FootyGoss :: All the Latest AFL and WAFL Breaking News

Defender confident of Dockers success

By Mr Dandalooa

Despite another humiliating defeat this season, Fremantle Football Club defender Luke McPharlin reckons the Dockers could see premiership success before he retires.

McPharlin who will notch his 150th game when he lines up against Essendon on Sunday, labelled the milestone a “terrific journey” at a Fremantle press conference this week.

The 27-year-old said while at times he thought he wouldn’t rack up that many games, the club’s medical staff had facilitated his career.

But the key defender, who is often used as a pinch-hitting forward, labelled himself as an important cog in Fremantle’s unit.

“There were a couple of times where I thought I would struggle to get there, just getting my body right,” McPharlin told the press conference.

“But I thank a lot of people for helping me along the journey, in particular our esteemed physio Jeffrey Boyle, who has been sensational in getting me back.

“He was absolutely critical.

“He basically took me back to scratch and built up my core stability and allowed time for everything to sort of right itself.

“I’d like to think that players such as myself or around the same age - (Matthew) Pavlich, (Aaron) Sandilands - would be able to experience some success in the coming years provided we’re able to put it together on the field.

“I think that there are a lot of things moving in the right direction and we need to keep that in perspective.

“Ideally I’d like to play for a few more years, provided everything goes well and provided I’m still a required player.

“We’ve had our ups and downs at Fremantle but I’ve certainly enjoyed playing here.”

In reflecting on his 150 AFL games, 27-year-old McPharlin said the initial thought of a career in the league didn’t really entice him as he was once an avid basketballer, though he was proud of his achievements.

“I’m the first to admit I wasn’t entirely keen on the idea of a career in the AFL,” McPharlin said on Monday.

“It was pretty much just an open mind and, ‘Let’s try this and see what happens’, (but) I’ve certainly been thankful for the journey and where it’s got me.

“Despite it being quite an overwhelming sport, I’ve tried to keep a level head about it and appreciate that it is just a game after all.”

Despite describing last week’s 63-point loss to Melbourne as a debacle, McPharlin remained confident that Fremantle’s recruitment of youth would allow the club’s premiership ambitions come to fruition before his retirement.

“Hopefully the team will settle down a bit more and I can find a bit more of a niche,” he said. 

“Ideally I’d like to play for a few more years, provided everything goes well and provided I’m still a required player.

“We’ve had our ups and downs at Fremantle, but I’ve certainly enjoyed playing here.”