The Fremantle Football Club's 2015 season was their 21st season in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club set a number of records during the year including winning their first McClelland Trophy for finishing first on the ladder after the completion of the home-and-away season and a club record of 17 wins during the home–and–away season.

Playing list

Between the conclusion of the 2014 season and the commencement of the 2015 season, Fremantle did not complete any trades nor recruit any free agents in the AFL trade period, despite being reported to have attempted to recruit key position players James Frawley and Aaron Black.

Key defender Luke McPharlin signed a one-year contract extension during the trade period.

Recruits and departures At the national draft, Fremantle was expected to recruit a tall player, but instead drafted four smaller midfield or forward line players. Two of the drafted players, Lachie Weller and Ed Langdon are younger brothers of current AFL players, St Kilda's Maverick Weller and Collingwood's Tom Langdon. In the rookie draft, Fremantle selected Ethan Hughes, a half-back flanker originally from Bunbury, before redrafting Tanner Smith. With their final selection they selected Irishman Sean Hurley, the club's first ever international recruit.

Recruits Departures Player Previous club League Recruited via Player Reason Lachie Weller Southport/Broadbeach NEAFL #13, National draftKepler Bradley Retirement from AFL Connor Blakely Swan Districts WAFL #34, National draft Scott Gumbleton Retirement from AFL Ed Langdon Sandringham Dragons WAFL #54, National draft Josh Simpson Delisted Josh Deluca Subiaco WAFL #68, National draft Sam Menegola Delisted (from rookie list) Ethan Hughes Swan Districts WAFL #13, Rookie draft Michael Wood Delisted (from rookie list) Tanner Smith Fremantle AFL #31, Rookie draft (redrafted)Tanner Smith Delisted (redrafted in the rookie draft) Sean Hurley Kildare GAA GAA #48, Rookie draft

Ryan Crowley positive drugs test In March 2015, Crowley was not chosen to play in any of Fremantle's pre-season games. After being left out of the team that would travel to Sydney for the second game, it was announced that he was unavailable for selection due to undisclosed personal issues. Three days later it was revealed that Crowley had tested position to a banned substance during the 2014 AFL season and had been serving a provisional suspension since September 2014. The sample was taken after Fremantle's Round 17 win over Greater Western Sydney and the commencement of the provisional suspension commenced after the confirmation tests (also known as B-sample) was completed in mid September. The banned substance has not been named, but was confirmed to have come from a painkiller that was not prescribed by the club doctor. He appeared before the AFL Tribunal in May 2015, and was found guilty and suspended for twelve months, backdated to the beginning of his provisional suspension. He became eligible to play again on 25 September 2015.

Full squad

Season summary

Pre-season matches

Rd DayDateLocal timeOpponentFremantle'sscoreOpponent'sscoreMarginVenueAttendanceMatch report 1 Thursday 5 March 2015 4:10 pm 0.9.7 (61) 0.6.7 (43) +18 Fremantle Oval 8000 (approx) Report 2 Sunday 15 March 2015 4:10 pm 1.6.11 (56) 1.7.14 (65) -9 Drummoyne Oval, Sydney 4,343 Report 3 Sunday 22 March 2015 4:10 pm 1.13.17 (104) 1.11.10 (85) +19 Domain Stadium 16,032 Report Source

Premiership Season When the 2015 AFL season fixtures were released in October 2014, Fremantle were drawn to play Port Adelaide in the opening round, a repeat of the semi-final that ended their 2014 season. The opening month was considered very difficult, with an away game against Geelong, an away Western Derby and a home game on Anzac Day against the other team that beat Fremantle in last year's finals, Sydney. Fremantle's game against Hawthorn was again to be played at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania.

Home and away season Rd DayDateLocal timeOpponentFremantle'sscoreOpponent'sscoreMarginVenueAttendanceLadderposition 1 Sunday 5 April 2015 5:40 pm +7 Domain Stadium 34,099 9 2 Sunday 12 April 2015 1:10 pm +44 Simonds Stadium 23,723 4 3 Sunday 19 April 2015 2:40 pm +30 Domain Stadium (A) 39,138 3 4 Saturday 25 April 2015 6:40 pm +14 Domain Stadium 39,009 1 5 Sunday 3 May 2015 1:10 pm +68 MCG 22,892 1 6 Saturday 9 May 2015 6:10 pm +28 Domain Stadium 37,535 1 7 Sunday 17 May 2015 1:10 pm +13 Etihad Stadium 18,710 1 8 Saturday 23 May 2015 5:40 pm +73 Domain Stadium 35,836 1 9 Saturday 30 May 2015 7:10 pm +11 Adelaide Oval 45,518 1 10 Friday 5 June 2015 6:10 pm -27 Domain Stadium 38,019 1 11 Saturday 13 June 2015 1:40 pm +7 Metricon Stadium 8,911 1 12Bye 13 Thursday 25 June 2015 6:10 pm +7 Domain Stadium 37,145 1 14 Sunday 5 July 2015 2:40 pm +46 Domain Stadium 32,970 1 15 Sunday 12 July 2015 3:20 pm -72 Aurora Stadium 16,792 1 16 Saturday 18 July 2015 5:40 pm +42 Domain Stadium 33,581 1 17 Saturday 25 July 2015 4:35 pm +4 MCG 39,777 1 18 Sunday 2 August 2015 2:40 pm +21 Domain Stadium 34,626 1 19 Sunday 9 August 2015 4:40 pm +37 Etihad Stadium 16,419 1 20 Sunday 16 August 2015 2:40 pm -24 Domain Stadium 41,959 1 21 Sunday 23 August 2015 1:10 pm -11 Etihad Stadium 23,857 1 22 Sunday 30 August 2015 2:40 pm +54 Domain Stadium 33,529 1 23 Saturday 5 September 2015 3:20 pm -69 Adelaide Oval 38,633 1 All games at Domain Stadium are Fremantle home games except for the one game marked (A). That game, and all others, are away games. Source

Finals Rd DayDateLocal timeOpponentFremantle'sscoreOpponent'sscoreMarginVenueAttendance Qualifying final Saturday 12 September 2015 1:20 pm 10.9 (69) 7.18 (60) +9 Domain Stadium 40,071 Preliminary final Friday 25 September 2015 6:20pm 10.7 (67) 15.4 (94) -27 Domain Stadium 41,508

Ladder

Awards, Records & Milestones

Awards 2015 Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe 2015 All-Australian team: Nat Fyfe and David Mundy 2015 Leigh Matthews Trophy: Nat Fyfe 2015 22 Under 22 team: Lachie Neale

Milestones Player Round Milestone th game 100th goal th game 100th game 650th goal 10 200th game 11 100th game 17250th AFL game 150th game 150th game

Debuts Player Round Opponent Ground Result 6 EssendonDomain Stadium +28 18 Greater Western SydneyDomain Stadium +21 22 MelbourneDomain Stadium +54 23 Port AdelaideAdelaide Oval -69 23 Port AdelaideAdelaide Oval -69 23 Port AdelaideAdelaide Oval -69 23 Port AdelaideAdelaide Oval -69

Match Review Panel charges Updated as of Round 21, 2015 season + Match Review Panel (MRP) and AFL Tribunal cases involving Fremantle players during the 2015 AFL season Round Player Charge category Victim (club) Verdict Fine (A$) Suspension Source Sanction rough conduct () tripping () $1,000 rough conduct () 2 matches striking () $1000 tripping () $1000 engaging in a melee $1500 engaging in a melee $1500 engaging in a melee $1000 striking Trent McKenzie () $1000 wrestling () $1000 rough conduct () $1500 wrestling () $1500 striking Jeremy Cameron () 2 weeks engaging in a melee $1000 engaging in a melee $1000 striking Jamie Cripps () 4 weeks striking () $1000 forceful contact from front-on () wrestling () $1000

Notes

References