Fremantle hit the track this morning for their main training session, engaging in several drills focusing on corridor movement, and a short sharp tackling drill, before splitting off into an 18 v 18 match simulation. 

The match simulation consisted of two 15-minute halves with a purple and white team comprising a mix of old and young faces.

Following the end of the second half, players concluded training with a running session that put them through different levels of intensity.  

Here are the key takeaways from Friday’s session. 

1: Wing battle is heating up

Friday’s session made it clear that multiple players are putting their hand up to secure a spot on the wing.

Nathan O’Driscoll, Jeremy Sharp, Heath Chapman and Ethan Stanley all patrolled the wings tirelessly throughout the morning.  

During the first 15-minute segment of the match sim, O’Driscoll (Purple Team) and Sharp (White Team) were involved in multiple passages of impactful play, resulting in their respective teams scoring. 

O’Driscoll was involved in some nice passages, delivering the ball by foot on the run multiple times to teammates inside 50, including a pin-point pass to Matt Taberner (Purple) who then slotted an impressive snap from a set shot on the boundary. 

O’Driscoll’s form continued in the second half as he provided link-up play across the ground. 

Sharp, whose work ethic and running ability have been a standout during his short time at the Club, worked himself into the game, with his standout moment in the first term coming as he received a pass from Hugh Davies (White) at forward 50, where Sharp then held up play before finding Cooper Simpson (White) at the top of the square. 

During the second half, Sharp’s game really came to life as he provided another goal assist, this time via a handball out of a pack to Michael Frederick (White), who was able to sell some candy before snapping a clean goal.  

Sharp did not stop working all day and eventually was rewarded with his own goal late in the game as he drilled a shot from the 50m arc. 

Chapman (Purple) spent the first half at half-back and transitioned onto a wing in the second half where his impact and work rate were undeniable.  

Chapman won numerous one-on-one battles on the far side of the ground as he worked up and down the field relentlessly all day.  

Stanley in just his first official pre-season looked at home on the wing, with his standout moment happening on the far wing in the first half of the match simulation, with a desperate run-down tackle on Conrad Williams, denying the white team an inside 50m entry.

2. Midfield depth is plentiful. 

Consistent strong performances from all the midfielders provide Fremantle with plentiful options for the positions heading into 2024. 

The first bounce saw Nat Fyfe, Caleb Serong and Matthew Johnson (Purple Team) line up against Hayden Young, Andrew Brayshaw and Will Brodie (White Team), with Max Knobel (Purple) and Liam Reidy (White) battling in the ruck.  

The game started blisteringly as Fyfe won the first clearance dishing the ball out to Serong, who then linked up with Johnson, who nailed an impressive goal from outside 50. 

Following on from his 2023 form, Serong was influential throughout the day, consistently involved in contested and link-up play all over the ground.

The 2023 Doig Medallist set the tone of the midfield battle early, laying an impressive defensive 50 tackle, resulting in him receiving a free kick.

Brayshaw and Young combined multiple times throughout the game, with both players creating numerous chances for their team from stoppage work.

Brayshaw’s desire to never give up on a play saw him continuously apply tackling pressure to force errors from the opposition.

Fyfe’s return to the midfield saw the dual Brownlow medallist insert his physical ability to win the football at the contest, allowing him to feed the ball out to teammates in space.

Will Brodie barely put a foot wrong as he became a reliable source of supply through the midfield for his team.

Brodie was a solid contributor in both halves, clean by hand and foot.  

Young guns Neil Erasmus and Matthew Johnson both had notable moments as they filtered through the midfield, Johnson opening the day with the first major score.

Erasmus’ second half saw the young mid push his work rate to the limit as he repeatedly propelled his team forward and applied consistent pressure when defending.

Erasmus showed maturity for the white team as his voice was frequently heard during play and at stoppages to ensure his team were set up correctly. 

3. Cooper Simpson Impresses.  

Simpson’s natural footballing ability and prowess shone through during the reduced minutes of the match simulation.

Freo’s first pick in the 2023 AFL National Draft lined up as a forward for the game and showed off his silky skills booting a goal in each half of the simulation.

Simpson’s first goal came as fellow recruit Jeremy Sharp sent a long ball from outside 50 to his chest at the top of the goal square, where he easily was able to go back and slot through a major.

More impressively, Simpson’s highlight moment came in the second term when he received a handball from fellow speedster Conrad Williams (White) while running away from goal towards the pocket.

Simpson then snapped the ball around his body with his right foot, slotting the first goal of the second term and his second for the day.