Serong might own every record at Freo
Freo's No.3 makes it three Doigs in a row, plus Wakfer's breakout game at West Coast and a trade target wrap.
G’day folks. Short and sharp edition this morning on account of the fact that there were only two live games at the weekend.
I’m also busy watching highlights of the Brisbane Broncos’ NRL premiership win on a loop. How good is footy (yes I’m an Aussie Rules boy these days but the Broncs were my first love 🫶🐴🏆).
In today’s newsletter: The West Coast forward who broke out against the Pies, the AFLW’s best ruck in a battling side, why Serong is on track to eclipse Freo’s best plus a wrap of the Eagles and Dockers’ trade targets.
And if you’re a paid subscriber and haven’t checked out the Jumper Punches Top 20, do yourself a favour. Version two will drop at the end of the AFLW season.
Let’s get stuck in.
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AFLW
West Coast keep getting it done. Yes, Collingwood aren’t world beaters in the AFLW and yes, it was on the Eagles’ home deck. But Daisy Pearce’s squad are putting away the sides they need to put away and that’s half the battle. A 45-point win is their new highest winning margin and sees the Eagles sitting sixth on the ladder with a healthy percentage and eyeing a historic first finals berth.
I feel like this is a copy-past at this point but Ella Roberts was incredible. A genuine class above anyone else on the field. She had 27 disposals, six clearances and a goal and will be starting down another three votes and 10 coaches votes.
Lauren Wakfer wasn’t far behind her. The forward-ruck played probably the best game of her career with a presence around the ground that her stat-line doesn’t quite do justice. Wakfer had six huge grabs, two goals and 19 touches and was a force.
One bad note: Courtney Rowley looks set for a long stint on the sidelines after an ugly knee injury. Really cruel blow. The young mid had been a star this season after recovering from an earlier ACL injury.
Fremantle are two games out of the eight and look set to miss finals after a 15-point loss to Hawthorn. They failed to kick a goal in the second half for the second week in a row. Unfortunately, they look a step behind the competition’s best - and they’ve played a lot of them this year.
Mim Strom was elite in tough conditions, and is once again in contention for the All-Australian ruck berth. The issues for Freo are not at the coalface, with Strom’s six clearances from 19 touches and eight tackles enormous.
AFL
By the end of his career Caleb Serong may break almost every individual record at Fremantle. The 24-year-old won his third Doig Medal in a row on Saturday night. That’s alongside three All-Australian selections too. He now sits equal second with Nat Fyfe and Peter Bell with three B&Fs at Freo - behind Matthew Pavlich’s six. He’s also won the equal-most Glendinning-Allan Medals with four. And broken several Freo game records. Again, he’s only 24.
DOIG MEDAL TOP 10
Caleb Serong – 213 votes
Andrew Brayshaw – 195
Josh Treacy – 187
Luke Jackson – 179
Jordan Clark – 156
Brennan Cox – 152
Michael Frederick – 133
Sam Switkowski – 125
Pat Voss – 122
Heath Chapman – 122
TRADES
Trade period begins today, here are just some of the headlines and buzz from a West Coast and Fremantle perspective.
Brandon Starcevich has nominated the Eagles as his club of choice. But it’s a bit complicated. He’s a free agent, but if he went there as a free agent it would affect West Coast’s likely pick No.2 compensation for Oscar Allen’s eventual move to Brisbane. Starcevich needs to be traded to preserve that pick. The Eagles want to give the Lions their pick No.23 but the Lions want the Eagles’ pick 16 (which they got from Hawthorn last year). Bit of a stalemate.
West Coast are also in the mix for Gold Coast’s pick No.6, which is reportedly on the table.
Deven Robertson is another Lion who wants to be an Eagle. The fringe midfielder is the nephew of former West Coast captain Darren Glass.
Melbourne’s Judd McVee has requested a trade to Fremantle. He’d be an upgrade to some other options in defence and walk into the 22.
Richmond defender Tylar Young wants a trade to West Coast. I also had to google Tylar Young, you’re not alone.
That’s the lot for today. Thanks again for reading.
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Catch you next week.