foreverfreo

What’s going on at that Mineral Resources Park? It’s a mine site of a ground and now we’ve got Sean Darcy on his 4-week Fifo spell! Time to Restump Podcast everything that’s as purple as Darce’s knee!   

You don’t want any player getting injured at all, but especially on the eve of a season. And given how vital it is we get off to a positive start this year, we couldn’t afford to lose part of the Jackarce combo. Luke Jackson will cover Darcy but it robs us of Luke Jackson magic up forward. 

Speaking of injuries, sadly Corey Wagner is done for possibly a third of the season and how long Disco Nathan is out is anyone’s guess! But on the more positive side, Brennan Cox and Freddy are pushing for round one and the Qatar sorcery has seemingly done Heath Chapman no end of good. 

The pressure is already on Justin Longmuir and the season hasn’t even begun. Such is the irrational world of fanatical sport. What constitutes an acceptable season performance? Is it finals? If so, can he survive should we miss the top eight? Can the club stand up to the external pressure and noise if they then still think he's the man for the job?

The Chief is back on Sammy Switkowski’s case and is asking the question, could Switta be more productive in a semi-foreign role? 

We all know ‘league equalization’ is an AFL buzz term with no meaningful substance but after finishing 14th in 2023, did we get a little torched with our draw this year? Or maybe the nerves creeping in for us fans is causing us to subconsciously grasp at pre-determined reason for failure straws! 

Wait a minute… that’s loser talk! Let’s nip that defeatist attitude talk in the bud right now and amp up the positive affirmations!

All that and no doubt plenty more to get through. So, as Jojo has finally decided to turn up… let’s strike while the iron is hot before his less than disciplined pre-season interruptions continue.     

So, in the highly unlikely event you’ve got nothing better to do and you can’t suddenly make other arrangements, by all means pull up a pew, plug in and partake in the perpetuation of our purple prattle. 

It’s been a long preseason and we’re all a tad rusty. But we can’t wait to see how the Emmett bros, who Will Schofield introduced us to last Saturday, go this year. Let’s focus and get the 2024 Restump Podcast on track.

There was, and in some sectors still is, a lot of doom and gloom around Freo’s chances this year (hello Kingy) but unsurprisingly, as we edge closer to round one, the expectational tide is starting to turn.  

Maybe it is just my eternally optimistic nature but I’d go as far as to say the term ‘anomaly’ has been negligently overlooked. It has been absent in the external conversations and assessments of Fremantle’s 2023 season.

There seems a different attitude and a different mindset this preseason and it appears they returned in better nick this year than they did the same time last year. The youngsters have another year and a preseason under their belts, Andy Brayshaw looks like he’s about to return to his 2022 best and while praying to any and all gods that he holds together, Nat Fyfe is showing why he is still a vital cog in the purple wheel. 

There were good signs regarding the ball movement last Saturday but…  we weren’t exactly inconvenienced or hampered in our endeavours. So, we’ll momentarily reserve judgement…

However, on what we’ve seen so far, I can’t recall hearing…. “Gee we miss those Lachie and Liam guys and that Hamling bloke.”

Setting a horrible Restump example, Jojo has been preoccupied and absent the entire preseason boarding private jets on his own national Taylor Swift concert going tour! But he assures us he’s back and got his head in the game. However, the best he could do was promise to try and cut down the in season European holidays.

Is Simon Garlic pivoting from the five-year strategic plan to the ten year extra breathing space project? Is the “break out year” label a dangerous prediction? And is there an early episode of the Neighbourhood Watch? God, we hope not!

Bucket loads to get through so let’s get season 2024 underway. If you join us, please note the legal disclaimer that it will most probably be another hour of your life wasted and we can offer no refunds! 

“Best club and supporter base and most passionate fans in the AFL. It was the incentive to come to Collingwood.” Is Lachie being a little too Lobb-like? Time to Restump Podcast that and whatever we can scratch up and masquerade as Freo content.  

We’ve closed the door on the Lachie Shultz love-fest. Sure, his interview at Collingwood was probably edited with cherry pickings but that is not getting in the way of a villainous narrative. He’s not exactly dead to us but he’s off the Christmas card list and almost in the Rory Lobb basket! 

Fixtures are starting to leak out. Is there anything the AFL doesn’t milk dry? We’ve got a tough home game against Brissie to kick things off and we’re off to the Northern Territory later in the year. 

Zero round? Is there a potential the AFL is biting off its nose to spite its face? Is it watering down the spectacle and occasion of the traditional round one?

The strategic plan… how are we actually travelling? Have we deviated from where they thought we would be? Can we still tick off the boxes with two years to run?

From a wider, all-encompassing perspective, what is the feeling of the fans about the current Fremantle club? Do fans feel part of the club? Is there that deep emotional tie or are there degrees of separation?  

Oscar McDonald has joined the purple and Jeremy Sharp looks like he’s days away from doing the same. Handy gets for no cost.

Josh Corbett is done for 2024 after a hip injury that came with little to no detail. The Chief has been some digging around to try and find out what actually happened to Ronnie Corbett. 

Bailey Banfield got engaged after getting his beautiful partner to say yes. We couldn’t be happier for him but we’re disappointed he didn’t get down on one knee wearing the sub vest.  

So, there’s all of that and no doubt plenty more of the stuff no one asked for or will benefit from!

Are we podcasting anything truly enlightening? Probably not! But hey… the bottom of the content barrel isn’t going to scrape itself! So, if you’ve set the listening bar low, then join us as we try and inject some much-needed purple nonsense into the offseason airways! 

Season is still alive, especially if you’re Tommy Emmett. Can’t wait to see him go around but someone please open the gate for him! We don’t want him jumping fences. Time to Restump Podcast Tommy’s time against the Power.

What a magnificent upcoming moment for the accountancy studying Tommy Emmett, and we’re all about to share with him. It’s a wonderful personal achievement and a reward for his persistence and dedication. It is truly the triumph over extreme adversity and it is something he and his family must be thrilled about. 

Let’s hope his moment isn’t soured by being handed the sub vest! The debutants donning the sub vest policy is putrid and has to end! 

The game against Port Adelaide is the test we need. There is little to lose and, to be fair, not much to play for, but we’ll get to see where we really are. We have to bring the energy and intent because we know Port will.  

Sonny Walters and Josh “Ronnie” Corbett go out but in comes the above-mentioned debutant Tommy Emmett and revolving door rider, Bailey Banfield. Port Adelaide’s very strong line up looks largely unchanged.

The Liam Henry conversation is heating up. Is he staying? Is he going? Has he made his mind up yet? He’s unfortunately had some horrible stuff thrown at him by Freo fans over his short journey. Impatience and unrealistic expectations from many supposed Freo fans are becoming the norm and manifesting into self-righteous ugly commentary. It wouldn’t hurt to turn it around Sunday and make a bit more supportive noise for him.

The West Coast Eagles have a shedload of issues on their plate… are they trying to add Sean Darcy to it? Plenty of retirements, little talent and they will have decent cap space… it would be a sad day to see the Prince of Perth in Eagles colours but they’d be negligent not to try. 

Two games left and just one remaining home game this Sunday against Port Adelaide. Our season is fast coming to a close but there is still time to prattle on about all things purple. So, if you’ve nothing better to do, by all means join us in the virtual Freo function room for forty minutes of Docker drivel.

Hey it worked for Marnus Labuschagne! And it did look like Alex Pearce was getting reverse swing on the odd kick. Time to Restump Podcast Saturday’s 12 minute loss to the Swans.

We got off to a flyer but we stopped as fast as we started and it was the first quarter curse yet again that destroyed us… or rather it was what we did or didn’t do in it that destroyed us

What if we start internally applying our games in 5ths? Say five 16-minute periods. That way we would avoid first quarters. Has it really come to that type of preposterous thinking? 

After getting 18 disposals, 2 inside 50’s and kicking one goal one before the Swans had a single possession, the game was pretty much over at 16 minutes later, as mental as those sounds.

It was as if centre clearances and spreading from the contest were foreign terms. We largely leveled up the numbers by the end of the night but, like has been the case all year, the damage was done. 

Luke Jackson and Josh Treacy combined admirably in the ruck but there is no substitute for Sean Darcy. That said, he was there for the first quarter last week.

Thank goodness for Luke Ryan. He was exceptional as he nearly always is and the margin would have blown out with out his performance. 

With his 23 touches, 9 contested and 8 ground ball get (second most on the ground behind Caleb Serong) Liam Henry continues to dismiss his critics. He’s made the wing his own and if anyone else wants it they’re going to have to fight to take it off him.

We raised the prospect last week that Alex Pearce may not be the captain that is required, or more so that he doesn’t play in a position to make an influential difference when needed. Is the captaincy question rearing it head again? 

As disappointing as the post-bye season has been, we still believe we’re not far off the pack. It looks like a lack of cohesion and connection and an absence of a bit of grunt and agro in the middle rather than talent. And if that is the case, it is rectifiable with offseason focus.

We’d all love to be chatting about a victory but win lose or draw we soldier on. The monotony is biting us all but we bind together, hunker down and weather the storm like only Freo fans know how. 

So, friends. Romans, countrymen… lend us your ears, pack your mental strength and come along for our interpretation of the current deep purple situation.

It's fraught with danger engaging mercenaries! But as they either had to sign with Russia, move to Belarus or retire, the suit up for Freo option was a no brainer! Time to Restump Podcast Saturday’s ominous task against the Pies. 

It is a pretty scary assignment Saturday against the premiership favourites and all conquering Pies. We’ve had to make a host of changes but, result aside, it will be good experience for the young list, if not much else.

Corey Wagner had a mare in his debut earlier this year. Apparently, they were calling him Construction site Corey after that game. Every time he kicked the ball a clang sound was heard! Oh that’s too harsh! He did knock up a bit.. but he’ll make amends Saturday.

It's good to see that the great premiership defender, the forgotten man, Joel Hamling, has gotten an opportunity. He’s had a really rough trot of it but he’ll no doubt give us all a reminder of his capabilities at this level. 

Is this last chance saloon for Sturty? He’s been given numerous opportunities this year and, while it must be difficult trying to get some certainty, he hasn’t exactly grabbed them. 

And poor old Bailey Banfield probably drew the short straw and was made the scapegoat last time he was dropped. C’mon Bailey give us one of those games that were earning you a regular first twenty two spot.

Speaking of poor efforts, the Chief has been omitted from the Restump Podcast line-up for the same reason… unacceptable performances in recent weeks. He’s been replaced by the former ABC Sport News reader, the great Clint “the Tank Engine” Thomas. 

A big step down for Clint and a big professional step up for the Restump. Safe to say given the professionalism and profile, the Chief is in a bit of strife.

But its not about us, it is about the footy…. or whatever it is our Freo boys are trying to play at the moment! So, let’s get straight into this 45 minute Freo V Collingwood preview with Jojo and Clint. 

Apparently, it's what was heard when that fictitious photo was taken! Time to Restump Podcast that performance, ironically a game the Giants metaphorically torched us and scattered our ashes. 

Was there a mole planted pre-game? I think its just a little too coincidental that a certain someone was a late out from the Giants! Oh who are we kidding... we're reaching in looking for buck-passing reasons! 

Trying to find a positive out of Saturday is like trying to find a psychologist in WA with available appointments. 

We thought those dark days were behind us. We thought we’d never revisit them for at least a decade or two, if ever. Maybe it was one last trip round the bend for old times sake. Maybe it was a strategic plan to give this new young group a taste of what we have not only been through over our journey, but could return to again if we don’t bring effort each and every week. Maybe Saturday was the wake-up call.

The Giants were good. We don’t want to take anything away from them because they destroyed us. They’re good, they’re not a 70 point demolition good. We own most of that defeat… we were that ordinary, the Giants would have beaten witches hats by just 60 points!

I’m a stats backed realist and a patient and tolerant person when it comes to Freo. I’ve been of the opinion we’re far from the finished product and that we’re 40 to 50 games away from the majority of our current crop being ready. However, age and inexperience have nothing to do with effort and intent and it wasn’t age and inexperience that was behind that thumping on Saturday. 

The entire game was disturbing but the final quarter was damning. There wasn’t even any junk time efforts and when you even see Andy Brayshaw half-heartedly attempt to tackle and stop an opponent, that is unprecedented and you know as a whole and in relation to the last few seasons, we’re in rare territory.  

It was by far our worst performance this year, not just because the scoreboard said so. We’ve been beaten by lesser opponents than the Giants, but not in that manner. 

And there lies the ever so faint positive, the unsteady brittle rack on which we hang our tattered hat on. Saturday was so uncharacteristic it was initially more drop jaw shocking than it was disappointing. It wasn’t on or the beginning of a trend, it was an anomaly, a freak event…. or so we all desperately hope.  

Let’s get into it in further detail on the pod as Jojo and his sharp footy brain will surely have some insight and reasons for such an odd performance. 

Healing is based on talking so let’s start taking and hopefully healing. Join in and let us know your thoughts in a constructive manner… there are no right or wrong opinions after a game like that.

“Please don’t tell Mum, Andy!” The battle of the Brayshaw brothers ended in Andy’s favour and probably a month’s grounding for both. Time to Restump Podcast Saturday’s magnificent win.

It was probably one of the most entertaining, all-consuming, edge of the seat matches we’ve played this year. Four frantic quarters of frenetic pressure which both teams delivered and absorbed, played in amazing spirit. 

We needed a true test to really find out where we actually were at and the Dees on their home deck was just what the Docker and/or Doctor ordered. It was a war of attrition that our purple boys impressively handled in a way far beyond the collective's age and experience.

To be two years younger and nearly fifty games less experienced across the board, take everything the Dees handed out and return it with interest, was a monumental effort. It cemented the belief that Freo, somehow, are genuinely back among the finals contenders. 

Surely anyone who wasn’t keen on the recruiting of Luke Jackson has had a change of heart? His game was something else even before Sean Darcy unfortunately went down. But to then combat Brody Grundy and Max Gawn (Bromax) solo for two and a half quarters… we don’t get the win without his performance.

If you can purchase Matt Johnson stock, buy up everything you can. His size, his smarts, his craft, his agility and his composure for a 20-year-old kid is rarer than an honourable politician.

And then there’s Jye. Another kid with ridiculous footy smarts, superb mobility and sublime skills. He’s the forward we’ve been looking for since the mighty Pav retired. Working cohesively in tandem with, and getting assistance from Josh Treacy, Jye’s team-oriented mindset and individual 3 goals kicked on a Steven May and Jake Lever combination, are a sign of things to come for the next decade and beyond. His thoroughly deserved round eleven rising star nomination was a long time coming.

Enough of this here! We’re bouncing off the walls, keen to get into this 60+ minutes of prattling on about the purple. Our season is back! We’re back! Who would have thunk it five weeks ago? Feel free to come along  for the conversation with us as we verbally overdose on the purple drug…. in a non-toxic, safe manner and environment! 

Gotta hand it to those Maccas marketers! They’ve just increased their Fremantle foot traffic by over 70%. Time to Restump Podcast review Saturday’s hot and cold patched performance against the overpowering Lions. 

We got a look at a fast pace free-wheeling Freo side and at times it looked competent. But game styles are irrelevant when you struggle to perform the basics. There is no other way to frame it, it was a dropped mark and fumble riddled performance. 

There was a suggestion humid dewy conditions were playing havoc… except they didn’t seem too problematic for Brisbane, Brandon Walker and Jordan Clark!  

It was a near on 50-point thumping but had we taken the chances we created, it may well have been… maybe not a different result... but a more respectable scoreboard. Yes I know, coulda woulda shoulda!

Controversial call…. we don’t know about everyone else but we saw patches and green shoots to suggest we’re not too far away. We’re prepared to say the widespread expressed disappointment is greater than the issues. 

Sure, the clearances are lacking, our urgency could be upped, proactiveness would be nice and some cohesion would be handy but the nucleus is there, and it’s a nucleus of talented kids a couple of years away from where their Brisbane opponents are now. Some tinkering and polishing up of the rebuild, some aging and some games into them and the disappointment will subside. 

This isn’t to sugar coat Saturday because again if you can’t hit a handball on the full, kick to advantage, take a simple chest mark and get in your opponent’s personal space… we’re simply Talking Heads and we’re on the road to nowhere. 

We’re not the most skilled in the league at our best but we’re better than what we dished up Saturday. Lachie Schultz doesn’t turn it over 6 times in 16 touches, neither does Sonny do likewise from 11 disposals! 

Where to now? Will Fyfe come back and be impactful? With Corbett and Treacy looking for opportunity, where does that leave Sturt? Should Erasmus be almost guaranteed a long term spot this year? 

If we’re persisting with the fast pace running game, is Ethan Hughes on shaky ground? Surely that’d suit Liam Henry’s game? Do we need to check Colin Young’s white board now that Kozzy Picket has re-signed?

Enough of that all that here, its time to get into it. 

Nothing to overly celebrate but plenty of chatter to be had. So why not join us for this hour of Freo fanfare as we’ll no doubt ironically fumble and bumble our way through not only Saturday’s critique, but all the other usual Docker drivel as well. 

The captain has had it rough of late and copped his share of heat but let’s not forget how good he actually is. Never a better time to respond than when you’re entering the Lion’s den. Time to Restump Podcast preview Saturday’s rumble in the Brisbane jungle. 

There is a lot of Docker disappointment and disenchantment around and for a season full of, so far, failed expectations, it is understandable. However, sometimes you need the almost impossible challenge to snap you out of the trance. 

There is arguably no bigger challenge right now than meeting the current Lions on their home Gabba deck. It is a ridiculously tough task any time but, at the moment, when the Brissie boys have gone all in over the last three weeks, clicked up a gear and set their season up… it’s an even scarier proposition. Add to that that we’re just 4 wins from 15 attempts at the Gabba… holy Christmas! 

We welcome back the vitally important Switta who should add some much needed speed and bite while the Disco has been asked to join in and bring his dance moves. Freddy is out for a month with the quad injury and Corey Wagner has been given a spell in the twos. 

The milestone men, Jimmy Aish and Jaegar O’Meara, each play their 150th. And coincidently they both play it at their third club and in the state they both started their careers in. If you listened to their press conference today you kind of got the feeling Jaegar is about to release the shackles.    

As far as the game goes, who stops Charlie Cameron? Can we at least curtail our former man, Lachie Neale? Recent dog Josh Dunkley is a handful, Joe Daniher is in decent nick, Jack Gunston can get under or over your guard and while Cam Rayner has been in the system a while now, he’s starting to show why he went at pick number one in 2017. We could go on and on because on paper the Lions have heat on every line. 

No shortage of happenings, the Dees are going hard to get pick one, Jacob Weitering coughed up a few bucks, Tassie looks like they’re getting a Stratco shed and the Sicilian might just get a Sicilian welcome next time he ventures to the Apple Isle. Plenty going on, except panic. There’s no panicking going on, the panic button has not been pressed! 

So, all that in further detail and a $750 million dollar Tassie shedload more in this 45 minutes. It’s been a negative week but we’re at that point of the cycle where we’re moving into hope and optimism. If you’re keen to throw away some valuable minutes of your life…. you couldn’t do much worse than listening to this nonsense.  

Been a big week at the Restump and we’re keen to get back to talking actual footy. Time for some ‘English’ lessons as we Restump preview podcast tomorrow night’s Len Hall clash against Rory and the Rovers.

It’s been a riot and we’ve had a boat load of laughs but its nice to get back to talking about the game. We’re two and three after five games…. If we’re three and three after six we might start to believe we’re back on track.

The Dogs are somewhat in the same boat as us, and in more ways than one. They’re two and three, their ball movement isn’t super and they struggle to score. But with the Bontempelli’s, Treloar’s Mcraes and Naughton’s….  if they click they can be slick!

But let’s not undersell their opponents! A James Aish will be ready to go to work in the middle if necessary, the almost unstoppable Caleb Serong, future captain Andy Brayshaw and Will Brodie at their collective best are as good as what’s going around. And let’s not forget about a confidence feasting Jye Amiss and the evergreen Sonny Walters! 

Tim English could actually hold the key here. He’s been in startling form, both in advantageous ruck craft and possession around the ground. Jackson and Darcy, otherwise known as Jackarce, hopefully have taken English lessons and know how to exploit him. 

In case you haven’t heard…. Rory is back in town! This could be one of the most amazing crowd experiences at Optus tomorrow night and we can’t wait. Far be it from us to tell punters what to do, but we’re sure 99.99% of us know where the line is. Let’s go our hardest make it as hostile as possible and one for the memory books.  

The Lobsters Tears has sold out but for those in the vicinity of Secret Harbour, The Harbour Sports Bar has limited supply. They are offering them up tomorrow evening and are doing a giveaway. So, check in with them if you’re keen.

Plenty more game talk on the pod and we hear about something regarding a journalist that has gotten under the skin of the usually calm, measured and unflappable Jojo McDonnell. Believe it or not, the Chief brings us home after reviving the segment we all hoped was dead and buried, the Neighbourhood Watch. 

So, the hours between now and bouncedown are fast counting down but there might still be room for 40 minutes of Restump nonsense.

The price of gold is sky rocketing and Sonny just keeps producing it! He may well be the first player to 'sort of' bookend a coast-to-coast play. Time to Restump Podcast the season saving win over the Suns.

All we were after was the four points. It was quite simple, lose and we were done and dusted. Win and there is proof of purple life. 

It wasn’t the most polished performance and, to be fair and balanced, the Suns were on the treadmill in the last quarter. But it is a war of attrition and the reality is if you’re out there you’re classed as fit.

Sonny Walters kept us alive in that first half and he was joined by Caleb Serong who put in an unbelievable four quarter, three vote winning, captaincy signalling performance. 

Kicking 3 goals 2 and giving one off to Matt Johnson, Jye Amiss suggested it should be a long time before we see him at Peel again. His leading  at the ball carrier… we had joyous tears in our eyes. 

We need to persist with Sammy Sturt who showed glimpses of his capabilities, while Schultzy was typical tough hard workmanlike Shultzy. He somehow got hit by a MacPherson truck at speed and the truck came off second best.

While the second gamer Ned Moyle put up a spirited effort, Sean Darcy was all over him and, just quietly, the Jackson knockers would be getting a bit nervous as he’s on the verge of a monster game.

The somewhat different forward line showed signs of functionality and in a reversal of recent form our midfield got on top and took the contest. The four points was the primary goal but the added bonuses we’ll gladly accept.

We ask if Gather Round was as good as the hype? Did the Stealth jumper work? Did Jack Lukosius have covid? If not, why did we treat him as if he did? And does Corey Wagner need to have the rust wire-brushed off him?   

We’re alive in season 2023 and it’s off to Optus Friday to play the much anticipated grudgiest of grudge matches against Rory and his Western Rovers. Our Round Six Rory campaign will kick into high gear this week but we got bowled over in the rush and it looks like we’ve sold out of the Lobster Tears!

Anyway, further details on the pod so, as always, if you’ve got nothing better to do and you can’t find anything better to listen to, then, as long as you’ve double checked, you’re more than welcome to join in on our nonsense here.

Sammy Sturt returns after almost two years to the day. Four games, five goals in a Freo forward line… fill your boots, Sammy! Time to Restump preview podcast Friday’s vital game against the Suns.

It is simply a must win game. Coming back from one win and three losses is doable but coming back from one win and four losses is near on impossible. 

It is pretty exciting to see Sammy Sturt finally get back in the team and it will be interesting to see how different the forward line functions. 

We welcome mature age recruit and former North Melbourne and Melbourne player, Corey Wagner who may bring some much-needed age and experience… well 19 games of experience anyway!

Matt Johnson comes into the starting twenty-two and its comforting having flipper Freddy back in the fold.

Given we both obviously struggle to score, Gold Coast being in a very similar precarious position as us isn’t the only problematic issue we share. So, this game could well be won by who manages to not quite score the least! 

Well with this game being shunted to a suburban ground at the weird Friday afternoon time slot of 3.10pm WA time, we’ll get to find out soon enough. 

We have a chat about the Fyfe injury and the Suma misinformation, Andy Brayshaw’s knee niggle and Jojo gives us an update on Round Six Rory campaign and Lobster Tears.  

If you’re looking for something to throw some minutes away on between now and the game…. read a book or talk to your family! But once you’ve done that feel free to listen to this racket.

The switch doesn't seem flickable and we threw the bathwater out two weeks ago. Is it the baby's turn to go? Have the wheels completely fallen off? Time to somehow pick up the pieces again and Restump Podcast today’s massacre at the Crow Chateau. 

When you’re struggling for form often the answer is you go back to the basics. The question is though what do you go back to when you’re butchering the basics?

Most players out there had mares today. However, Caleb Serong should be passing around the hat to pay for the extra physio he’ll need on his shoulders from carrying the workload!

It was actually a game of conflicting emotions and extreme emotional swings. There was the deep frustration at the lack of simple ball skills but then there was the somewhat neck saving from the noose realisation that despite the belting on the scoreboard, we each went inside 50, 51 times. 

Sure, it’s obviously cold consolation, but a tad of finesse and composure and some sort of a functional forward line and we’re in competitive territory, despite the issues across the board. 

Speaking of such a forward line, with two Joshs’ Treacy and Corbett and a Sam Sturt hovering, will any of the trio get a look in? If we have a fit foot on a Fyfe, does he replace the struggling Matty Tabs? If nothing else it will be an interesting week at the selection table because surely a message has to be sent after a performance like that one today.

But anyway the reality is we’re one and three and probably one loss away from the 2023 curtains. It’s a little disheartening and not the position we thought we would be in at the start of the year. 

However, as Bob Murphy mentioned on the recent pod, there are no certainties in footy because the ball is an oval shape and its unpredictable. At this point in time we’re willing to put our faith in Bob’s words.

It was an uninspiring game and it probably makes for an uninspiring review. But Jojo has quite the analytical mind and sharp football brain so maybe he’ll have some answers for us.

If you can muster up the effort and intent that was lacking out there today, dig deep and put your head over the Restump podcast ball, then there are 40 minutes of pondering the whys, the how's, the what happened and the what happens next, right here.

Peel Thunder legend Will Schofield was extremely generous with his time in joining us to talk all things Fremantle footy and the upcoming Western Derby. Time to Restump Podcast with Schoey. 

It’s a bit of a different one this week and while we covered a lot of ground we use the “preview" term very loosely. To be honest, the only disappointing thing from our Fremantle oriented perspective was that… Will Schofield is just too nice a guy! 

As we edge closer to the Bulldogs game we release a sneak peek at the racket that is our round six Rory initiative and it’s safe to say Will Schofield is a buyer!   

Plenty more and we bring it home with a Neighbourhood Watch segment with a lot of guest engagement.

If you’re throwing away 40 minutes and you don’t care for the health of your ears, by  all means bung this nonsense in em.

How do we dig ourselves out this deep hole we find ourselves in? Even if only to fast track the grieving process, its time to Restump Podcast whatever that was tonight.

It was a tough game to watch, a tough result to swallow and just as tough a game to talk about. I’d suggest we’re at a loss for words, but we can’t take two losses tonight! 

Where are we? What are we doing here? Is this even real? Where do we go from here? 

Is it a problem we could 4C? Cohesion, connection, composure and clearances. We’re lacking all four and until we find the key and unlock the puzzle, we’re going to remain in some level of pain. 

So, like us, if you’re in a current state of shock, if you’re devastated or disenchanted and you just need to work through it; lay down on the couch, get your ears comfortable and join the collective for a much needed therapy session. 

Round one is old news. It’s time to bounce into round two and Restump Podcast Freo’s Saturday evening Kangas clash. We really need to pinch the four points.  

Yes, it hurt last week but the reaction was massively overblown. It almost makes you wonder if there is an outrage race? Who can be most the outlandish? Anyway, we said its old news so we move on.

It is Griff’s first home coming but, as interesting as that will be, we have bigger fish to fry… like not being zero and two. 

Josh Treacy wasn’t on his Pat Malone in having a ‘Barry Crocker’ last week but it seems he drew the short straw. Given sub vest stalwart Bailey Banfield has been moved into the twenty-two at Treacy’s expense, was the move for structural reasons or has the Cyclone taken one for the team?

Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss, Matt Johnson and Sonny Walters are all in the mix for Banfield’s vest. Power of deduction suggests, Treacy and Amiss don’t have the versatility required for the role. Surely we’re not debuting Johnson under vest conditions? That leaves Sonny Walters and again, I am not sure how I feel about that.

After being over confident and catastrophically wrong last week, we’re trying to be gun-shy, or at least a little more reserved about our chances against North. But its too difficult… there is no way this Fremantle team doesn’t respond in the most emphatic of ways.  

North won’t be a push over. They have a formidable midfield and obviously a wonderful coach, but we have their measure across the board. We do… don’t we? Please tell us we do! 

You should never wish any precious time of your life away! Now that been said, we’re looking to offload as many of the tick tocks between now and early Saturday evening as we can because we can’t wait. 

So, if you’re in a similar mode, there’s 40 minutes of nonsensical purple stuff to throw away here!    

Cobwebs have been blown to smithereens; our season restarts Saturday. 

The only mark we didn’t make on the day was that in the win column. Tough day against a typical Rossco regime. But there’s no panic here, only pragmatism. Time to Restump Podcast review round one.

It was a tough loss to endure. Expectations were high, excitement was in the air and the Sainters had a ton of their best out. There was cause for optimism. Did we mistakenly overlooked the Ross the Boss component and his ability to deliver in spades something we should have seen coming?

Did Collingwood produce a step-by-step plan on how to dismantle us Dockers in last season’s semi-final? Ross mentioned he analytically went to town on that game and, as he has the knack for doing, got his young plucky chargers to reconstruct parts of it.

There is no hiding from the fact we struggled to cope with the defensive running of the Saints. It saw our slow possession play further suffer as we couldn’t get any run and carry going. Our forwards suffered as a result but their own systematic incoherence has to carry some of the blame.

A more measured assessment recalls that Fyfe, Jackson and, to a lesser extent, Treacy are all new components of a forward line that didn’t exactly enjoy great functionality last year. Practice matches and preseason games only reveal so much. Add in a Sam Sturt and possibly a Josh Corbett to the mix and you can see we’re going to remain in experimental mode for a while yet.

With our mids getting demolished, should Fyfe have gotten the tap on the shoulder to venture in there and level up the contest? 

Did the Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson combo, otherwise known as Jackarce, show enough in the debut performance? 

Was Jaegar O’Meara carrying a bit more of an ankle that we may know? 

There is so much to methodically unpack from what was, in context, a demoralising loss. There is no shadow of a doubt failing to bank those four points was an opportunity lost and one we may look back on with further grief come the end of the season. 

But are we throwing the baby out with the bathwater? Well, babies don’t deserve that treatment and you know…. with water restrictions today….  I think we’ll hang on to both.

Its round one, it might be a simple case of getting stung and taken by surprise. Ross the Boss may have left us with some pain on Sunday but he previously left us with the philosophy that failure is feedback. We get the benefit of the early loss to know what needs improving. Dwell in negativity and you’ll manifest more of it. 

So join us as we dig deep, probably deeper than we dug out there on Sunday, into the wash up and look further into what went wrong, what went right, what was, what wasn’t, what could have been and what needs to be done. 

Will we solve the purple problems? Highly doubtful but we’ll air the grievances, spin the positives and just enjoy having footy back.

Just hours until the Saints on Sunday! We’re as nervous as a hot air balloonist in the US. Good nerves though. Time to Restump Podcast the 2023 feasibility of the Freo plan.

The real stuff is almost here and we’re beside ourselves. There is just something about this upcoming year that has us up and about with more anticipation than usual.  

Holistically speaking, are we in the best shape we’ve been in for the start of a season? While there is the odd injury, few seem serious and there aren’t too many that wont be pushing for round one.

Is Luke Ryan going to get up and join his mate Brennan in that formidable defensive duo against the Ross Lyon Saints? Can the sum of parts equal the whole?

It appears the hard working and opportunity grabbing Ethan Hughes, or apparently Dethen Hucker if you're seeing the images used in the press, has cemented a spot on the wing for round one.

There is a bit of a grapevine chatter that the great Sonny Walters may don the sub vest? We’re not sure what to make of that… it doesn’t quite sit well.

What are the odds? I mean odds aren’t only for gamblers. They’re opinionated indicators for potential performance. They’re simply the result of often educated or informed research expressed as percentages of which we can learn a lot from without having to part with a single peso.  

Including the outside thoughts or the movements of the satchel swingers in the conversation simply assists in covering the assessment angles. 

So in this calm before the purple storm episode we take a look at what the number runners are suggesting. 

We’re five days from bounce down and we can’t shut up. So if you’re looking for some soothing silence in which to relax… you’ve come to the wrong place. So as you're here, you may as well get your purple ears front and centre and jostling for position early with this hour of new season week nonsense. 

Is Liam Henry about to Wing in the new AFL year? Preseason done and dusted and just a fortnight until the real stuff. Time to Restump Podcast everything remotely purple. 

It was a handy final hit out Friday against Port. Few things to work on, a few gears to click up but you couldn’t have asked for much more.

We look at the highlights, player positions and scoring sources. Were there any areas of concern? 

Sean Darcy wrapped up his preseason with a wonderful performance, Nat Fyfe is manufacturing goals and has Josh Treacy cemented a round one berth? 

Through injury and no fault of his own, has the Disco had his wing clipped?

Is Sammy Sturt going to be a round one hard luck story? 

Will Brodie looks set for a monster year. He and his two midfield mates Caleb Serong and Andy Brayshaw filled their boots while we got to see the real importance of Jaegar O’Meara.

The Chief has seen something he didn’t like about our beloved Lachie Schultz consequently putting him on notice and Jojo is asking the question, can we have conservative and measured expectations?

We take a look at the wealthy McGovern Bros and their simultaneously signed eleventy squillion dollar contracts and we start to wonder if Teflon Trent Cotchin has some incriminating information or photographs. 

We’re on Lob Watch and then we bring it home with the Neighbourhood Watch.

So if all the usual nonsense around some sporadically sprinkled seriousness bakes your cake, by all means pull up a chair, grab a cup of Bob’s ginger tea and have a listening slice of this opinionated purple pastry.