If at first you don’t succeed, pivot, and destroy all the existing evidence of your attempt. We landed a tad wide of the Strategic Plan mark but it was a learning experience. We learnt not to set the bar so unrealistically high! Time to get 2026 underway and Restump Podcast the views and news in purple shoes.

The Strategic Plan is out and the 2030 Game Plan is in. We’ve rewired, replumbed, reset and restumped largely with all the same elements in the same positions. Is that a lack of accountability or an admission the bar was just mistakenly and unnecessarily set too high? Either way you don’t disrupt positive trajectory.

There has been plenty of talk about Mason Cox since his arrival. He is a handy addition but do we really believe he will be in the regular fully fit starting line up? Do we really expect anything beyond the insurance policy from the near on 35-year-old?

Did we miss an opportunity to hand the captaincy baton over to Andy Brayshaw or Caleb Serong? Alex Pearce will do the job but with the end of the ‘strategic plan’ era and moving into this ‘2030 Game Plan’ period, maybe a fresh captaincy start might have been in order? Again, though is it a case of not disrupting positive trajectory?

We’ll take a look at the recruits and reluctantly touch on the Lachie Neale saga in relation to Freo. Are we revved up for state of origin or are we just praying for our players to get through unscathed?

First pod of the year and unfortunately the Chief is already indulging in hysterical outrage, ranting about some inconsequential nonsense.

And with his new thirst-quenching establishment now up and running, we’ll get the update from Barman Jojo about what’s doing there.

It’s been a while between our purple passionfruit podcast drinks but the pre-season is just starting to gather some pace. So, why not go over the off-season developments, look at the foreseeable freo forecast and add some unnecessary purple noise pollution to the mix.

We’ve given everyone’s ears a well-earned and extended rest to recover, but sadly all good things come to an end. We apologise for the subsiding of the serenity of silence, but we’re resurrecting the ridiculous rigmarole.

For those whose listening standards are lower than our premiership count, by all means, join us for another year, starting now.

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The Sandgroper roper. He's a rustler! Wrangler Wallsy and co are out there on their annual muster, lassoing and herding prized young West Aussies back to the Fremantle farm. Time to Restump Podcast the trade parade.

The seemingly very focused Freo strategy of enticing quality age profile applicable young west Australians who fill or add to positions of need, continues. So far, we’ve seen off Liam Reidy and we welcomed home ex-East Fremantle product, Judd McVee, to the Freo family.

Under the clever guise of being neighbourly, Wallsy and co orchestrated a position that saw Judd McVee head to Fremantle, essentially for a very fair price, and potentially substantial unders. It unlocked the block that allowed West Coast to get their mature aged defender, Brandon Starcevich.

We gave up picks 12, 33, 44 and 50 and received Judd McVee, pick 19, 23 and 46.

Liam Reidy has made his way to Carlton with pick 53 and 71 while picks 50 and 68 returned. Nothing to write home about but what more could we realistically expect? You don’t have to win every trade.

Trade period isn’t over yet but you’d imagine there wouldn’t be too much more action from a purple perspective, other than Will Brodie heading to Port Adelaide to team up with Josh Carr. But who knows what unfolds in the frantic few moments before the final bell?

Has the free agency compensation system gone past the point of repair? The manipulation and exploiting of the seemingly fluid rules, the lack of transparency around decisions made and compensatory awards handed down, suggest it’s time to either scrap it altogether or blow it up and rebuild it in a more appropriate manner. Jojo has been banging on about it for years and now it surely seems he’ll get his wish.

The Chief is still running his one-man campaign to sound out Geelong’s Ted Chlohesy. With Switta’s often unreliable availability, could Ted be the perfect candidate to mitigate that risk and fill our post-Schultzy forward pressure deficiency?

However, we’re already in the workshop building the wagon to carry the picks, points and punters for the Chadwick28 Restump campaign ready to roll out next year!

As always, we somehow come up with plenty of propaganda to prattle on about. So, as we always say, if you’re not pickled or plastered and passed out on purple, your performance isn’t presentable. If you haven’t overdosed, you’re not doing it right. Feel free to join us on the pod to get a momentary fix, or even just to top up.

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Parting ways with our popular purple people is particularly painful this year. 674 games of experience and 3 meaningful contributors. Time to Restump Podcast all the Docker developments.

Any of us may momentarily win an aging process battle, but none of us win the war. While Jimmy Aish would have it in him to go around again, Nat Fyfe and Sonny Walters were formidable in their individual efforts to prolong the inevitable. But it does little to ease the pain of having to say goodbye.

However, the cycle of purple life continues and the Freo show must go on. They're certainly not the first three we've had to watch disappear into the horizon and they won't be the last.

This fast paced, often ruthless industry doesn't allow for long periods of mourning or reflection. The season's dust is barely settled, the send offs seemed shortened and we suddenly find ourselves in Brownlow medal, draft and trade talk territory.

Almost in an instant the conversation switches from ‘who we're losing’ to ‘who will take their place.’ On some level it feels a little disrespectful, like we've moved on too soon. But such is the nature of the AFL beast.

Were Andy Brayshaw and Caleb Serong's dominance of Fremantle's Brownlow votes a true reflection of our group’s individual contributions, or was it simply a product of the ‘midfielders’ award? Both had very good seasons, but you're trying to tell me the All-Australian jacket wearing Jordan Clark had just a 2-game polling, 4 vote total season? Really?

In terms of personnel going forward, what do we need to compliment the list to take another step forward in 2026?

With Will Brody and Liam Reidy requesting trades, Quinton Narkle joining the retirees and the unlucky Jack Delean and Odin Jones suffering delisting, it has opened up a substantial 8 list spots so far.

The grapevine chatter regarding the possible departure of Sean Darcy just won't quieten down. Is it a case of where there's smoke there's fire or is it all smoke and fiery mirrors? What do the rumours do to Liam Reidy's thought process?

33-year-old Collingwood forward Jamie Elliott's name keeps popping up in purple provinces. And while we're on the Collingwood camp, there seems to be a Bobby Hill Freo Fanclub? Regardless of 'get-ability' are they genuine needs?

Those names and plenty more are, at the very least, up for discussion.

Always plenty of Docker drivel to be discussed. We'll cast the net wide on all things Freo, we'll get an update on JoJo's long-awaited bar opening and the Chief has hinted that he may unfortunately subject us to another episode of the Neighbourhood Watch.

With the ink running dry here, let's put down the purple pen, pick up the talking stick and continue on the pod. So, if you haven't got a sock drawer to tidy, grass to watch grow or purple paint to watch dry, by all means, join us and get involved in the conversation.

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