TOPIC:

Now I'm not a fan of either team, but which of the 2 WA based AFL teams have been the bigger disappointment this season?
WC? Who continue to have a horrific run of injuries and who no one tipped to get anywhere near finals?
Or Freo who have had a reasonably fit squad, who were tipped by most to be top 4 and are languishing in 14th spot ahead of only GCS, Hawthorn, NM & WC.

We all know West Coast should of started there rebuilding in 2019.But they didn't and all there exprienced players.Fell off the cliff ,this year.
With some good drafting and recruitment. They can be at the other end of the tunnel,in around 4 years.Like the Adelaide Crows are now.
Freo not mentioned much this year.The loss of Josh Carr to Port Adelaide. Josh looks like one of the great, modern day  tacticians .Ports midfield has taken a quantum leap in 2023.Like Freos did in 2022 under Josh.
 

I think some people underestimate the loss of three players who walked out of Fremantle at the end of last year SS, Lobb, Logue and Acres who all had outstanding seasons, Acres and Lobb probably career best seasons so all three were crucial to Fremantle’s success last season. Would probably add the retirement of David Mundy also.

Ok they picked up young gun Luke Jackson but he was always going to take time to find his feet. After a stuttering start he has certainly showed why Fremantle paid the big bucks and sold the farm to get him. Incredible to think in Darcy’s absence due to injury he’s almost claimed in some peoples minds the mantle of Fremantle’s No1 ruckman even when Darcy is fit because of all his other attributes. But I still rate Darcy very highly when fit.

And we’ve seen the emergence of second year forward Amiss and the emergence of Josh Treacy who has grown in confidence and Matt Johnson and Neil Erasmus have shown they are capable of being midfield stars of the future. The future looks bright for Fremantle.

The Eagles on the other hand have not only had their worst season on record but one of the worst seasons in AFL history. They are a basket case and they could actually get worse before they get better. Eagles without a doubt for mine the biggest disappointment of 2023.

And Fremantle I might add have won 9 games and could add to that. While disappointing to miss out on finals it's hardly a disaster season compared with the Eagles.

Was more talking about the expectations pre-season when all of the above was known, players in, players out etc.
WC have more than met the dire expectations that every single pundit made, on the other hand Freo have not even got close to meeting their and the pundits expectations. It was all "Flagmantle" from the Dockers faithful before the season started, so I think they would be desperately disappointed.

West Coast. Many fans were predicting a top 4 finish this season. Amusingly it turned out to be amost identical to season 2022. Now they are talking up playing finals next season after beating North and Footscray and completing forgeting the derby debacle.

Winning a wooden spoon on the back of last year and given the thumpings they received I would come to the conclusion WCE were the most dissapointing, a lot of talk pre season from them as turning the corner looking up and pushing for finals, in the end they utterly imploded and were a national embarrasment, even now the delusion is rife saying they are a chance next year and draft picks will save them..haha dream on. Gaff and Mcgovern playing on to the old mans tune.

As for the dockers , would have been them had it not been for the west coke spooners. From Flagmantle in 2022 to missing finals and falling out of contention weeks ago in the back up year..another mob of dreamers.