Through no fault of his own he’s the face of Fremantle’s most famous, or infamous deal. He’s a journeyman who battled injuries for nine AFL years. He's a Fremantle foundational player, now a valuable part of the Clontarf Academy and, most of all, an all-round ripping good guy. We sit down for a chat with the great Tony Delaney. 

 We thought we’d take a walk down memory lane during the bye round so we caught up with the great man to get his unusual career story. 

Few other players, if any, could say they spent nine years in the AFL, was taken at pick twelve, traded for pick four, played at three clubs, delisted from the second one, had six coaches and played just 78 games. And they reckon Luke Jackson is a unicorn!

 Join us for these 45 minutes as we wind back the Docker clocker for a casual chat about everything Fremantle then to now with Tony Delaney.  

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“Please don’t tell Mum, Andy!” The battle of the Brayshaw brothers ended in Andy’s favour and probably a month’s grounding for both. Time to Restump Podcast Saturday’s magnificent win.

It was probably one of the most entertaining, all-consuming, edge of the seat matches we’ve played this year. Four frantic quarters of frenetic pressure which both teams delivered and absorbed, played in amazing spirit. 

We needed a true test to really find out where we actually were at and the Dees on their home deck was just what the Docker and/or Doctor ordered. It was a war of attrition that our purple boys impressively handled in a way far beyond the collective's age and experience.

To be two years younger and nearly fifty games less experienced across the board, take everything the Dees handed out and return it with interest, was a monumental effort. It cemented the belief that Freo, somehow, are genuinely back among the finals contenders. 

Surely anyone who wasn’t keen on the recruiting of Luke Jackson has had a change of heart? His game was something else even before Sean Darcy unfortunately went down. But to then combat Brody Grundy and Max Gawn (Bromax) solo for two and a half quarters… we don’t get the win without his performance.

If you can purchase Matt Johnson stock, buy up everything you can. His size, his smarts, his craft, his agility and his composure for a 20-year-old kid is rarer than an honourable politician.

And then there’s Jye. Another kid with ridiculous footy smarts, superb mobility and sublime skills. He’s the forward we’ve been looking for since the mighty Pav retired. Working cohesively in tandem with, and getting assistance from Josh Treacy, Jye’s team-oriented mindset and individual 3 goals kicked on a Steven May and Jake Lever combination, are a sign of things to come for the next decade and beyond. His thoroughly deserved round eleven rising star nomination was a long time coming.

Enough of this here! We’re bouncing off the walls, keen to get into this 60+ minutes of prattling on about the purple. Our season is back! We’re back! Who would have thunk it five weeks ago? Feel free to come along  for the conversation with us as we verbally overdose on the purple drug…. in a non-toxic, safe manner and environment! 

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You know why Brandon Walker is shutting down dangerous small forwards? Kozzy can! Yes, I know,… let’s just move right along and get on with Restump Podcasting the big clash against the Dees at the Gees!

We’ve had a few very good weeks and we’re looking to continue on in that rich vein of form this Saturday. Melbourne have won seven of ten so far this season and four of their last five so it is difficult to fault them. 

However, there is the possibility that their form is a little deceiving. They’ve predominantly lost to the seemingly more credentialed teams and beat up on those in the cellar dwelling range.  

While they stumbled last week against Port Adelaide it was on Port’s home deck and to the tune of just 4 points. They might be without Clayton Oliver and wingman Lachie Hunter but they have replacement killers to call on.

All eyes will be on the big clash of the titans! The all-conquering Sean Darcy and the single bound, tall building jumping, Luke Jackson up against magnificent Max Gawn and the Collingwood paid, Melbourne employee, Brody Grundy.  Quite simply its JackArce versus BroMax!

Will Jackson cop some heat from his former teammates? After the Dees were criticised for abandoning Max Gawn last Friday night, they may look to overcorrect, make amends and LJ might be in their sights. Rest assured we won’t abandon him!

Brandon Walker will be heading straight to the super dangerous Kozzy Pickett, hoping to repeat the recent run of jobs he’s done on similar types. However, the Dee’s share the scoring load so, as usual, our backs will defend as a collective and they’ll accept a bit of help from the mids. 

Sonny Walters is out with some issues with a calf. Who knew he had a farm? His absence hurts us so Freddy, Schultzy and Switta will need to pick up the slack.

We’ll see a full game from Nat Fyfe, Matty Johsnon comes into the starting lineup and that probably means Sammy Sturt will don the sub vest. If Sturty is the sub and gets a run, let’s hope it is for tactical reasons and not through injury.  

It has been revealed that Jojo McDonnell is currently fueling the private jet for a month-long holiday in Italy. Between his race horses and holidays, we’re starting to question his dedication to the Restump!

And like a dog with a bone, the Chief couldn’t let the current situation regarding the club up the road go by. So unfortunately, we’re all being subjected to another Neighbourhood Watch episode. 

This will be a tough game on Saturday, we’re going up in grade on our last three wins. The Dees aren’t unbeatable but they’re a much bigger challenge for us. One way or the other we’ll find out where we really are. It’s our final game before the bye so no doubt we’ll leave nothing in the shed. 

Enough of this rambling here, let’s get on with the podcast where there will be…. well more rambling! But who among us has ever overdosed on purple rambling? Join us if you need a fix.   

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No word of a basketball background but the Captain in waiting turned in a triple double. Quite simply Andy is back to his brilliant best. Time to Restump Podcast our season levelling win over the Cats.  

Going into the round four wins and five losses we desperately needed the win, simply because we cannot put a foot wrong if we’re to pinch a spot in the eight by season’s end. While the challenge wasn’t exactly as hot as it could have been, the important aspect is it was mission accomplished. 

Andy Brayshaw is obviously over his knee niggles. He’s been building the last few weeks and on Saturday we saw his return to the top off the tree. His work rate is at such a level, workhorses are looking at him and thinking they need to lift their games!

His midfield mate Caleb Serong is on an equal footing, Jaegar is fast becoming the player we thought we were getting and if there is anyone doubting Nat Fyfe’s role anywhere in the team, then put a replay of the game on slow motion and just keep your eyes on him, with and without the ball. 

Luke Jackson continues to make his knockers look like they’re wearing Ronald McDonald shoes, Josh Treacy’s influence was far above and beyond his numbers on the stat sheet, Bailey Banfield had a good game that could have been a career best game and… our equal leading goal kicker… where did he come from Cotton Eye Jye!

Despite having 3 goals kicked on him, our current Captain did a supreme job on the mountain of a man that is Tom Hawkins. Luke Ryan was super solid but admittedly helped by Jeremy Cameron’s inaccurate boot, Brandon Walker held the All-Australian small forward Tyson Stengle well and Jordan Clark gave his former team another showing of what they let go. 

Quite simply it was a win for the collective ironically through the performing of individual roles. It was a win for coaching strategy rendering Tom Stewart’s game inconsequential, a win for Sonny Walter’s Sir Doug Nicholls round celebratory routine and it was a win for us fans keeping our season well and truly alive.

We got the four points and we made it three wins on the bounce but we have to remain realistic. We need to keep in mind that the Cats were without Paddy Dangerfield who has been flying, they were without Cat’s midfield stalwart Cam Guthrie, they were without the extremely vital Mitch Duncan and they were without recruit Ollie Henry, who has kicked 16 goals and proves a tricky match up.   

However, if it’s not about unconditional enjoyment of the journey, then what is the point? We take note of external factors but we concentrate on ourselves, control what we can, don’t concern ourselves with what we can’t and we celebrate what is.  

So, join us we add a teaspoon of balanced analysis, two cups of shameless celebratory commentary and more than a pinch of nonsense into a tin and bake this Cat culling summary cake. 

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Is the purple climate changing? Is he taking the AFL world by storm? Should we rain in the hype? Cyclone, Dick Treacy, The Big Cohuna… or now Birdman… whatever you call him, the impactful Josh Treacy joins us for a chat.

After a few failed attempts at trying to entice Josh Treacy to come on for a chat, he finally weakened and gave us the green light. Whether it was simply because he wanted the pestering to stop or not is irreverent! The fact is he’s on and we couldn’t be happier.

We talk early footy and family life and his way to the draft and then consequent rookie draft. His feeling about getting an opportunity and having to leave the family and travel across the Nullabor.

He takes us through his time at Fremantle, his early suspensions clocking poor Brady Grey and dropping Jed Bews who he’ll meet again Saturday. We cover last week’s career best game and his future vision. Is he a Docker for life? Is he a WA boy now? 

While this episode is largely focused on the cyclonic conditions, we also take a bit of a look at Saturday’s Walyalup game against Geelong in the Sir Doug Nichols round. 

Like we did Sydney, are we getting the Cats at the right time? The Cats aren’t travelling all that flash and their form has at times been a little deceiving. 

The midfield looks an area where we could assert some superiority. With the Cats losing Mitch Duncan and without Dangerfield, it could leave them a little light on and our inclusion of Nat Fyfe may only widen the gap. 

Cameron and Hawkins are obviously the key but they also welcome back the super talented 2022 All Australian, Tyson Stengle, who kicked 3 on us down in Geelong last year. And let’s not forget Tom Stewart down the other end who intercepted galore on his way to forty touches in that game.

We’re in form, its indigenous round, we’ve got a good challenge against the Cats and we’ve got Birdman Treacy chatting away. 

So, if you’re having a lazy Friday arvo, kick back further for an hour and listen to Josh Treacy cover up our nonsense. 

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They’re writing their own script, directing, producing and staring in the show. Can we call it a Jackarce juggernaut yet? Time to Restump Podcast the strangling of the Swans.  

It was supposed to be a daunting trip to the SCG. But when you think about it, three quarters of our team hadn’t played there so technically they hadn’t lost there! Consequently, they had no historic baggage to carry.

It was probably as polished a performance as we have put in all year, admittedly against an undermanned and undersized Swans outfit. But you can only beat who you’re up against and you still have to get the job done. Against more moderate or compromised opponents it allows you to develop your system in real time and gain valuable confidence boosting victories.   

The Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson combination, known as Jackarce, ridiculously dominated the entire game. They were both beyond exceptional and they will take a lot from the last two weeks into future games against top end teams. 

Something that no doubt warmed the cockles of all our purple hearts were not only the individual performances of Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy, but the functionality of the forward line, the connectivity with the mids and the cohesion as a whole. Sure, its by no means a finished and settled product but what we saw Saturday had to elevate your heart rate!

Can we stop for a moment to give Lachie Schultz some love? How this guy gets out of bed the next morning after a bruising battering performance like that is one of the great mysteries! God help this fearless man with what will be chronic aches and pains post career! That was arguably Schultzy’s career best game.   

It wasn’t just all the forwards and mids though because the Captain deserves great recognition. Has he simplified his game and gone back to doing what he does best? Running straight lines and old-fashioned minimal possession gathering defending. 

Are we back? Have we turned our season around? Or while we’ve shown great improvement, did we salvage two wins against similar opponents? Whatever the case we’re just a win and percentage out of the eight.

We could go on and on…. and we will on the pod. 

So, if enjoying the journey and over celebrating victories that we probably should have expected, is your thing, you’re in luck because it’s ours as well. So, grab a beverage, put on your best purple togs, jump right in and join us in the conversational pool, the water is warm. 

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The SCG trip usually sees the best laid plans go a rye. But a travelling Sean Darcy and Nat Fyfe combo… it is the best thing since sliced bread. Let’s quit loafing about and Restump Podcast preview the clash against the Swannies.

Four wins from eighteen attempts against Sydney at the SCG doesn’t exactly suggest happy hunting ground does it? However, we may just be getting the Swans at the right time. They’ve lost a further couple of key players and their season to date isn’t overly flash.

We’re both three and five and we’re in 11th and 12th respectively, with Sydney nudging us out occupying just a four-point superior percentage. They’ve only beaten Gold Coast Richmond and Hawthorn but they are a four goal better side at the SCG than they are away.

We’re not getting ahead of ourselves by any stretch of the imagination but we’re starting to raise a hopeful eyebrow with the view to move into cautiously optimistic territory. 

Swans have lost Tom McCartin and Peter Ladhams which is pretty handy for us. McCartin’s out further stretches their defensive capabilities and Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson (JackArce) now go up against an underdone Tom Hickey and Hayden McLean combo.

We’re going in with an unchanged list, probably the best sub that has ever been and measuredly high on confidence after the performance against the Hawks. 

The Swannies still have the seasoned campaigners such as the Heney’s, Franklins, Parker’s and Papleys so they have it in them to resurrect themselves. And all too often we have seemingly played teams and individuals into form over the journey. But there has been a change in mindset and a freeing up of possible shackles in recent weeks at Freo and it has led to a more polished display.  

It potentially comes down to the midfield battle and the fortunes or misfortunes of Tom Papley. 

Jojo is in his element with a couple of press conference sound bites, we’ve tried to make sense of the booing rules and guidelines and the Chief is campaigning for the inclusion of more taunting in the game. 

We go through the game in finer detail, cover Suma’s nothingness and come up with a whole heap more bunk which isn’t outside the realms of possibility it may actually be dumbing us all down. But hey, what’s footy without the coinciding nonsense! 

Bring on the Swannies and that Milo tin lid of a ground!

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He’s really just back in his rightful place so it’s more of a re-coronathan. Everyone walks a bit taller when the King of Fremantle takes to the field. Time to Restump Podcast review the conspicuously undemanding win over the Hawks.

The dice was rolled on the sub vest and it paid dividends. While it wasn’t entirely our fault, the game was well and truly under control prior to Fyfe entering. But the re-insertion of great man into the middle showed just how much we have missed his big mature body around the ball and his influence on the contest.

However, as comforting and as thrilling as it was to see Nat Fyfe run out onto the ground, it was the performance of another that was more point approvingly satisfying. Like West Coast Eagles fans at now half time, the Luke Jackson knockers were rapidly disappearing. 

Something else that has disappeared is Andy Brayshaw’s knee complaint. 34 disposals and 2 goals in  a very welcomed “I’m back to my best” performance.  

But individuals aside it was all about the collective and its ability to show the composure with ball in hand, a much-improved skill level and a more productive balance of fast and slow ball movement. 

We had our No Panicking bucket hats on standby ready to put on for calming impact but they were never required. The game never felt out of control and it is safe to say England wasn’t the only place where a procession was taking place.  

However, despite the win and the more polished performance, there is little to take out of this game in terms of flick switched form. There was an uptick in system and a nod of appreciation for the increased cohesion but… let’s not get ahead of ourselves. 

It was a relaxed, cantering Hawthorn who seemingly have become motorcycle enthusiasts showing great interest in obtaining a Harley of the non-Davidson variety!  
But quality of opponent and season talk aside, it is just nice to see some positive and productive Freo footy resulting in a much-needed player and fan morale and spirit boosting victory. 

Booing Buddy Franklin. we’re not booers but have we really reached a point in society where we’re hypocritically lectured on how to barrack or jeer? Is Matt Rowell taking veganism to even further extremes? And what could the Starlight Foundation kids have done that has them in an episode of the Neighborhood Watch?  

Let’s get into it. We’ll cover all the nonsense and go through the game in finer detail while basking in the glow of the precious four points. Could that easy kill be the confidence catalyst leading to some recalibrating season form? It is never as good or as bad as it seems.

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Talk about eyes on the pick one prize! Resting their equal leading goal scorer in a team struggling to score? The Hawkers aren’t leaving anything to chance! Time to Restump Podcast preview Saturday night’s 2013 grand final repeat. (Yeah.. I know that’s overdoing it)  

Does it sound like the Hawks’ priorities aren't necessarily on securing the draft pick hindering 4 points? Freo, on the other hand, are we done? Are we alive? Are we currently treading water in purgatory contemplating the glass half full, half empty positions?

Nat Fyfe is back and that surely has to give everyone on and off field a lift. Starting as the substitute seems a strange decision but we’re not privy to the information behind the move.

Great to see Josh Treacy return after a couple of solid hit outs and ten marks last week at Peel while Freddy re-joins the experimental forward line as well after recovering from injury quicker than expected.

Sad to see Sammy Sturt has been sent back to the twos. Admittedly he had a shocker last Saturday but he wasn’t on his Pat Malone and his previous two games showed encouraging signs. 

For the second time in a few weeks, Will Brodie also found the axe above his neck. No doubt he’ll go back and dominate Peel’s midfield but he probably has to bring a bit more to the senior side when he next gets an opportunity.

Despite the resting of players, the Hawks that take the field won’t be resting up. They’re a plucky young talented group and they won’t make it easy for us. James Sicily is one of the best going around down back, Mitch Lewis is going to be a gun forward, Dylan Moore always dines out on us and they’ve done pretty well picking up forward Fergus Green as a mature age recruit. 

It will be nice to see Lloyd “Braun” Meek back in WA and you can imagine he’ll want to put his best foot forward…. or his best knee in a Darcy or Jackson kidney. Good contest this week with Darcy and Jackson (JackArce) taking on Ned Reeves and Meek.

You’d be an optimist to think we’re still alive in season 2023 as far as finals are concerned but stranger things have apparently happened. However, really in this game we just need to see some system, some structure, some composure and some cohesiveness. 

The worrying aspect here is that this is a game in which there is little to gain but plenty to lose. That alone creates pressure and pressure does funny things. 

We’ve got no first round pick to worry about so lets just go hell for leather and win whatever we can win. 

And on that note, let’s get into it. Unless you’ve got sock drawers need tidying, grass growing or paint drying that needs to be watched. Relax, pull on your Captain’s special no panicking bucket hat, bung this nonsense in your ears and join us for 45 minutes that you’ll never be able to get back!  

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Gotta hand it to those Maccas marketers! They’ve just increased their Fremantle foot traffic by over 70%. Time to Restump Podcast review Saturday’s hot and cold patched performance against the overpowering Lions. 

We got a look at a fast pace free-wheeling Freo side and at times it looked competent. But game styles are irrelevant when you struggle to perform the basics. There is no other way to frame it, it was a dropped mark and fumble riddled performance. 

There was a suggestion humid dewy conditions were playing havoc… except they didn’t seem too problematic for Brisbane, Brandon Walker and Jordan Clark!  

It was a near on 50-point thumping but had we taken the chances we created, it may well have been… maybe not a different result... but a more respectable scoreboard. Yes I know, coulda woulda shoulda!

Controversial call…. we don’t know about everyone else but we saw patches and green shoots to suggest we’re not too far away. We’re prepared to say the widespread expressed disappointment is greater than the issues. 

Sure, the clearances are lacking, our urgency could be upped, proactiveness would be nice and some cohesion would be handy but the nucleus is there, and it’s a nucleus of talented kids a couple of years away from where their Brisbane opponents are now. Some tinkering and polishing up of the rebuild, some aging and some games into them and the disappointment will subside. 

This isn’t to sugar coat Saturday because again if you can’t hit a handball on the full, kick to advantage, take a simple chest mark and get in your opponent’s personal space… we’re simply Talking Heads and we’re on the road to nowhere. 

We’re not the most skilled in the league at our best but we’re better than what we dished up Saturday. Lachie Schultz doesn’t turn it over 6 times in 16 touches, neither does Sonny do likewise from 11 disposals! 

Where to now? Will Fyfe come back and be impactful? With Corbett and Treacy looking for opportunity, where does that leave Sturt? Should Erasmus be almost guaranteed a long term spot this year? 

If we’re persisting with the fast pace running game, is Ethan Hughes on shaky ground? Surely that’d suit Liam Henry’s game? Do we need to check Colin Young’s white board now that Kozzy Picket has re-signed?

Enough of that all that here, its time to get into it. 

Nothing to overly celebrate but plenty of chatter to be had. So why not join us for this hour of Freo fanfare as we’ll no doubt ironically fumble and bumble our way through not only Saturday’s critique, but all the other usual Docker drivel as well. 

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