WHERE ARE THE DOCKERS AT…WHO WOULD KNOW!
2021 FINISHED 11th 10 WINS 12 LOSSES
We look at the Fremantle Dockers in AFL Betting 2022 as they look to at the very least make their mark as the best team in the west. Is there more improvement in store as they made some small improvement on the ladder (12th to 11th) in 2021. But there were still some concerning areas that need attention along with some bright elements that will bring Docker fans some renewed hope. However it, as it does most years, has a disclaimer over it but maybe just maybe they can march back into the finals.
Fremantle need to fix two key areas if they are to get better:
1. the gap between their home and interstate games
2. their inaccuracy in front of goal.
Too often the Dockers went on the road and left their form at home. They averaged a losing margin of over 6 goals away which is simply not good enough for a side looking to play at the business end. In 15 of 22 matches they kicked more points than goals and their spiritual leader Nat Fyfe was one of the worst offenders kicking 6-21 for the year!
The Dockers have a real ability to shape a dynamic forward line with smalls and talls but they haven’t played together often enough to build the chemistry needed.
Fremantle defense has fallen away
Perhaps one of the big concerns for Coach Justin Longmuir was a falling away defensively (something he drilled hard in his first year). Whilst this may be due to the blowout results interstate it really needs to be a key focus area for them to improve.
Adam Cerra is a big loss in the midfield for Fremantle at a time when they are needing the young talent to step up. With the elder statesman Fyfe and Mundy on the way out Cerra was important. However with Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong going to new levels there is still some promise in this area.
The victory late in the year against crosstown rival the Eagles to knock them out of finals contention and break the run of 11 straight losses in their biggest home and away match was important.
In truth the Dockers season could go either way, we are leaning to the pessimistic side because they have so much ground to make up with their performances against the good teams. 8 of their 10 wins were against teams outside of the 8 mostly below them. This needs to be a year of consolidation for Fremantle and then perhaps next year can be a surge.
2022 PREDICTION 12th 10 WINS
