Shaun McManus has delivered his Unconventional Club Review for Fremantle.
The former Dockers captain answered a number of categories stemming from the 2020 season and looking ahead to 2021.
Who is Freo’s next All-Australian?
McManus: “It’s clearly Alex Pearce when he gets back and plays more than three games in a row.
“I reckon he’s a genuine star.”
Garry Lyon says: “I’m going Andrew Brayshaw. I think he’s going to bob right up next year and say I am All-Australian material.”
Do the Dockers have the right man as captain? If not, who is?
McManus: Nat Fyfe. “Absolutely right behind Fyfey.
“Anyone with long hair like I used to rock when I was playing is all good with me. He loves his surfing and is a good looking rooster.
“I’ll give him the double thumbs up. He absolutely has (grown into the role). I believe the best is yet to come for the big Fyfe.”
Lyon says: “One of my absolute favourites, in my top three. He is as respected as anyone in the game. He’s the man.”
If “player x” plays well, the Dockers are always a chance?
McManus: “Can you believe it’s Matt Taberner. Could barely get a game a couple of seasons ago.
“When he plays well - they call him Wayne, Wayne Carey - Freo are always a chance.”
Lyon says: “Sonny Walters is my X-factor.
“I’ve loved watching him play over the journey and when he plays well, when he starts to light it up for Freo, you can be almost assured that they are going to win a game of footy.”
Left-field trade option (who should they consider putting on the table)?
McManus: “This is an interesting one. I’m thinking of someone in the back line and maybe it’s Brennan Cox.
“How do they fit in (Joel) Hamling and Pearce next year? We’ve had Luke Ryan become All-Australian. Griffin Logue got back in the team.
“Maybe it’s Cox. Maybe they can’t find a position for him next year despite his good season.”
Lyon says: “I’m along the same lines. I had written Griffin Logue down.
“High draft pick, super talented kid, had injuries, and when he gets a run at it he looks like he’s capable of doing anything.
“You might get a buyer prepared to pay for him.”
Left-field trade target?
McManus: “The easiest one is Angus Brayshaw because we’ve got Hamish over here, we’ve got Andy playing for Freo, so Angus could be over here.
“The big one will be Patrick Cripps. He’s got one year to go on his contract. Fremantle should get him over here. He’s an East Fremantle boy.”
Lyon says: “Go after Patrick Cripps, go all chips in and try and get the big dog back.
“You won’t get him but it would be worth having a crack.”
Which player is deserving of a pay rise?
McManus: “I’m on the Matt Taberner bandwagon. I believe he’s on minimum wage.
“I don’t know how they’re going to pay him next year but he had a great season.”
Lyon says: “Adam Cerra. I’m going to give him a bump up in pay to ward off any potential suitors for him.
“I think he’s going to be something really special. He’s probably on a reasonable whack but you’d pay him overs for a longer term play on that.”
Which player should take a pay cut?
McManus: “I was wondering if it was Rory Lobb, for me. It was a low season in terms of goals.
“He’s paid to kick them between the big sticks and on a couple of occasions there were a few hiccups there.”
Lyon says: “There’s no bigger pay cut than the one Rory Lobb deserves. None bigger for any other player.
“This is a man who has got the potential to take a game to shreds but I watched him play in the last game of the year against the Western Bulldogs, he didn’t want to go anywhere near it.
“He needs a nice sharpen up.”
Expect a big 2021 from?
McManus: “I’m going left-field here it’s the great David Mundy.
“He’s 57 years of age and he is absolutely one of the best to watch, he’s an absolute genius. I can’t wait to see him go around in 2021 for the purple again.”
Lyon says: “I work with Nick Riewoldt a lot and he says Blake Acres has everything needed to be a modern day, I don’t want to say great… He showed it a bit in the back six games of this season.
“If he can have a big summer and realise how good he can be, then he can be top five in the best and fairest for Freo.”
Big positional change in 2021?
McManus: “It might be Jesse Hogan playing in the middle.
“Maybe he can jump on-ball and become one of those. Pav (Matthew Pavlich) did it many years ago.”
Lyon says: “I’ve got Mitch Crowden.
“There’s a young kid who played some good, committed, small forward, defensive pressure style footy towards the back-half of the year. If he can develop himself and get a tank then he can go into that midfield mix.”