The Ephemeral Nature of Dominance in Sport

The Fremantle Football Club’s recent dip in form has sparked a wave of analysis and speculation about their chances in the AFL finals. As they face off against Geelong, who boasts the current longest winning streak, many are wondering if the Dockers can regain their earlier season momentum.

Beneath this narrative lies a more nuanced story: Australian football has seen a rise in straight-sets exits for top-four teams since 2014, with half of the two dozen semifinals won by the nominal underdog. This shift has been driven by rising performance standards and equalisation measures in the league, making each game more competitive than ever before.

Fremantle’s struggles can be attributed to their inability to control the ball when it hits the deck. Despite having a talented midfield and front half group, they’ve been outscored by teams that focus on maintaining even numbers at the contest. The GWS gameplan, which exploits an opponent’s weaknesses through discipline and tactics, has been a significant factor in Fremantle’s recent struggles.

Hawthorn’s success against Fremantle last week was built around this same template. By keeping extra numbers at the contest and using their forwards’ work rate to create outnumber situations, they were able to neutralize the Dockers’ attacking threat.

Fremantle’s reliance on star players has been a significant factor in their recent dip in form. While Josh Treacy, Patrick Voss, and Jye Amiss have been exceptional throughout the season, they’re not immune to the pressures of competing at the highest level. The fact that Fremantle was only able to get two goals from its tall forward trio against Hawthorn is a telling statistic.

As Fremantle faces off against Geelong this week, they’ll need to regroup and reassess their strategy. Gone are the days of simply relying on their stars; they need to develop a more cohesive and adaptable approach that can be applied across various match-ups. With a deep understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses, Fremantle can begin to build a winning formula.

But competition is inherently unpredictable. Even the best-laid plans can go awry when faced with the unpredictability of Australian football. Will Fremantle be able to regain their earlier form, or will they succumb to the same pressures that have beset so many teams before them? Only time will tell.