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Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fremantle still look good on paper – but since when has that mattered?
A few days after they'd been trounced by an All-Indigenous team in February, Fremantle's president addressed the faithful at Crown Perth. 'This morning's event is not just another routine AFL season launch,' Chris Sutherland said. 'I think we are as ready as we've ever been to chase that cup. We definitely feel like the foundation is sound and we certainly think we've got nearly all the pieces in place. May the season be filled with moments of courage, connection and success. I've kept this speech very short because I'm actually done with talking. It's time for action.' The speech was short, but the message was clear – we're ready, no more excuses, no more loser's limp. It echoed thoughts of the CEO, the coach, the players and the wider commentariat. They were confident they had the right coach, the right list, the right age profile, and the right recruits. Advertisement But there's nothing like an evening's entertainment with Ross Lyon to show you exactly where you stand. Lyon's Saints, no world-beaters themselves, suffocated Fremantle's prime movers last Friday – and the will of all neutral observers. It was as bad a performance as the club's had in years. Watching them jog on, trundle around and trudge off begged the question – is too much expected of this team? Have they been overrated all along? And have they overestimated their own talent? Bad luck, poor officiating, too many injuries, the final stoppage against Essendon, the fingernail against Carlton and the indignity of dropping a Derby all conspired against them last year. But they stood revealed in August, dropping from third to 10th. Most of it was indicative of an immature team. It was a 10-minute lapse here, and a sloppy kick there. In the end, they simply didn't deserve to make it. And yet this idea persists that Fremantle have some sort of dream list, and that it's being squandered with poor coaching, stodgy ball movement and a lack of effort. I keep hearing that Luke Beveridge or John Longmire could walk into the club and quickly ship it into shape. Advertisement But I just don't think they're ready. Yes, they look good on paper. But looking good on paper hasn't mattered since the early 2000s, when you'd pick up a newspaper and scan the followers and the goal-to-goal line. That's not what makes a team successful any more. This Dockers side still has a lot of deficiencies around the edges. They have too many poor ball users in their backline, defenders with poor spatial awareness who are prone to panicking when teams press. They have too many young, jittery, streaky players who are still finding their feet. They have too many players who seem content with being AFL footballers, with swanning around Perth on the back of the occasional rousing home win. And there are too few who are prepared to go down the well when things get hard, especially when they're playing on the other side of the country. On Thursday, they meet a crack Collingwood side, a team that travels well. The Pies will be off a five-day break and they'll be bruised and battered after being bowled over by Patrick Dangerfield for half an hour. They'll also be leaving some of their best players back in the barn in Melbourne. In some ways, it's Collingwood issuing a challenge – we're in your house, we're leaving a quarter of the side at home but we've still got Nick Daicos and we still reckon you're flaky. Collingwood consider themselves a live chance in any game they're playing, irrespective of the score. But there's no team that moves on from a loss so swiftly and so convincingly. They'd moved on from the Geelong game while Jack Crisp's kick was still mid-air. Fremantle tend to be the opposite. Too often, when the game is there to be won, they meekly acquiesce. They then shrug their shoulders and mope around. The club's president says he's done with talking. The CEO says the coach is doing a phenomenal job. The fans brace for the fortnightly sugar hit at home. The rest of us see a cautious, easily scoutable and not yet fully trustworthy team, a team both flattered and burdened by lofty expectations. Crunching the numbers The Giants have been forced to play all but two matches away from their home at Engie Stadium in part due to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. They still have six home matches in Sydney and two in Canberra to come this season. From the archives Malcolm Knox said it as well as anyone. 'If you can conjure a footballer who combines the best attributes of Gary Ablett Snr and Jnr, while looking like my elderly engineer uncle, then you have Kevin Bartlett in his prime.' Advertisement Bartlett's record is phenomenal, and perhaps under-appreciated – five flags, five club champion awards, some desperately close finishes in the Brownlow medal, the first player to play more than 400 games, an AFL Hall of Fame Legend and even the King of Moomba. In 2008 Mike Sheahan ranked him the ninth best footballer in the history of the game and he could easily have been higher. They said what? The Bulldogs coach refused to fire back at his former player's jibe that playing for the Cats at the MCG was 'beautiful' in contrast to playing in Ballarat. 'It's going to be interesting, if everyone keeps grabbing him straight after a game,' Beveridge added. 'I'm not sure whether Geelong are going to like that every week, but it's just the way he rolls.' View from the stands (or the couch) 'The treatment and talk around Clayton is an absolute disgrace. The 'football journalists' have no integrity. Grow up and leave the kid alone. They wonder why they have personal struggles and have to have a week off.' Advertisement The Melbourne president, Brad Green, hits out at the media on X amid speculation that Clayton Oliver will be looking to move clubs at the end of the season during the same week that he missed a game while the club 'prioritises his wellbeing'. Footy quiz How many finals have Showdown rivals Adelaide and Port Adelaide played against each other? Answers in next week's newsletter, but if you think you know it, hit reply and let me know. Last week's answer: Which player has been awarded the most Brett Kirk medals for best afield in a Sydney derby? Luke Parker with five. Congratulations to Tania Jayesuria, who was first to reply with the right answer. Want more? Brisbane took a retro theme into their QClash against Gold Coast and quickly proved that little has changed over time in the Queensland hierarchy. Advertisement Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli apologised for a threatening private message sent to Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale. Got a story tip? Reply to this email and drop me a line, or email fromthepocket@ Enjoying this newsletter? Have a friend who might? Forward this to them, or tell them how to get it.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Crown boss to offload $7m mansion for penthouse downsizer
It's just as well blue-chip businessman John Van Der Wielen doesn't get too emotionally attached to his properties — otherwise, letting go of his recently listed Attadale residence might be a challenge. The luxurious five-bedroom, four-bathroom home, set on a sprawling 974sqm riverside block, has hit the market with a price in the $7 million range. Mr Van Der Wielen, who chairs both Crown Perth and the wildly successful nerve regeneration biotech Orthocell, is looking to downsize to a penthouse apartment. He and his wife Robin — founder of Perth-based Flower Box Home Fragrance — are ready for a more 'lock-up-and-leave' lifestyle to accommodate their frequent travels. Despite the many fond memories created in the home, Van Der Wielen admits he's never been one to get too sentimental about real estate — even after living in Sydney (twice), London (twice) and Luxembourg. 'I've moved around a lot in the past 20 years,' he said. 'Selling houses has never worried me because I don't get too emotionally attached.' This pragmatic approach likely makes it easier to part with the spectacular three-level residence, which features panoramic river views, a private lift, smart wiring, commercial-grade ducted air conditioning, underfloor heating in the ensuite, and advanced security systems. The luxurious five-bedroom, four-bathroom home is set on a sprawling 974sqm riverside block. Credit: supplied The home also includes multiple fireplaces, a heated magnesium pool and a six-car garage complete with a full bathroom. Mont Property's Matthew Podesta said the property was a finalist in the Housing Industry Association's awards when it was built. 'This home rivals some of the finest international luxury hotels — its craftsmanship, premium fixtures, and impeccable finishes truly set it apart,' he said. The home was a finalist in the Housing Industry Association's awards when it was built. Credit: supplied John Van Der Wielen's home in Attadale Credit: supplied Van Der Wielen's frequent travel for Orthocell — whose board includes esteemed names such as Professor Fiona Wood and Kim Beazley — is part of what motivates the move. He also serves as a non-executive director with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. With his granddaughter now based in Scotland, he anticipates spending more time in the UK and is even considering purchasing a property there. Still, no matter how far his travels take him, the former Hamilton Hill High School student says Perth will always be home. John Van Der Wielen's home in Attadale. Credit: supplied
