In an interview on SEN on Friday, assistant coach Josh Carr previewed the upcoming season and Fremantle’s Marsh Community Series game against West Coast on Saturday at HBF Arena.
Carr on coaching the midfield group
It’s a good young group, obviously with a couple of experienced players in Nat Fyfe and David Mundy. The rest are young kids and you can throw anything at them. They’re very coachable, which is great.
Caleb Serong won’t play a full game (against West Coast). He’ll be on limited game time considering we’re trying to get a bit of game time into the rest of the group.
For a young kid, Caleb came in last week (against Carlton) and was very clean. He uses the ball well, he’s smart inside stoppages and just a really good kid.
He’s definitely one to watch for the future and whether that’s early on in the year or over time - he’s such a good little player that he’ll find a way of breaking into the team very quickly.
On Marsh clash v West Coast
We’re playing our best team (with the aim of) being ready for round one, that’s the goal.
Everything we’ve put in place over the pre-season with our game style, with the way we defend, the way we move the ball, it’s just continuing to improve in those areas.
When you get a new coach and the group’s taking things in for the first time, it takes time. Every session that we have, whether it’s a game or training, we’ve got to just keep putting our game plan into those players and allow them to go out there and play and implement that.
On being impressed with Rory Lobb
When you’re living in South Australia, you don’t get to see Fremantle players a lot, so being in front of these players and seeing how good some of them are has opened my eyes up a bit.
If Sean Darcy stays fit and keeps playing the football that’s he’s delivered over pre-season, Rory will definitely play more forward than ruck.
It was only a practice game last week but he was our best player. He’s definitely got talent and he’s matured, he’s a really good leader. He’s not in our leadership group but he’s an outstanding leader as well.
I think he’s set for a big season, whether that’s forward or ruck, I think he can do both.
On letting Fyfe go forward
I’d love him to play both (forward and midfield), I want him kicking goals. When you see his contested marking, there’s not too many defenders that can beat him. He will have more midfield time than forward but there’s no doubt he will go forward this year and we’ve seen Michael Walters come up in the midfield as well. Sonny is probably more forward than mid and Fyfe is probably more mid than forward.
On the excitement around Stephen Hill’s return
He’s been playing across half back. He goes out there and points and directs and just reads the play so well. When he gets the ball in his hands he doesn’t make too many mistakes.
I see him getting away from players and he’s got plenty of time and space to use the ball and use that across half back.
On Blake Acres’ injury
It is (a big blow). He’s had an outstanding pre-season. He was one of the best players on the weekend, his work rate was enormous, he fills a lot of roles so there’s no doubt that it’s disappointing not to have him in the team.
Now he’s just got to go and get fit. The scans showed that he doesn’t need an operation so, hopefully, it’s not too long, but time will tell.
