Latest news with #StarlightPurpleHazeGame
West Australian
16 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers star Caleb Serong to embrace tag in St Kilda rematch
Fremantle midfield dynamo Caleb Serong says he not only expects a hard tag, but is ready to 'embrace' it when it likely comes in Sunday's clash with the Ross Lyon-coached St Kilda at Optus Stadium. Serong said he and co vice-captain Andrew Brayshaw were preparing for a close-checking onslaught in Lyon's first game against his old team in Perth since he re-entered the senior AFL coaching ranks in 2023. 'If we go in trying to avoid it or hope it doesn't happen, then you're you're a loss already before you even start, so we'll both go in expecting heavy attention,' Serong said. 'If it doesn't happen, then sweet. We'll support the other one or kind of adjust to whatever they're doing, but if it does, then we're ready for it. 'That's the mentality ... not diverting from the way you want to play, not letting them dictate your game, not letting them dictate the way you run, the positions you get to, the role you play for the team. 'It's keeping it really simple. And from there, if it's really challenging, then you go to the levers you can pull around stoppage and the team things that we'll work on, and the strategies, but first and foremost, you'll embrace it and stick to your guns.' The match will be Fremantle's annual Starlight Purple Haze Game and Serong surprised one of the hero kids, six-year-old Mateo Domazetovski, with the news he will be run out with the team at a lunch held at the club's Cockburn headquarters yesterday. 'It's something that's far bigger than footy, and the reach and the impact that we can have as a football club and as individuals is pretty special and it's something that I and the group don't take lightly and I'm very proud to be an ambassador for Starlight,' Serong said. Tagging has been a talking point since St Kilda's master tagger Marcus Windhager unsuccessfully tried to put Nick Daicos off his game in the last round. He was successful the previous round, restricting six-time All-Australian Marcus Bontempelli to 13 disposals in 99 minutes, ending his streak of at least 15 disposals across 106 games. In the Saints previous outing he stopped the hot-streak of Melbourne forward Kysaiah Pickett. Brayshaw and Serong are the seventh and 14th ranked AFL players in the competition, so will be a key focus for the Saints, with Windhager and Jack Steele the likely run-with weapons Lyon will call on. Dockers defender Luke Ryan said this week teammates would 'make it hard' for Windhager. 'I've got no doubt there'll be support from the boys. We're a very tight group and a group that's all about doing it together and doing what we need to support each other,' Serong said. 'I always feel a lot of support from from my teammates whenever I get tagged, or whenever there's a bit of tension. So it'd be no different this week if that happens. And he (Ryan) will be there front and centre as he always is.' The Saints' 10-goal win over Fremantle in round eight at Marvel Stadium was the Dockers last heavy loss this season and after the game Lyon denied Windhager had a tagging role, saying he 'was having fun out on a wing'. 'He didn't tag us last time, he was playing on the wing. But there were definitely some roles and some other guys in the midfield that were doing jobs,' Serong said. 'Either way, we didn't do a great job of helping each other out or actually getting our roles done ourselves. 'Andy and I .. didn't play our role for the team as leaders or as players. So we didn't really look externally there at what they did or what their midfield did to try and nullify either of us or anything, we just pretty much looked internally and looked at what we did, and we weren't good enough that day. 'We've learnt a lot from that, and I think we've got better both as players and as a midfield group.' Serong denied it was a 'revenge' match. 'We don't have a point to prove to anyone except ourselves and our midfield group and our team,' he said. 'Where we let let the team down in that kind of game, and not from a point of view of touches or kicks, marks, clearances, whatever it was, it was just the way that we committed to the way we want to play. 'We pride ourselves on being able to play our role for the team, whatever that looks like. And if any of us get targets, it might not be getting 35 touches, it might be playing our role stoppage, playing our role in transition, doing what we need to do, pressuring, doing all the team acts that we talk about all the time. 'If I do that, I know that I can look my teammates in the eyes, coaches in the eye, say I've played my role, and every single bloke in our team can do that as well. 'That's going to be our focus this week. It's not going to be how many touches we can get and trying to dominate the stat sheet. 'It's going to be playing our role for the team. If that results in stat stats, or if that results in clearances, whatever it is, then great. But if not, I know I'm going to go out there and play my role.' Serong said he would not be playing for free kicks, but the umpires would be able to rule on any unfair or illegal tactics. 'I think the umpires know. And I'm not out there trying to draw three kicks or pull one over the umpire's head or anything. I'm just going out there and just trying to be physical and go win the footy when it's my turn to win it,' Serong said. 'And if there's a holding free kick or something like that, then sweet. But if you're relying on that, then you're going to be forever asking umpires for a free kick because there's plenty of physicality, plenty of things missed. 'It's a hard game to umpire, so I'll just go out there and not bank on anything like that. Just go out there and just be physical and do what I need to do. And then if that results in some free kicks, great, but if not, I'll just keep going about my business with the on ball unit.'
West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers are ready for Caleb Serong or Andrew Brayshaw to be tagged by St Kilda's Marcus Windhager
Fremantle are adamant they will be ready for whatever tagging tactics St Kilda throw at them on Sunday as the Saints look to again take down Dockers stars Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw. The Saints thrashed Fremantle in round eight after dominating the midfield and shutting both Brayshaw and Serong out of the match. Serong managed only 15 disposals, while Brayshaw was restricted to 18 in the 61-point defeat. Marcus Windhager's tagging job on Collingwood's Nick Daicos received plenty of attention over the weekend and versatile Docker Bailey Banfield said Fremantle would be ready for whatever comes their way. 'He's been doing a good job over the last couple of weeks. Ross does like a tagger, as I know. I'm not sure what their plans will be, but we will be ready for it, no matter what they throw at us,' Banfield said. 'Obviously there's been a bit going on with the Daicos stuff over the weekend. 'That's always a focus for us no matter who we're playing. Whether we've got a target player or they're targeting on of ours, we want to win as a 22 or 23. It's not up to one person. 'At our best, I think we're capable if Caleb or Andy is a little bit quiet. There's blokes who can stand up. You can't tag everyone. 'What Dogga's (Luke Jackson) doing in the ruck has been pretty special. You can't tag both Caleb and Andy. Then Fyfey comes in and does his thing as well. We're trying to build a really balanced group that you can't take everyone away.' Fremantle's season swung significantly after losing to St Kilda. They held a series of meetings after that game to address key issues and the players totally changed their approach to games. Those changes have seen the Dockers win their last five games. Banfield said it was up to everyone to continue that form and not fall into the trap of wanting revenge against St Kilda. 'From the back of that game we had some hard conversations. There was a little bit of a shift there,' he said. 'I don't think we're particularly focused on the Saints and their part of that game, it was more about what we brought to that game. 'We clearly weren't good enough on that day so we've been looking at what our behaviours were on that day that weren't good enough and what ha stacked up over the last three or four weeks that has been at a much higher standard.' Sunday's match will be Fremantle's annual Starlight Purple Haze Game as the club raises money for the Starlight Children's Foundation. The Dockers have raised $3.4 million through the Purple Haze game since its inception in 2003. Banfield is a Starlight Ambassador and is excited to wear their Purple Haze jumper and put a smile on kids' faces. 'it's probably my favourite week of the year. It's really special,' Banfield said. 'To not only raise money but also to bring the kids on the journey. We've got five kids coming throughout the week. They'll come in on Thursday and they're a big part of the game day experience as well. 'They're kids we have seen throughout the year in the hospital. To bring them along, and their families as well, is really special.'
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
You're it! Dockers vow to be ready for St Kilda's taggers
Fremantle are adamant they will be ready for whatever tagging tactics St Kilda throw at them on Sunday as the Saints look to again take down Dockers stars Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw. The Saints thrashed Fremantle in round eight after dominating the midfield and shutting both Brayshaw and Serong out of the match. Serong managed only 15 disposals, while Brayshaw was restricted to 18 in the 61-point defeat. Marcus Windhager's tagging job on Collingwood's Nick Daicos received plenty of attention over the weekend and versatile Docker Bailey Banfield said Fremantle would be ready for whatever comes their way. 'He's been doing a good job over the last couple of weeks. Ross does like a tagger, as I know. I'm not sure what their plans will be, but we will be ready for it, no matter what they throw at us,' Banfield said. 'Obviously there's been a bit going on with the Daicos stuff over the weekend. 'That's always a focus for us no matter who we're playing. Whether we've got a target player or they're targeting on of ours, we want to win as a 22 or 23. It's not up to one person. Marcus Windhager tagged Nick Daicos. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos / AFL Photos via Getty Images 'At our best, I think we're capable if Caleb or Andy is a little bit quiet. There's blokes who can stand up. You can't tag everyone. 'What Dogga's (Luke Jackson) doing in the ruck has been pretty special. You can't tag both Caleb and Andy. Then Fyfey comes in and does his thing as well. We're trying to build a really balanced group that you can't take everyone away.' Fremantle's season swung significantly after losing to St Kilda. They held a series of meetings after that game to address key issues and the players totally changed their approach to games. Those changes have seen the Dockers win their last five games. Banfield said it was up to everyone to continue that form and not fall into the trap of wanting revenge against St Kilda. 'From the back of that game we had some hard conversations. There was a little bit of a shift there,' he said. 'I don't think we're particularly focused on the Saints and their part of that game, it was more about what we brought to that game. 'We clearly weren't good enough on that day so we've been looking at what our behaviours were on that day that weren't good enough and what ha stacked up over the last three or four weeks that has been at a much higher standard.' Sunday's match will be Fremantle's annual Starlight Purple Haze Game as the club raises money for the Starlight Children's Foundation. The Dockers have raised $3.4 million through the Purple Haze game since its inception in 2003. Bailey Banfield models Fremantle's Starlight uniform. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian Banfield is a Starlight Ambassador and is excited to wear their Purple Haze jumper and put a smile on kids' faces. 'it's probably my favourite week of the year. It's really special,' Banfield said. 'To not only raise money but also to bring the kids on the journey. We've got five kids coming throughout the week. They'll come in on Thursday and they're a big part of the game day experience as well. 'They're kids we have seen throughout the year in the hospital. To bring them along, and their families as well, is really special.'
