For my part I ll drop all wirling stike and add 1 red warth, 2 discover and 1 card of choice (enquea sound good)
there is also an easterling that when you play it, it add 1 burden for each companion over 5. But I do not remember it's name nor it's set.
I ran your freep in an other life, and found out it is quite strong, but if you get a bad draw or something wrong happen and you loose an early companion you are in deep trouble.
Your freep will survive, but you wont be able to double move. Merry is your weak point and also he is the key to play shire country side.
I ll add
sam proper poet + aragorn Def+1.
I ll drop nasty and poor wreth and 1
not listening. I feel you focus too much on making smeagole win. while he does not need it. Smeagole should win VS smaller minion and loosing without taking damage versus bigger. That will help maximising your war effort.
With the freep space you can add gandalf and his cancelling staff,
narya for a burden remouval, cancel, heal, rinse and repeat.
Did you consider Gandalf pipe and pipeweed?
hope I helped in your thinking process! else sorry for the time lost!