Mark Duffield’s mid-season report card: Fremantle Dockers’ young guns are top of the class in push for flag

The West Australian’s chief football writer Mark Duffield has graded each Docker at the midway point of the season. And they are a lot of players with good grades. A+ Andrew Brayshaw: Averaging 31 disposals, six tackles, five inside 50 and four clearances a game. His two-way run and will to defend puts him inside the competition’s top 10. Elite. A Blake Acres: Going at 21 disposals a game and playing the wing as well as any player in the AFL. Hopefully the hamstring doesn’t sideline him for too long. Sean Darcy: Continues to emerge as one of the AFL’s gun ruckmen. Goes at 30 hit outs a match, not far off a goal a game and wins well over half of his touches in contests with four clearances a match. Caleb Serong: Had a moderate start to the season when affected by a knee issue but has rattled along at close to 30 disposals a game for six weeks. His hands in close are as good as any in the AFL. Brennan Cox: Could be a smoky for All-Australian honours with a strong back half to the year. Increasingly confident about his intercept game and a key to a really strong defence. Hayden Young: Gives the Dockers both an intercept and rebound presence. Comes bravely at marking contests from the front and is the one you want pulling the trigger on the “inside” kick. B+ Rory Lobb: A couple of quiet games in the wet aside he has been exactly what the Dockers hope for from the forward/ruck option. Has kicked 21 goals and been a big target up front. Alex Pearce: The general in defence. Takes the most dangerous forward and organises the backs. Quick and brave. Max King is the only one to get hold of him. Will Brodie: Has won more clearances and more contested possession than any Docker and only Brayshaw has seen more of the ball. One of the AFL’s recruits of the year. Luke Ryan: Slightly sluggish at the start but has worked into the season. He averages 20 disposals and seven marks a game. Safe and reliable. Heath Chapman: Don’t be surprised if he turns out to be the best of all the Dockers kids. Gives them an intercept presence as well as significant rebound. B Jordan Clark: His speed running out of defence enables the Dockers to change gears quickly on the rebound when the time is right. Has slotted in well and is building. Lachie Schultz: Classic case of bloke who has continued to work until he is good enough. Has kicked 18 goals and had a big game against Melbourne. Sam Switkowski: Numbers don’t always show it but a ground level key to the Dockers attack because of pace, pressure and the ability to turn nothing into something. Back injury is a significant blow. James Aish: Unassuming player who has become Mr Fix it for the Dockers and has grown throughout his time at the club. Has played well back, on a wing, as an inside mid and a tagger. Griffin Logue: Found himself out of the team when Justin Longmuir sought more rebound but responded with excellent games on Charlie Curnow and Jeremy Cameron. His shift forward has been a big plus. David Mundy: Steady rather than brilliant which is expected closing in on 37. Averaging 22 disposals and five clearances off reduced game time. Will need to be managed in back half of year. C+ Michael Frederick: His absolute best is really good but there can be a gap between that and his worst. He’s kicked 15 goals from 11 games and his pace is a nightmare for opposition defences. Michael Walters: Struggled in the early going but has built into the season and his match against Hawthorn was the old Sonny – brilliant and sharp. Could be a real X factor in the back half of year. Brandon Walker: Has a happy knack of being in winning teams when he does play. His closing speed means he can be used on the likes of Charlie Cameron and Kysiah Pickett. Valuable. Travis Colyer: He had a top 10 finish in Dockers best and fairest last year but has probably been better this year. Pace is valuable and he has kicked eight goals. Nathan O’Driscoll: Was going at almost a goal a game off a wing before a foot injury has a habit of slotting big goals from the left footers pocket. C Lloyd Meek: Has done little wrong when he has played but struggles for chances behind Darcy and Lobb. Hitting his peak at 24 and good enough to lead an AFL team’s ruck. Matt Taberner: Season was highlighted by seven goal haul against Essendon. Has been bothered by back and hamstring issues. Has kicked 14 goals from six games. Nat Fyfe: Solid return from shoulder and back surgery in round 13 and the Dockers will hope that is just the start for the skipper. If he is near his best they will be near the top. Bailey Banfield: Has been in 23 for all 13 games, medi-sub several times. Continuing to work on pressure forward role and four goals against Lions were a key to the victory. Ethan Hughes: Was starved of opportunity because of the strong backline but did little wrong in games against Brisbane and Hawks. D+ Darcy Tucker: Struggled in high half forward role and has found himself outside the 22 a couple of times. Acres injury may open up a slot on the wing where he is better suited. Josh Treacy: Dominant at WAFL level but has just the one goal from four AFL games. He’s still only 19 and has time. Neil Erasmus: The 18-year-old showed plenty in five games and continues to press for chances. Doesn’t flinch under body pressure. Liam Henry: He looked off the pace in two AFL games early but has built back into the season at Peel and is not far from further opportunity now. Jye Amiss: Played one game against North Melbourne and kicked two nice goals. On inactive list after suffering kidney injury in the WAFL. Mitch Crowden: One game as the medi-sub. Dominating at WAFL level but chances are hard to come by. Joel Hamling: Like a number of other capable defenders – just a fair way back in the queue. Played one game and had 10 disposals. Been steady at Peel. Yet to play Sam Sturt: Has 13 goals from seven WAFL games but probably needs to adjust game to apply more tackle pressure to fit team requirements in AFL. Silky finisher with AFL ability. Connor Blakely: Can hardly do more to press claims. Over 30 disposals three times in six games at Peel. Just waiting for a chance now. Karl Worner: Made strong start to the season in the WAFL, steady since. Nathan Wilson: Been in steady form in WAFL at Peel and made the AFL emergency list a couple of times. Victim of Fremantle’s defensive depth. Matt Johnson: Had delayed start to the season after summer foot injury. Last two games at Peel have been strong. Don’t be surprised if he gets an AFL run before September. Sebit Kuek: Mid-season rookie draftee who has 17 goals from seven matches split between East Perth and Peel. Exciting athlete. Joel Western: Had strong start in WAFL then suffered significant hamstring injury. Still making his way back from that. Eric Benning: Being eased into senior football via Peel Reserves and form has been moderate at best. Luke Valente: Retired at the end of summer after injury frustrations prevented any impact at AFL level.