One month ago, Western Australia was roaring with excitement. 'Flagmantle' was on the cards.
The Dockers looked to have progressed past blooding it's young brigade, and formed a consistent best-22 of matured superstars entering their prime. Fremantle sat third on the AFL ladder, just 2.3% behind second-placed Brisbane and the reward of a home qualifying final. They'd won four of their last five, one of which was a thrilling one-point upset of the ladder-leading Swans at the SCG.
The Dockers were charging into September.
Four games later, the Dockers are 10th, and won't get the chance to fight for the 'Flagmantle' dream for another year. They suffered four straight losses, three of which by under two goals, the other poised to be the same until halfway through the final term.
So, how did the Fremantle collapse happen?
Dockers can't anchor momentum
What will hurt the Dockers the most is that every game was winnable in their last month.
Fremantle had maintained a lead in every single game from Rounds 21-24. In fact, they led in two of these fourth quarters too, and trailed by as little as two and three points in the others.
Late in the piece, the Dockers' usual methodical ball movement deserted them, and they were punished by risk-taking teams on counterattacks who had little to lose in the dying minutes of action.
In Round 21, Fremantle led by 25 points seven minutes into the final term against the Bombers. A lead that if held on to, in hindsight, would secure a place in September.
Essendon would then score 32 points straight and take a seven-point lead. The Dockers found Jye Amiss inside 50 to attempt to seal a draw with 36 seconds left, but they would fall short again, and allow Sam Durham to score a behind in the dying moments to secure an Essendon victory.
In Round 22, Fremantle led at three-quarter-time against Geelong, before a back-and-forth final term ensued. The Dockers' attack once again faltered at the final hurdle, scoring just seven points in the last quarter as a Patrick Dangerfield-led Geelong outfit swarmed. The Dockers were now clinging onto sixth position, just two points ahead of the Bulldogs, Hawthorn and Carlton.
In Round 23 they were unable to stem the bleeding against the Giants. In a game that never exceeded a 20-point margin, the Dockers couldn't shut down GWS' attack for even a patch of the game, as Jesse Hogan kicked a momentum-swinging 6.4, whilst Toby Greene also contributed with two.
In the final match of the year, with the path paved for an entry into September, Fremantle's pressure once again failed. With their season on the line, they were unable to outclass a finely-tuned Power side, and the curtains closed on the Dockers' year.
However, the signs of Fremantle's capitulation didn't suddenly arise in the final month of the home and away season. The inability to close out games has been a key theme all year for the Dockers.
In eight games decided by 13 points or less, the Dockers lost all except one. In four of these games, Fremantle led at three-quarter-time too.
Coach Justin Longmuir reflected that this was Fremantle's most costly factor of 2024.
"Against the best sides, we couldn't execute well enough,โ Longmuir said after the season-ending loss to Port Adelaide.
"Basic execution in terms of executing with ball in hand didn't stand up against the best sides and we didn't execute under the pressure of the game well enough, tonight and all year."
Executing the gameplan
Looking at Fremantle's statistics from their last five games, Longmuir's comments are bang on. Fremantle's playstyle was challenged immensely in the final month of the season, and the players failed to deliver in crunch time.
Fremantle have been a possession-dominant team all season, ranked as a top-four disposal side throughout 2024. However, across their last five matches, Fremantle averaged just the 10th-highest disposal figures. Likewise, their uncontested possession rate dropped too, ranked sixth in their final five appearances compared to ranking second across the season.
A strong clearance team also, the Dockers' midfield form dipped, albeit minorly, ranking fifth since Round 20 compared to second for the year.
Failing to execute these key components of their game plan was a major contributor to the Dockers' demise. Caleb Serong notably averaged 3.6 less disposals in the last five weeks of the season, including just a 19-disposal game against the Power. Jordan Clark recorded just 18 touches against Port Adelaide, as his inside 50 average reduced from three to two per game in the final month of the home and away season.
Fremantle's efficiency inside 50 also decreased significantly since Round 20. A scoring rate of 45.5% per inside 50 for the season, ranking seventh, the Dockers' rate decreased to 42% in their last five games, placing them 14th.
Defensively, there have been season-long concerns for Fremantle. Ranked 17th for pressure acts (280.4) and 15th for tackles (58.1), the Dockers' ground-level defence has been evidently poor. Without Alex Pearce due to an arm injury, as well as Sean Darcy to assist as an extra tall option behind the ball, the Dockers have been exposed in the latter stages of the season, conceding an average score of 88 in their last four losses.
In comparison to their latest four wins, Fremantle conceded an average of just 73 points. For a side that averaged 85 points this season, it's the difference between winning and losing.
Where to next?
Attention now turns to 2025 for Fremantle as their plans for finals escape them. With a promising young group gaining AFL experience year-on-year, players such as Andrew Brayshaw, Serong, Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss are primed for even better 2025 seasons.
When winning, the Dockers' brand is attractive, and they could potentially bolster their list as the destination Western Australia club. Shai Bolton could change his colours from yellow and black to purple, whilst Liam Baker is another Tiger potentially aiming to go home - whether it's at Fremantle or West Coast remains unknown.
With a hand of three first-round draft picks - currently Picks 9, 10 (tied to Collingwood) and 17 (tied to Port Adelaide) - the Dockers have the capacity to land a monstrous trade raid this October.
A club widely expected to be subpar this year, their early-season success has shown a glimpse of what the future holds, and an off-season of recruitment could add the final touches that bring 'Flagmantle' to life.
