. But given I've missed a bit of footy the last few years I'm not going to say that I'm ready for 22 games this year," he said.
But after an injury-free pre-season, it feels Taberner will make an immediate impact, at the same time not having to shoulder the responsibility with other forward options to choose from.
Season 2022 was a year of surpassing expectations for Fremantle. The club achieved this by reaching its first finals appearance since 2015 and winning a final in the process, with a stirring 41-point comeback win over the Western Bulldogs.
Their young stars Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Will Brodie, Heath Chapman, Brandon Walker, and Sean Darcy all had excellent campaigns. Most notably Brayshaw won a number of accolades including the Doig Medal, the Leigh Matthews Trophy, and made his maiden All-Australian team.
The heavy reliance on Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, and Michael Walters, which became a regular topic in seasons past, became no more as Fremantle found all-around contributions from top to bottom. Importantly, Fremantle found a way to start winning matches away from Optus Stadium, especially in Victoria.
In seven Victorian trips, the Dockers won five, including a nail-biting win over premiers Geelong, running over the top of Melbourne, and a struggle fest draw against Richmond. It showed the Dockers can match it with the elite sides. In doing so it won eight away games - the most since 2015. Despite the retirement of club legend David Mundy, and the departures of Lobb, Acres, Logue, and Tucker Fremantle have the reliable depth to cover their losses.
In acquiring WA products Jaeger O'Meara and Luke Jackson, the Dockers firmly believe it can propel three steps further in bringing home a maiden flag. Fremantle has most bases covered, and now is the time to strike. With the evenness of the league in recent years, anything is possible.
Restricting opposition scoring wasn't an issue for a staunch Dockers defence, conceding only 67.5 points per contest (second only behind Melbourne). The next task is to generate winning scores regularly.
Last season, Fremantle ranked 12th for points (1739 - averaging 79 per game). Although scoring at times was hard to come by, it still had success. Four times Fremantle reached the three-figure mark and six times kicked 90 points, coming in victories over Melbourne, Brisbane, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, and the Western Bulldogs.
With Matthew Taberner enjoying a clean bill of health for the first time in years, coupled with the recruitment of former Gold Coast Sun Josh Corbett, Luke Jackson, and Nat Fyfe to play mainly in attacking 50, Fremantle has a bevy of options to lace the ball out to. Not forgetting promising talls Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss who will both get game time this season.
Its pack of pressure smalls are going to be pivotal at ground level. Lachie Schultz, Sam Switkowski, Michael Frederick, and veteran Michael Walters are all known for their tremendous pressure. If Fremantle can get 20 to 25 goals from each then it's a bonus.
Speaking to 6PR last November about becoming a better scoring side, Longmuir said it is about getting the balance right.
“In those few wet games, we weren't able to score, but when the pressure went right up and the game became a little bit more intense we weren't able to score either. We want to maintain a really strong defensive profile. You look at the Premiers Geelong - they were good at both offence and defence and we want to be that sort of team," he said.
As they displayed in 2022, Fremantle has the capability of kicking winning scores even against Premiership contenders.