Fremantle Dockers' Luke Ryan Misses Selection in Pre-Season Clash
Fremantle Dockers defender Luke Ryan has once again been left out of the team for their upcoming pre-season match against the Adelaide Crows. This decision comes despite the notable absences of key defenders Alex Pearce and Brennan Cox, both sidelined with calf issues.
Defensive Woes for Fremantle
Brennan Cox was unable to finish the Dockers' recent match simulation against West Coast and is now in a race against time to be fit for the opening round of the season. Similarly, Alex Pearce will miss the clash with Adelaide after reporting calf soreness earlier this week. These injuries have left significant gaps in Fremantle's backline, yet Ryan has not been called upon to fill them.
Instead, Ryan has been named among the emergencies for Fremantle's only official pre-season game. In his place, two-game defender Hugh Davies has been promoted to the senior side, highlighting the coaching staff's current preferences.
Coach Longmuir's Explanation
Following Fremantle's 28-point victory over West Coast last week, coach Justin Longmuir addressed Ryan's omission. He stated that there are "others ahead" of the two-time All-Australian, attributing this to Ryan's injury-interrupted summer. "It's through no real fault of Luke. He's come back from a shoulder reconstruction so has only had a couple of intraclubs as a run in," Longmuir explained, emphasizing the challenges Ryan has faced in his recovery.
Other Team Updates and Lineup
In other team news, ruckman Sean Darcy will play managed minutes for Peel Thunder in their match against West Coast's reserves on Saturday. This marks his first competitive game since sustaining a calf injury late last month. Meanwhile, speedy forward Sam Switkowski will not feature at any level, as he remains in concussion protocols after reporting delayed symptoms during the game against the Eagles.
Star forward Josh Treacy will captain the Dockers in Pearce's absence, despite vice-captains Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong also being included in the selected side. This decision underscores Treacy's growing leadership role within the team.
The Fremantle team for the pre-season game against Adelaide is as follows:
- Backs: H Chapman, O McDonald, H Davies
- Half-Backs: J Clark, K Worner, J McVee
- Centres: J O’Meara, C Serong, C Wagner
- Half-Forwards: M Frederick, M Reid, S Bolton
- Forwards: J Amiss, J Treacy, P Voss
- Ruck: L Jackson, A Brayshaw, H Young
- Interchange: T Murray, M Cox, N Erasmus, N O’Driscoll, B Walker, J Draper, I Dudley, M Johnson
- Emergencies: L Ryan, J Sharp, B Banfield, C Scerri
This lineup reflects a mix of experienced players and emerging talent as Fremantle prepares for the upcoming AFL season. The exclusion of Luke Ryan remains a talking point, given his proven track record and the defensive shortages faced by the team.
