If Fridge plays mid will he turn into a freezer?

[Dogs 24/7]

We need to return Freijah to the back line until we get Jones and JOD back
We need his composure and height there.

[Bulldogs201616]

Thank you Essendon for bidding Luamon Lual. At the time I was absolutely filthy as well

[Sedat]

After 2 games, has Freijah already moved ahead of the next tier of mid rotations - Sanders, Garcia, West?

We needed to change the midfield mix after the first few weeks last year and started that process with Richards, to obvious success. Now it looks like we have pulled the same rein with Freijah. Sample size is very small but the signs are very positive so far.

[whythelongface]

After 2 games, has Freijah already moved ahead of the next tier of mid rotations - Sanders, Garcia, West?

We needed to change the midfield mix after the first few weeks last year and started that process with Richards, to obvious success. Now it looks like we have pulled the same rein with Freijah. Sample size is very small but the signs are very positive so far.

He is big strong and looks to have some pace. Someone mentioned in another thread he is like a younger version of Bont - big call but see the similarities. He is very dynamic and can break tackles. Will be interesting to see how much game time he spends in the mids once Bont returns. It makes us more flexible and dangerous particularly when they rotate and Bont goes forward with Frejiah in the mids.

[jeemak]

The first comparison shows JF's career vs. Bont at the same age, but with JF on 15 games and Bont on 26:

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?playerStatus1=A&tid1=8&playerStatus2=A&tid 2=8&type=A&pid1=7197&pid2=3921&fid1=C&fid2=A&fopt2=21

The next shows JF's 2025 vs. Bont's career to the same age - essentially a same age comparison (only two games into the category for JF, however):

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?playerStatus1=A&tid1=8&playerStatus2=A&tid 2=8&type=A&pid1=7197&pid2=3921&fid1=A&fopt1=21&fid2=A&fopt2= 21

The first thing that stands out with the second is how clean Bont was early on. Amazing stuff. Outside of that there's a few similarities from a stats perspective.

None of these stats comparisons are genuinely helpful given the differences in circumstances under which players play over time and how the game changes, but they're interesting as a bit of a guide to give a quantitative baseline of how things used to be when we look back on certain players either with rose coloured glasses, negativity, or just lacking detailed memory due to time.

[Go_Dogs]

Looking like an inspired move.

Wish we’d pull the lever on these things earlier in pre-season, but necessity does what it does I suppose.

[mighty_west]

He is big strong and looks to have some pace. Someone mentioned in another thread he is like a younger version of Bont - big call but see the similarities. He is very dynamic and can break tackles. Will be interesting to see how much game time he spends in the mids once Bont returns. It makes us more flexible and dangerous particularly when they rotate and Bont goes forward with Frejiah in the mids.

I reckon he's more Tim Kelly than Bont, especially watching some of Tim's Geelong highlights the way he moves, just smooth with nice skills and one of those players who could almost play anywhere with his poise and game sense, now that he's had a taste of some midfield action i think his game will go that next level.

[JackCJohnston2000]

Western Bulldogs 2030 midfield brigade:

Richards, Butters, Freijah, Sanders, West

Bont will still be around but he'll be kicking bags out of her goal square...

[Axe Man]

Western Bulldogs 2030 midfield brigade:

Richards, Butters, Freijah, Sanders, West

Bont will still be around but he'll be kicking bags out of her goal square...

Plus Libba on his eighth one year contract!

Is that Levi West?

[jeemak]

Western Bulldogs 2030 midfield brigade:

Richards, Butters, Freijah, Sanders, West

Bont will still be around but he'll be kicking bags out of her goal square...

Don't discount Pat Vesz. If he's not redrafted this mid-season draft it'll surely be next year, and with a few years to warm into the role I think he can figure in the 2030 rotations. He can still make it.

[doggies ftw]

I wonder how tall the Fridge really is? looks like he absolutely dwarfs Richard’s when they’re always next to each other, and Richard’s is a very solid 188cm

[Axe Man]

I wonder how tall the Fridge really is? looks like he absolutely dwarfs Richard’s when they’re always next to each other, and Richard’s is a very solid 188cm

In the team photo this year he's standing next to Poulter (listed at 194cm) and appears a fraction shorter. So he may be slightly taller than his listed 191cm.

[hujsh]

In the team photo this year he's standing next to Poulter (listed at 194cm) and appears a fraction shorter. So he may be slightly taller than his listed 191cm.

He looks equal to Buku (191) in the recent post game video where they were next to eachother post game. If he's not 191 he's close enough

[doggies ftw]

In the team photo this year he's standing next to Poulter (listed at 194cm) and appears a fraction shorter. So he may be slightly taller than his listed 191cm.

Yeah to be fair, Richards has a bit of the Libba posture about him, usually a bit hunched so probably deceives the eye. Just looks significantly taller than Ed when they’re interacting