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FREMANTLE DOCKERS
(Regular Season: 16 wins, 6 losses; Finals: Lost in semi-final v. Port Adelaide)
What went right:
As expected, the Dockers finished inside the top four despite a poor start to the season.
The Fremantle midfield was excellent for most of the season, with Nat Fyfe the obvious key man.
David Mundy, Ryan Crowley, Danyle Pearce played every single game in 2014, while Fyfe, Michael Barlow and Stephen Hill missed 13 games between them, they were generally very good.
Between rounds nine and 19, Ross Lyon’s side only defeat came inexplicably against wooden-spooners St Kilda by an incredible 58 points.
What went wrong:
Not a hell of a lot.
Dockers fans will no doubt be disappointed with its straight sets exit in the finals, however they finished just one game off top spot during the home and away season.
Injuries hurt Fremantle and the losses of Luke McPharlin, Michael Johnson and Hayden Ballantyne robbed the side of much-needed finals experience.
Star performer:
Nat Fyfe.
It’s hard to believe the midfielder is just 22 years old, such is his influence on games of football.
His two suspensions render him ineligible to win the Brownlow Medal, however he can take solace from the fact that his peers voted him the AFL Players Association’s MVP.
Well deserved, too.
The future:
After exiting September in straight sets, many will argue that the Dockers’ premiership window won’t remain open for too much longer.
Fremantle have the oldest list in the competition and club veterans Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands are surely on their last legs.
However, the Dockers are reportedly in negotiations with Melbourne defender James Frawley, who would be a huge addition to the side especially if Luke McPharlin calls it quits.
Led by the excellent Nat Fyfe, the Dockers should make a fist of it in 2015.
If they don’t, it very well may be Ross Lyon’s last season in charge.
Season score: 6.5/10
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