Broken

The Restump Podcast

We may be in transplant territory because there are too many pieces of our shattered purple hearts for another band-aid to hold it all together. Time to somehow Restump Podcast that depressing and demoralising Docker performance.

In the context of when being in possession of supposed competent and talented lists, it was as incomprehensible a performance as we have ever delivered in our 30+ year history.

There is no sugar coating it, spinning it or dismissing it, you simply can’t imagine how it could get worse. In fact, you can’t even take that ironic positive because, in the most unfathomable manner, we continue to find ways of lowering the bar.

We take two steps forward; we take two steps back! What are we a team of Paula Abduls? Framing every second week as redemption round isn’t sustainable or conducive to progress.

There is something fundamentally wrong at the club that no one seems to be able to definitively put their finger on. But on the back of expectation and a specific strategic plan conveyed by the club, fans and members understandably are outraged and, reactionary or otherwise, have coach Justin Longmuir in the gun.

Neesham, Drum, Connolly, Harvey and now Longmuir. We’ve been in the competition for 30 years and the cause of every crisis has apparently been the coach. How’s that worked out for us?

There is no doubt Justin Longmuir now finds himself under a level of pressure few could ever conceive but, after such a performance there shouldn’t be anyone at the club not looking inward.

However, while emotions run high, it would be remiss of everyone to not remember Damian Hardwick being under comparable pressure in 2016. After being in the top job at Tigerland for 7 years, the Tiges finished 13th with 8 wins and that came off the back of an elimination final loss the previous year. It had Richmond fans, members and the media calling for his head. The board responded by backing in their process and they double downed on Hardwick. We all know what happened over the next 4 years.

Are the two situations comparable? Those who have made up their mind on JL will say no, and that is their prerogative.

Whether we like to acknowledge it or not, us fans are victims of the overrating of our list at the time by the Fremantle administration. They were far too optimistic with their projections with such a young side, which remains the case. In 2022 we had an average age list of 24.1 years. Four years later we have an average age list of 24.5 years.

However, despite the reality, it’s an emotional game and many fans, irrational or otherwise, now don’t contemplate reasoning other than the coach is entirely to blame. And that is understandable given the Fremantle football club put it all out there in 2022. We preach accountability, don’t we?

It will be interesting and very telling, how Simon Garlic handles this situation.

Everything about footy is subjective. The validity of our opinions today is determined only by time.

Does any of this ease the onset depression we’re all suffering from Friday night? Probably not. No stranger to adversary, but the club is in a deeper hole than it usually finds itself in. The problem is the only way out is to climb a ladder!

We don’t know where we go from here, but if our venting and ranting provides some type of vicarious frustration outlet on the pod… you’re welcome.

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