The current list isn't Longmuirs fault. It doesn't have the depth that the best teams have so he is left making the best of a bad situation and hoping that a player either turns the corner, or we unearth a gem from somewhere deep in the draft. There are also alot of middle-age players from other clubs that aren't terrible, but aren't great either. Aish, Acres, Conca, Wilson, Colyer, Lobb. They all play most weeks, but aren't exactly world beaters. Compare that with the players west coast have managed to lure like Kelly, Redden and Yeo. Then you have to add the tall forwards running around in the league that were highly regarded juniors that Fremantle inexplicably passed over. Darling, Allen, Naughton were all known quantities, and local, that for some reason were passed over. Some other teams didn't draft them either but I can't think of a team that has needed key forwards more than Fremantle has for the last decade or so.
The actual picks Fremantle has made have generally turned out okay, but the approach has been total scattergun. Especially regarding forwards which has been one giant hail mary. Ross Lyon said that he never had any say in drafting, which i always found a bit hard to believe. From what i have seen of Longmuir I think he should definitely have a say in it. It's a credit to how he has coached that the team is still a chance for finals, especially with many of our best out injured.
