A look at the statistics since Round 1 2015, fairly clearly shows the impact that injuries has had on Freo.
(But, I fail to see any link to Roly's game plan for those injuries given the nature and timing of those injuries.)
In 2015, from Round 1 to Round 14, Fremantle won 12 of 13 games. Statistically speaking, Freo dominated most of those games and deserved to win, apart from Round 4 vs Sydney (they won by 14 points) and Round 9 vs Adelaide (Freo won by 11 points). They were the only 2 games which Freo did NOT win the Contested Possession stats.
Freo's midfield of Sandilands, Fyfe, Mundy, Neale, Barlow, Hill and D.Pearce were dominating.
In Round 15 vs Hawthorn, Fyfe was injured with a cork from Mitchell.
(It appeared that Fyfe never returned to full fitness or form from that point and it also appears that the broken leg in the Prelim later had a major impact on his 2016 form also).
Statistically speaking from Round15 in 2015, Freo's Contested Possession domination without the presence of Fyfe was no longer there, with Freo really only winning that stat easily at home, against the poorer performing teams (eg. Carlton, GWS and Melbourne). Fyfe was rested from Rounds 22 & 23 and returned for the Qualifying Final to have a major impact in that 9 point win vs Sydney. Fyfe was further injured in the Prelim which ended Freo's 2015 season.
Come 2016 Round 1 and Freo are missing 211 (and Johnno) and get a hiding. Round 2, with the return of 211, statistically speaking, Freo dominate the game, but suffer from a large number of costly turnovers and poor kicking and loose to Gold Coast. At this point it becomes clearer that Freo's reliable defensive style game plan has been tinkered with and is failing due to poor skill execution. Further injuries to 211, Mundy and Fyfe then mean continued poor performances in 2016 with further poor Contested and midfield statistics.
In summary, the results since Round 1 2015 until now relate very closely to the fitness of the Fremantle midfield. I fail to see any obvious trends between the first half of 2015 and later, other than the affects caused by injuries.
