Eagles legend Glen Jakovich has run his eye over Fremantle, believing they’re a team with a formidable backline, but their offensive struggles will keep them out of the top eight in 2021.
The Dockers impressed in their first season under coach Justin Longmuir, finishing 12th with seven wins and a percentage of 93.7.
Jakovich hopes to see what they’re capable of with their full arsenal of defenders fit and healthy.
“Last year defensively they were ranked fifth in the competition. In the back end of the season, they were ranked number two so they were really, really good defensively,” he told Sportsday WA.
“If they can get Joel Hamling back, that’s an added bonus. He’s an A-grader and a premiership player. Luke Ryan is an All-Australian, Nathan Wilson, if he can get a good run with his body, he’s an A-grader. Explosive and gets them going.
“I really like Fremantle’s backline. Ethan Hughes, Griffin Logue, throw in Alex Pearce if he can hold his body together he’ll be very good.
“Their mids are fantastic. Caleb Serong was the NAB Rising Star.
“Look out for Hayden Young. I had the privilege of working with him in the National Academy program. He is an elite kick, sees the angles well.
“Darcy Tucker, James Aish will be better in his second year, Stephen Hill needs to stay on the park.”
Jakovich believes Fremantle should ride its young midfield and begin to transition Nathan Fyfe and Michael Walters forward more regularly.
“The mids are really good, the forwards, I’ve got grave concerns,” he said.
“Last year (their) attack (was ranked) 16th in the competition and they averaged 50 points per game.
“In the top four, Port Adelaide (averaged) 69 (points per game), Brisbane 69, Richmond 66 points and Geelong 72 points per game.
“You’ve got to score. Matt Taberner, who is going to stand up with him?
“You’ve got Michael Walters. Where does he play next year? For me, I’d like to see him and Nat Fyfe play high half-forward and in the midfield.
“They’re not in their younger years anymore and I think Fremantle need them, as part of climbing up the ladder, playing more deep forward and preserving their bodies because they have played a lot of footy and have been banged up over a long period of time.
“(Fremantle) needs to add something more to their forward line. That’s their Achilles heel.
“The two things that Fremantle needs to really improve on is their impact on the scoreboard … and the other thing is they need to improve on their kicking game.
“If they really improve on that and become the envy of the competition like Hawthorn were a few years ago then opposition clubs will take not that they’re on the rise.
“I’ve got them finishing ninth or 10th, in that area. If they can improve, they should be on the cusp of finals footy. I can’t put them in the finals or the top eight equation just yet, the reason being their forward doesn’t look that scary to me at the minute and that’s where they’ve got to really boost up their stocks.”