Latest news with #Dockers'
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle star Hayden Young labelled the ‘point of difference' in Dockers premiership pursuit
Hayden Young has been labelled Fremantle's 'point of difference' in the Dockers' flag tilt following a blistering return from injury over the past fortnight. Young secured his first Glendinning-Allan Medal despite being subbed off early in the fourth quarter against West Coast after a commanding display with 23 touches, seven clearances and three goals in a derby domination. Channel Seven commentator Kate McCarthy said it was imperative the Dockers keep the left-footer fit, if they are to go deep into September and their hopes of winning a maiden premiership. 'Purely for what they have through the midfield, they have Andrew Brayshaw and (Caleb) Serong with Luke Jackson running through, but he (Young) is a genuine point of difference for them,' she said on 'He had a really important fourth quarter last week as the sub with 11 disposals and just continued on with that momentum, he's been their most important player. 'Keeping him on the park is an absolute must if you're Fremantle because he is key to your team going deep into September and maybe onto their first flag.' Young has managed just six games this year after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury he picked up in their round eight loss to St Kilda, having missed the start of the year with a similar injury. Given his history, the Dockers have been managing his return to the AFL level, including acting as the sub against Collingwood, with coach Justin Longmuir warning there is still more to come as he works his way back to full fitness. 'It was a good build from last week and should set him up well for next week. I thought he was clean, I thought he found space, and I thought he finished well. He was sharp,' Longmuir said post-game. 'We've missed his ball use at times this year. He's a welcome addition. He gives us another big body around there as well, which helps Andy and Caleb and the other mids. We've missed that as well. 'I thought our stoppage work went to a level it hasn't seen for a while today. I'm sure Youngy had an impact on that. Of course, that excites me.'
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Young talent time! Returning midfielder snares derby medal
Hayden Young underlined his match-winning importance to Freo by snaring the Glendinning-Allan Medal in his first match start in almost three months - and without even completing the game. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW THE JUDGES VOTED The silky left-footer finished the game with three goals from 23 disposals, seven clearances, eight score involvements and 555m gained to poll eight of a maximum of nine votes and win the medal ahead of Andrew Brayshaw (six votes) and Murphy Reid (four votes). He set up the Dockers' 49-point victory over West Coast in a blistering first quarter when he registered 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals. The stellard showing came in his first full game and second overall back from hamstring surgery. Young was subbed out of the clash early in the fourth quarter with the game in hand as the Dockers continue to manage his workload. 'I'm just building into it so I was managed today. Came off a little bit to help the legs, but I am feeling really good,' Young told Fox Footy. 'The boys have helped me a lot, getting me into the game. I was a bit rusty today but it was good to get back within the group and build some momentum. 'There was some good moments, but I missed a few opportunities which I will be a bit flat about.' It also ensured his teammate Caleb Serong will have to wait until next season to try to break a tie with Paul Hasleby for the most medals in derby history. Peter Bell (ABC) - Chair 3-Hayden Young 2- Murphy Reid 1- Andy Brayshaw Jackson Barrett (The West Australian) 3- Hayden Young 2- Andrew Brayshaw 1- Murphy Reid Mark LeCras (Channel 7) 3- Andy Brayshaw 2- Hayden Young 1- Murphy Reid TOTAL 8- Hayden Young 6 - Andy Brayshaw 4 - Murphy Reid
West Australian
5 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Glendinning-Allan Medal: Fremantle star Hayden Young named best afield in first match start since early May
Hayden Young underlined his match-winning importance to Freo by snaring the Glendinning-Allan Medal in his first match start in almost three months - and without even completing the game. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW THE JUDGES VOTED The silky left-footer finished the game with three goals from 23 disposals, seven clearances, eight score involvements and 555m gained to poll eight of a maximum of nine votes and win the medal ahead of Andrew Brayshaw (six votes) and Murphy Reid (four votes). He set up the Dockers' 49-point victory over West Coast in a blistering first quarter when he registered 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals. The stellard showing came in his first full game and second overall back from hamstring surgery. Young was subbed out of the clash early in the fourth quarter with the game in hand as the Dockers continue to manage his workload. 'I'm just building into it so I was managed today. Came off a little bit to help the legs, but I am feeling really good,' Young told Fox Footy. 'The boys have helped me a lot, getting me into the game. I was a bit rusty today but it was good to get back within the group and build some momentum. 'There was some good moments, but I missed a few opportunities which I will be a bit flat about.' It also ensured his teammate Caleb Serong will have to wait until next season to try to break a tie with Paul Hasleby for the most medals in derby history. Peter Bell (ABC) - Chair 3-Hayden Young 2- Murphy Reid 1- Andy Brayshaw Jackson Barrett (The West Australian) 3- Hayden Young 2- Andrew Brayshaw 1- Murphy Reid Mark LeCras (Channel 7) 3- Andy Brayshaw 2- Hayden Young 1- Murphy Reid TOTAL 8- Hayden Young 6 - Andy Brayshaw 4 - Murphy Reid
Perth Now
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
City of Fremantle pitch to celebrate Dockers success
The Fremantle Dockers' purple patch of form has already got the City of Fremantle looking at how it will celebrate if they make the finals. Fans' hopes of the Dockers making September AFL finals action took a boost last weekend with the team's sensational one-point win over ladder leaders Collingwood in Melbourne. Fremantle council now has its eyes on finals glory and has asked city staff to formalise celebrating the Dockers' participation in the AFL and AFLW finals series and grand final as part of its draft economic strategy 2025-2030. Past celebrations of the AFL Dockers making the finals included painting the median of the cappuccino strip purple, live-streaming the game on a big screen outdoors and painting the Fremantle Football Club's logo on the grass slope of the Walyalup Civic Centre. City of Fremantle workers painting part of South Terrace purple ahead of the Dockers' apperance in a preliminary final. Credit: City of Fremantle The council now wants to formalise its recognition of sporting achievements but it will be tight timing this September for any Dockers' celebrations, which will be planned only once it is confirmed they will be seeing finals action. The city will also look at how it can broaden the idea to celebrate significant achievements by other sportspeople or clubs with a Fremantle connection. Past events the council has tried to align with have included a Leeds United exhibition match, the Women's Soccer World Cup and the anniversary of Australia's America's Cup win. The push to do more has been led by Cr Adin Lang, who admitted he might be counting his chickens this year but Freo fans had asked why the city had not celebrated previous Dockers' finals campaigns. As well as a bit of fun, he said it could also provide a boost for the local economy. 'When we first painted the cappuccino strip and as energy grew, so did the support around town and a lot of businesses got involved,' Cr Lang said at last month's council meeting. 'A lot of shopfronts were purple and there was streamers and balloons everywhere. The festivities I thought really showed we were behind the team and it's a low-cost economic driver to bring people to Fremantle. 'A couple of years back when we were last in finals it was, 'what are we going to do, when are we going to do it' and we painted the embankment here of the building. 'Celebrations are a bit ad hoc and there's definitely a community drive or want for something a bit more formalised.' News. Crowds gather at The Federal Hotel in Fremantle to watch the AFL semi final match between the Collingwood Magpies and Fremantle Dockers. Fans applaud David Mundy after the final siren in his last game. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian As well as the potential economic boost, Cr Geoff Graham said public displays of support could galvanise the Dockers. 'The Dockers will think 'crikey, the bloody City of Fremantle is right behind us, we've got to perform better and perform for the people of Fremantle',' he said. 'I know they're trying their guts out every week but little things like this can help the morale of the side and the morale of the club and the morale of the supporters, and there's no better place to do it than in Fremantle. 'Not saying that the Dockers are going to make the grand final but it doesn't matter whether they make the grand final or just the first round, it's still something that we should celebrate.' Mayor Hannah Firzhardinge said she was now 'petrified' the Dockers would now lose the rest of their games, 'as they did the last time we bought any purple paint'. Freo's Cappuccino Strip. Credit: unknown / johnnzoz/instagram 'But I shall trust that that is superstition, not logic, and that they're doing very, very well, so fingers crossed,' she said. Cr Graham said other achievements that could be celebrated include Minjee Lee's victory last month at the PGA Championship. The win brought her number of major titles to three, which Cr Graham said put her in the 'echelon of golfing'. He said although she went to school in Rossmoyne, she was part of the Royal Fremantle Golf Club. 'You don't get anything bigger than what she's done,' he said. 'The Royal Fremantle Golf Club is actually in Central ward; people aren't aware of that, so it is part of Fremantle so therefore we can claim her.' Ms Fitzhardinge said Madeira in Portugal had recognised the achievements of soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo by erecting a statue of him. 'One part of its anatomy is shinier than all the rest because people believe it's good luck to touch Ronaldo, which was a little disturbing,' she said. 'I'm not sure we need any giant statues but it is an interesting thing to consider.' Cr Jemima Williamson-Wong said it had been suggested the city have a purple fountain. 'I don't know where we would put such a purple fountain but I guess this report will tell us if that is economically viable and smart,' she said. Cr Andrew Sullivan said the strategy would enable the city to put activities and events into place quickly. 'What we realistically need to be able to achieve in this festival city, this city that likes to celebrate and likes to have activities going on in the street and in the venues and the like, is the capacity to always be able to relatively quickly or over a long period of time put on a show,' he said. 'What I hope that comes from this is a really clear strategy . . . for how to make sure that we can virtually flick a switch to celebrate whatever it is that we want to celebrate at that particular moment.' A city officer's report said the city annually prepared for the Dockers making it to the finals and holding an event such as closing the cappuccino strip would cost about $100,000.
The Advertiser
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
For the anchor: Why the love for Longmuir stays strong
Fremantle midfielder Nathan O'Driscoll has spoken about the love the players have for Justin Longmuir, revealing how the coach's 'For the Anchor' motto has helped shape and inspire the group. The Dockers' top-four hopes will receive a major test on Sunday when they face ladder leaders Collingwood at the MCG. Hayden Young returns for Fremantle after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Collingwood made five changes - losing the likes of Jeremy Howe (adductor), Dan Houston (abdominal) and Tim Membrey (managed) but regaining Brody Mihocek, Patrick Lipinski and Beau McCreery. Longmuir is in his sixth year as Fremantle coach, and the pressure is on him to deliver the goods after guiding the club to just one finals appearance to date. The high-stakes nature was highlighted last week when Longmuir's position was questioned by North Melbourne legend David King following Fremantle's 11-point loss to Sydney, which snapped the Dockers' six-match winning run. Last Saturday's 13-point win over Hawthorn has helped momentarily quieten the doubters, but Fremantle players are still shocked at just how quickly the heat can come on Longmuir. "I don't really understand the hate towards him to be honest," O'Driscoll said. "We'd won six in a row and then we lose one game by not that much, and he's already scrutinised, with people saying they need to sack him. "I love him. I reckon he's a great bloke and a really insightful coach. And I know all the boys love him too. "He's got knowledge that a lot of other people wouldn't know. "You can see our game plan holds up against Hawthorn and these other good teams. Those games that we've lost haven't been on JL, it's been on us." When Longmuir arrived at Fremantle, he introduced a motto that has helped shape the playing group. "We have this thing called 'For the Anchor' - we're all in it together," O'Driscoll explained. "If one of us is lacking, it just makes the whole team fall down. So when JL's hung out to dry like that ... we're in it together. "And with Caleb (Serong) getting tagged, it's another thing that we could mention. "We made an emphasis (on that before the Hawthorn game). "If he's getting tagged, we need to be in there as a family fighting for him, because against Sydney he got tagged and no one helped him. "So little things like that just really inspire me and get me up and going, and get me excited to play for these boys." O'Driscoll said the 'For the Anchor' culture has extended into other areas. "Around the club, we have this thing called 'Scrub the Decks'," O'Driscoll said. "So if we leave a pair of boots or the locker room is dirty, we're not leaving that to someone else. We have to do that. "We always clean up after ourselves. Little details matter in the big scheme of things. "Every time you go out and do something, it's for the anchor. You're representing the club and the people in here. "We want to leave a legacy and a good footprint for the kids to come through and play footy." Fremantle midfielder Nathan O'Driscoll has spoken about the love the players have for Justin Longmuir, revealing how the coach's 'For the Anchor' motto has helped shape and inspire the group. The Dockers' top-four hopes will receive a major test on Sunday when they face ladder leaders Collingwood at the MCG. Hayden Young returns for Fremantle after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Collingwood made five changes - losing the likes of Jeremy Howe (adductor), Dan Houston (abdominal) and Tim Membrey (managed) but regaining Brody Mihocek, Patrick Lipinski and Beau McCreery. Longmuir is in his sixth year as Fremantle coach, and the pressure is on him to deliver the goods after guiding the club to just one finals appearance to date. The high-stakes nature was highlighted last week when Longmuir's position was questioned by North Melbourne legend David King following Fremantle's 11-point loss to Sydney, which snapped the Dockers' six-match winning run. Last Saturday's 13-point win over Hawthorn has helped momentarily quieten the doubters, but Fremantle players are still shocked at just how quickly the heat can come on Longmuir. "I don't really understand the hate towards him to be honest," O'Driscoll said. "We'd won six in a row and then we lose one game by not that much, and he's already scrutinised, with people saying they need to sack him. "I love him. I reckon he's a great bloke and a really insightful coach. And I know all the boys love him too. "He's got knowledge that a lot of other people wouldn't know. "You can see our game plan holds up against Hawthorn and these other good teams. Those games that we've lost haven't been on JL, it's been on us." When Longmuir arrived at Fremantle, he introduced a motto that has helped shape the playing group. "We have this thing called 'For the Anchor' - we're all in it together," O'Driscoll explained. "If one of us is lacking, it just makes the whole team fall down. So when JL's hung out to dry like that ... we're in it together. "And with Caleb (Serong) getting tagged, it's another thing that we could mention. "We made an emphasis (on that before the Hawthorn game). "If he's getting tagged, we need to be in there as a family fighting for him, because against Sydney he got tagged and no one helped him. "So little things like that just really inspire me and get me up and going, and get me excited to play for these boys." O'Driscoll said the 'For the Anchor' culture has extended into other areas. "Around the club, we have this thing called 'Scrub the Decks'," O'Driscoll said. "So if we leave a pair of boots or the locker room is dirty, we're not leaving that to someone else. We have to do that. "We always clean up after ourselves. Little details matter in the big scheme of things. "Every time you go out and do something, it's for the anchor. You're representing the club and the people in here. "We want to leave a legacy and a good footprint for the kids to come through and play footy." Fremantle midfielder Nathan O'Driscoll has spoken about the love the players have for Justin Longmuir, revealing how the coach's 'For the Anchor' motto has helped shape and inspire the group. The Dockers' top-four hopes will receive a major test on Sunday when they face ladder leaders Collingwood at the MCG. Hayden Young returns for Fremantle after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Collingwood made five changes - losing the likes of Jeremy Howe (adductor), Dan Houston (abdominal) and Tim Membrey (managed) but regaining Brody Mihocek, Patrick Lipinski and Beau McCreery. Longmuir is in his sixth year as Fremantle coach, and the pressure is on him to deliver the goods after guiding the club to just one finals appearance to date. The high-stakes nature was highlighted last week when Longmuir's position was questioned by North Melbourne legend David King following Fremantle's 11-point loss to Sydney, which snapped the Dockers' six-match winning run. Last Saturday's 13-point win over Hawthorn has helped momentarily quieten the doubters, but Fremantle players are still shocked at just how quickly the heat can come on Longmuir. "I don't really understand the hate towards him to be honest," O'Driscoll said. "We'd won six in a row and then we lose one game by not that much, and he's already scrutinised, with people saying they need to sack him. "I love him. I reckon he's a great bloke and a really insightful coach. And I know all the boys love him too. "He's got knowledge that a lot of other people wouldn't know. "You can see our game plan holds up against Hawthorn and these other good teams. Those games that we've lost haven't been on JL, it's been on us." When Longmuir arrived at Fremantle, he introduced a motto that has helped shape the playing group. "We have this thing called 'For the Anchor' - we're all in it together," O'Driscoll explained. "If one of us is lacking, it just makes the whole team fall down. So when JL's hung out to dry like that ... we're in it together. "And with Caleb (Serong) getting tagged, it's another thing that we could mention. "We made an emphasis (on that before the Hawthorn game). "If he's getting tagged, we need to be in there as a family fighting for him, because against Sydney he got tagged and no one helped him. "So little things like that just really inspire me and get me up and going, and get me excited to play for these boys." O'Driscoll said the 'For the Anchor' culture has extended into other areas. "Around the club, we have this thing called 'Scrub the Decks'," O'Driscoll said. "So if we leave a pair of boots or the locker room is dirty, we're not leaving that to someone else. We have to do that. "We always clean up after ourselves. Little details matter in the big scheme of things. "Every time you go out and do something, it's for the anchor. You're representing the club and the people in here. "We want to leave a legacy and a good footprint for the kids to come through and play footy."
