2015 Fremantle Football Club season

Fremantle Football Club
2015 season
President Steve Harris
Coach Ross Lyon
Captain(s) Matthew Pavlich
Home ground Domain Stadium (Capacity: 43,500)
AFL season 1st (1st McClelland Trophy)
Finals series 3rd
Best and Fairest Aaron Sandilands
Leading goalkicker Michael Walters (44 goals)
Highest home attendance Home and away: 41,959
Finals: 41,508
Average home attendance Home and away: 36209
Finals: 40,789
← 2014 2016 →
Main article: 2015 AFL season

The Fremantle Football Club's 2015 season is their 21st season in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club set a number of records during the year including winning their first McClelland Trophy for finishing first on the ladder after the completion of the home-and-away season and a club record of 17 wins during the home–and–away season.[1]

Playing list

Between the conclusion of the 2014 season and the commencement of the 2015 season, Fremantle did not complete any trades nor recruit any free agents in the AFL trade period, despite being reported to have attempted to recruit key position players James Frawley[2] and Aaron Black.[3]

Key defender Luke McPharlin signed a one year contract extension during the trade period.[4]

Recruits and departures

At the national draft, Fremantle was expected to recruit a tall player, but instead drafted four smaller midfield or forward line players. Two of the drafted players, Lachie Weller and Ed Langdon are younger brothers of current AFL players, St Kilda's Maverick Weller and Collingwood's Tom Langdon.[5] In the rookie draft, Fremantle selected Ethan Hughes, a half-back flanker originally from Bunbury, before redrafting Tanner Smith. With their final selection they selected Irishman Sean Hurley, the club's first ever international recruit.[6]

Recruits Departures
Player Previous Club League Recruited via Player Reason
Lachie Weller Southport/Broadbeach NEAFL #13, National draftKepler Bradley[7] Retirement from AFL
Connor Blakely Swan Districts WAFL #34, National draft Scott Gumbleton[8] Retirement from AFL
Ed Langdon Sandringham Dragons WAFL #54, National draft Josh Simpson[9] Delisted
Josh Deluca Subiaco WAFL #68, National draft Sam Menegola[10] Delisted (from rookie list)
Ethan Hughes Swan Districts WAFL #13, Rookie draft Michael Wood[10] Delisted (from rookie list)
Tanner Smith Fremantle AFL #31, Rookie draft (redrafted)Tanner Smith[11] Delisted (redrafted in the rookie draft)
Sean Hurley Kildare GAA GAA #48, Rookie draft

Ryan Crowley positive drugs test

In March 2015, Crowley was not chosen to play in any of Fremantle's pre-season games. After being left out of the team that would travel to Sydney for the second game, it was announced that he was unavailable for selection due to undisclosed personal issues.[12] Three days later it was revealed that Crowley had tested position to a banned substance during the 2014 AFL season and had been serving a provisional suspension since September 2014. The sample was taken after Fremantle's Round 17 win over Greater Western Sydney and the commencement of the provisional suspension commenced after the confirmation tests (also known as B-sample) was completed in mid September. The banned substance has not been named, but was confirmed to have come from a painkiller that was not prescribed by the club doctor. He appeared before the AFL Tribunal in May 2015, and was found guilty and suspended for twelve months, backdated to the beginning of his provisional suspension. He became eligible to play again on 25 September 2015.[13]

Full squad

Fremantle Football Club
Senior list Rookie list Staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain
  • (vc) Vice captain
  • Upgraded rookie during season
  • (ret) Retired during season
  • (B) B-class rookie

Updated: 3 December 2014
Source(s): Playing list,
Coaching staff, Full coaching staff

Season summary

Pre-season matches

Rd Day Date Local time Opponent Fremantle's
score		 Opponent's
score		 Margin Venue Attendance Match report
1 Thursday 5 March 2015 4:10 pm Melbourne 0.9.7 (61) 0.6.7 (43) +18 Fremantle Oval 8000 (approx) Report
2 Sunday 15 March 2015 4:10 pm Sydney 1.6.11 (56) 1.7.14 (65) -9 Drummoyne Oval, Sydney 4,343 Report
3 Sunday 22 March 2015 4:10 pm West Coast 1.13.17 (104) 1.11.10 (85) +19 Domain Stadium 16,032 Report
Source

Premiership Season

When the 2015 AFL season fixtures were released in October 2014, Fremantle were drawn to play Port Adelaide in the opening round, a repeat of the semi-final that ended their 2014 season. The opening month was considered very difficult, with an away game against Geelong, an away Western Derby and a home game on Anzac Day against the other team that beat Fremantle in last year's finals, Sydney. Fremantle's game against Hawthorn was again to be played at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania.[14]

Home and away season

Rd Day Date Local time Opponent Fremantle's
score		 Opponent's
score		 Margin Venue Attendance Ladder
position
1 Sunday 5 April 2015 5:40 pm Port Adelaide 11.9 (75) 10.8 (68) +7[15] Domain Stadium 34,099 9
2 Sunday 12 April 2015 1:10 pm Geelong 15.14 (104) 9.6 (60) +44[16] Simonds Stadium 23,723 4
3 Sunday 19 April 2015 2:40 pm West Coast 17.9 (111) 12.9 (81) +30[17] Domain Stadium (A) 39,138 3
4 Saturday 25 April 2015 6:40 pm Sydney 11.8 (74) 8.12 (60) +14[18] Domain Stadium 39,009 1
5 Sunday 3 May 2015 1:10 pm Melbourne 18.10 (118) 6.14 (50) +68[19] MCG 22,892 1
6 Saturday 9 May 2015 6:10 pm Essendon 12.8 (80) 7.10 (52) +28[20] Domain Stadium 37,535 1
7 Sunday 17 May 2015 1:10 pm Western Bulldogs 15.11 (101) 14.4 (88) +13[21] Etihad Stadium 18,710 1
8 Saturday 23 May 2015 5:40 pm North Melbourne 17.13 (115) 5.12 (42) +73[22] Domain Stadium 35,836 1
9 Saturday 30 May 2015 7:10 pm Adelaide 10.8 (68) 7.15 (57) +11[23] Adelaide Oval 45,518 1
10 Friday 5 June 2015 6:10 pm Richmond 10.10 (70) 15.7 (97) -27[24] Domain Stadium 38,019 1
11 Saturday 13 June 2015 1:40 pm Gold Coast 6.17 (53) 7.4 (46) +7[25] Metricon Stadium 8,911 1
12 Bye
13 Thursday 25 June 2015 6:10 pm Collingwood 12.8 (80) 1.7 (73) +7[26] Domain Stadium 37,145 1
14 Sunday 5 July 2015 2:40 pm Brisbane Lions 13.6 (84) 7.6 (48) +46[27] Domain Stadium 32,970 1
15 Sunday 12 July 2015 3:20 pm Hawthorn 6.7 (43) 17.13 (115) -72[28] Aurora Stadium 16,792 1
16 Saturday 18 July 2015 5:40 pm Carlton 13.17 (95) 8.5 (53) +42[29] Domain Stadium 33,581 1
17 Saturday 25 July 2015 4:35 pm Richmond 12.10 (82) 10.18 (78) +4[30] MCG 39,777 1
18 Sunday 2 August 2015 2:40 pm Greater Western Sydney 12.12 (84) 9.9 (63) +21[31] Domain Stadium 34,626 1
19 Sunday 9 August 2015 4:40 pm St Kilda 15.6 (96) 8.11 (59) +37[32] Etihad Stadium 16,419 1
20 Sunday 16 August 2015 2:40 pm West Coast 11.14 (80) 15.14 (104) -24[33] Domain Stadium 41,959 1
21 Sunday 23 August 2015 1:10 pm North Melbourne 12.11 (83) 14.10 (94) -11[34] Etihad Stadium 23,857 1
22 Sunday 30 August 2015 2:40 pm Melbourne 17.6 (108) 8.6 (54) +54[35] Domain Stadium 33,529 1
23 Saturday 5 September 2015 3:20 pm Port Adelaide 8.5 (53) 18.14 (122) -69[36] Adelaide Oval 38,633 1
All games at Domain Stadium are Fremantle home games except for the one game marked (A). That game, and all others, are away games. Source

Finals

Rd Day Date Local time Opponent Fremantle's
score		 Opponent's
score		 Margin Venue Attendance
Qualifying final Saturday 12 September 2015 1:20 pm Sydney 10.9 (69) 7.18 (60) +9[37] Domain Stadium 40,071
Preliminary final Friday 25 September 2015 6:20pm Hawthorn 10.7 (67) 15.4 (94) -27[38] Domain Stadium 41,508

Ladder

2015 AFL Ladder
Team P W L D PF PA % Pts
1 Fremantle 22 17 5 0 1857 1564 118.7 68
2 West Coast 22 16 5 1 2330 1572 148.2 66
3 Hawthorn (P) 22 16 6 0 2452 1548 158.4 64
4 Sydney 22 16 6 0 2006 1578 127.1 64
5 Richmond 22 15 7 0 1930 1568 123.1 60
6 Western Bulldogs 22 14 8 0 2101 1825 115.1 56
7 Adelaide 21 13 8 0 2107 1821 115.7 541
8 North Melbourne 22 13 9 0 2062 1937 106.5 52
9 Port Adelaide 22 12 10 0 2002 1874 106.8 48
10 Geelong 21 11 9 1 1853 1833 101.1 481
11 Greater Western Sydney 22 11 11 0 1872 1891 99.0 44
12 Collingwood 22 10 12 0 1972 1856 106.3 40
13 Melbourne 22 7 15 0 1573 2044 77.0 28
14 St Kilda 22 6 15 1 1695 2162 78.4 26
15 Essendon 22 6 16 0 1580 2134 74.0 24
16 Gold Coast 22 4 17 1 1633 2240 72.9 18
17 Brisbane Lions 22 4 18 0 1557 2306 67.5 16
18 Carlton 22 4 18 0 1525 2354 64.8 16
Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points for, PA = Points against
1The round 14 match between Adelaide and Geelong was cancelled due to the death of Adelaide coach Phil Walsh, and both teams were awarded two premiership points each.

Awards, Records & Milestones

Awards

Milestones

Player Round Milestone
Sutcliffe, CameronCameron Sutcliffe 3 50th game[39]
Walters, MichaelMichael Walters 3 100th goal[39]
Neale, LachieLachie Neale 4 50th game[40]
Fyfe, NatNat Fyfe 8 100th game[41]
Pavlich, MatthewMatthew Pavlich9 650th goal[42]
Johnson, MichaelMichael Johnson 10 200th game[43]
Barlow, MichaelMichael Barlow11 100th game[44]
McPharlin, LukeLuke McPharlin 17250th AFL game[45]
Hill, StephenStephen Hill QF150th game[46]
Ibbotson, GarrickGarrick Ibbotson QF150th game[46]

Debuts

Player Round Opponent Ground Result
Pearce, AlexAlex Pearce6 EssendonDomain Stadium +28
Weller, LachieLachie Weller18 Greater Western SydneyDomain Stadium +21
Langdon, EdEd Langdon22 MelbourneDomain Stadium +54
Blakely, ConnorConnor Blakely23 Port AdelaideAdelaide Oval -69
Grey, BradyBrady Grey23 Port AdelaideAdelaide Oval -69
Hughes, EthanEthan Hughes23 Port AdelaideAdelaide Oval -69
Ballard, JacobJacob Ballard23 Port AdelaideAdelaide Oval -69

Match Review Panel charges

Updated as of Round 21, 2015 season
Match Review Panel (MRP) and AFL Tribunal cases involving Fremantle players during the 2015 AFL season
Round Player Charge category Victim (club) Verdict Fine (A$) Suspension Source
Sanction
NC3
 Walters, MichaelMichael Walters rough conduct Bird, CraigCraig Bird (Sydney) Dismissed N/A N/A [47]
1
 Clarke, ZacZac Clarke tripping Polec, JaredJared Polec (Port Adelaide) Guilty (early plea) $1,000 N/A [48]
2
 Ballantyne, HaydenHayden Ballantyne rough conduct Taylor, HarryHarry Taylor (Geelong) Guilty (early plea) N/A 2 matches [49]
4
 de Boer, MattMatt de Boer striking Cunningham, HarryHarry Cunningham (Sydney) Guilty (early plea) $1000 N/A [50]
7
 Fyfe , NatNat Fyfe tripping Stringer, JakeJake Stringer (Western Bulldogs) Guilty (early plea) $1000 N/A [51]
10
 Walters, MichaelMichael Walters engaging in a melee Richmond Guilty (early plea) $1500 N/A [52]
10
 Pearce, DanyleDanyle Pearce engaging in a melee Richmond Guilty (early plea) $1500 N/A [52]
10
 Suban, NickNick Suban engaging in a melee Richmond Guilty (early plea) $1000 N/A [52]
11
 Pavlich, MatthewMatthew Pavlich striking Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast) Guilty (early plea) $1000 N/A [53]
14
 Ballantyne, HaydenHayden Ballantyne wrestling Gardiner, DarcyDarcy Gardiner (Brisbane Lions) Guilty (early plea) $1000 N/A [54]
15
 Fyfe , NatNat Fyfe rough conduct Duryea, TaylorTaylor Duryea (Hawthorn) Guilty (early plea) $1500 N/A [55]
16
 Ballantyne, HaydenHayden Ballantyne wrestling Buckley, DylanDylan Buckley (Carlton) Guilty (early plea) $1500 N/A [56]
18
 Dawson, ZacZac Dawson striking Jeremy Cameron (Greater Western Sydney) Guilty (early plea) N/A 2 weeks [57]
18
 Mundy, DavidDavid Mundy engaging in a melee Greater Western Sydney Guilty (early plea) $1000 N/A [57]
18
 Dawson, ZacZac Dawson engaging in a melee Greater Western Sydney Guilty (early plea) $1000 N/A [57]
20
 Silvagni, AlexAlex Silvagni striking Jamie Cripps (West Coast) Guilty (early plea) N/A 4 weeks [58]
21
 Mundy, DavidDavid Mundy striking Harvey, BrentBrent Harvey (North Melbourne) Guilty (early plea) $1000 N/A [59]
21
 Fyfe, NatNat Fyfe forceful contact from front-on Jacobs, BenBen Jacobs (North Melbourne) Dismissed N/A N/A [59]
22
 Suban, NickNick Suban wrestling Viney, JackJack Viney (Melbourne) Guilty (early plea) $1000 N/A [60]

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "Fremantle - Season Summary".
    2. ↑ O'Donoghue, Craig (17 October 2014). "Dockers back list to push for flag". The West Australian.
    3. ↑ Hagdorn, Kim (4 October 2014). "Fremantle Dockers keep North Melbourne forward Aaron Black in trading sights".
    4. ↑ "Luke McPharlin signs one-year contract to continue career at Fremantle in 2015". AAP. 14 October 2014.
    5. ↑ Quartermaine, Braden (27 November 2014). "Fremantle Dockers spring draft surprise by taking Lachie Weller, while West Coast Eagles snare Liam Duggan". PerthNow.
    6. ↑ "AFL Rookie Draft summary". 3 December 2014.
    7. ↑ Kastanis, Costa. "Kepler to bow out". Retrieved 21 August 2014.
    8. ↑ Kastanis, Costa. "Gumbleton gives the game away". Retrieved 1 September 2014.
    9. ↑ Robinson, Chris (21 October 2014). "Fremantle Dockers axe troubled youngster Josh Simpson after two seasons at the club". Perth Now. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
    10. 1 2 Conway, Mark. "Fremantle cuts two rookies from its list". Retrieved 1 October 2014.
    11. ↑ Lewis, Ross (13 November 2014). "Tanner gets Freo lifeline".
    12. ↑ Elborough, Brad (13 March 2015). "Fremantle Dockers star Ryan Crowley not playing due to 'issues'".
    13. ↑ Samantha Lane (11 June 2015). "Ryan Crowley gets 12-month suspension from AFL anti-doping tribunal". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
    14. ↑ Hagdorn, Kim; Robinson, Chris (30 October 2014). "What the 2015 AFL fixture means for Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles".
    15. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (5 April 2015). "Dockers prevail over Power in epic battle".
    16. ↑ Ryan, Peter (12 April 2015). "Cats creamed as Dockers dominate".
    17. ↑ Chadwick, Justin (19 April 2015). "First-quarter blitz powers Dockers to comfortable Derby win".
    18. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (25 April 2015). "Dockers cling on for historic win as surging Swans fall just short".
    19. ↑ Ryan, Peter (3 May 2015). "Dockers hurt, but still dump Demons".
    20. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (9 May 2015). "Dockers stay perfect with comfortable win over Dons".
    21. ↑ Phelan, Jennifer (17 May 2015). "Freo's seventh heaven, but after Dogs deliver huge scare".
    22. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (23 May 2015). "Fremantle makes it eight straight with big win over Kangaroos".
    23. ↑ Wilson, Tom (30 May 2015). "Dockers edge Crows in tough slog to stay perfect".
    24. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (5 June 2015). "Brilliant Tigers ruin Freo's perfect start".
    25. ↑ Rugari, Vince (13 June 2015). "Dockers hang on to down spirited Suns in a thriller".
    26. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (25 June 2015). "Fremantle holds off persistent Pies in Perth".
    27. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (5 July 2015). "Dockers prevail in tough slog over brave Lions".
    28. ↑ Phelan, Jason (12 July 2015). "Freo slumps to biggest loss under Lyon as Hawks stamp flag credentials".
    29. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (5 July 2015). "Shaky Dockers get the points against plucky Blues".
    30. ↑ King, Travis (25 July 2015). "Dockers snatch thrilling win from wayward Tigers".
    31. ↑ Chadwick, Justin (3 August 2015). "Dockers firm for top spot after win over dogged Giants".
    32. ↑ McKay, Ben (9 August 2015). "Dockers a step closer to sealing top spot after belting Saints".
    33. ↑ Chadwick, Justin (16 August 2015). "Top-two Eagles run over Dockers for Derby joy".
    34. ↑ Phelan, Jason (23 August 2015). "Kangaroos bounce the Dockers to tighten grip on finals berth".
    35. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (30 August 2015). "Dockers seal top spot with easy win over Dees".
    36. ↑ Thring, Harry (5 September 2015). "Port's season ends on a high as Freo takes it easy before finals".
    37. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (12 September 2015). "Dockers down brave Swans to book home prelim".
    38. ↑ Phelan, Jennifer (25 September 2015). "Hot Hawks eye off three-peat as error-prone Dockers rue mistakes".
    39. 1 2 "West Coast vs Fremantle, Round 3, 2015". 19 April 2015.
    40. ↑ Dobson, John (24 April 2015). "Fifty games for Freo dynamo".
    41. ↑ Thomas, Clint (21 May 2015). "Nathan Fyfe to play 100th game for Fremantle Dockers, on the path to greatness".
    42. ↑ "Adelaide vs Fremantle, Round 9, 2015". 30 May 2015.
    43. ↑ Cowan, Sean (5 June 2015). "Johnson out in game 200 after suffering hamstring injury".
    44. ↑ O'Donoghue, Craig (10 June 2015). "Barlow sure Dockers have hunger to burn".
    45. ↑ Duffield, Mark (9 July 2015). "McPharlin's long road to success".
    46. 1 2 Duffield, Mark (8 September 2015). "Swans still a threat: All-Aus Ibbotson".
    47. ↑ "MRP full statement: NAB Challenge, week three". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
    48. ↑ "MRP full statement: round one, part one". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
    49. ↑ "MRP full statement: round two". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
    50. ↑ "MRP full statement: round four". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
    51. ↑ "MRP full statement: round seven". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
    52. 1 2 3 "MRP full statement: round 10". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
    53. ↑ "MRP full statement: round 11". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
    54. ↑ "Full Match Review Panel statement: round 14". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
    55. ↑ "Match Review Panel full statement: round 15". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
    56. ↑ "Match Review Panel full statement: round 16". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
    57. 1 2 3 "Match Review Panel full statement: round 18". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
    58. ↑ "Match Review Panel full statement: round 20". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
    59. 1 2 "Match Review Panel full statement: round 21". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
    60. ↑ "Full Match Review Panel statement: round 22". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
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