Dockers pick and stick with unchanged side for Power clash
Walyalup (Fremantle) have named an unchanged team for the first time this year to tackle Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
It means Justin Longmuir has stuck by young midfielder Neil Erasmus after his 19-disposal performance in the impressive victory over Greater Western Sydney last week.
Ruckman Sean Darcy, who had been pushing to return from a knee injury, will miss a second straight week after pulling up sore from Wednesday's main training session at Cockburn.
Under-siege Yartapuulti have made four changes, with Jason Horne-Francis, Esava Ratugolea, Lachie Jones and Josh Sinn all out injured.
Defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher will play his first game for the year, while veteran Travis Boak has also returned.
Rory Atkins — who joined the club from Gold Coast last year — will play just his second game of the season and 2021 draftee Hugh Jackson will make a long-awaited AFL debut.
Longmuir confirmed earlier on Thursday Darcy would miss the clash, leaving Luke Jackson to carry the ruck load again.
Darcy's second straight week on the sidelines comes as debate rages around what the Dockers' best ruck set-up actuall looks like.
'Firstly, we've got to get him back to full fitness, and that's not going to happen this week,' Longmuir said on SEN.
'He didn't pull up great after the session yesterday. Not bad, just not quite 100 per cent.
'So he won't be available for selection this week.' Walyalup (Fremantle) coach Justin Longmuir has named an unchanged side to play the Power. Credit: Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos / Getty Images
It means Darcy will have played in just 17 of the Dockers' past 40 matches, including being substituted out of three of those games.
Luke Jackson will again take the bulk of ruck responsibilities on Saturday, coming off a strong showing against the Giants where he earned five votes in the AFL Coaches Association's Champion Player of the Year award.
Longmuir reiterated the Dockers' 'horses for courses' approach to their ruck-set-up and said he was steadfast in his belief that Darcy and Jackson would form a potent on-field combination when both fit.
'The way I see Luke and Sean... they've only really had half a game together, and that was the Collingwood game (round nine),' Longmuir said.
Power coach Ken Hinkley, who is the subject of mounting pressure around his own job as the club prepares to transition to Josh Carr at the end of the season, said he was 'changing up' rather than 'shaking up his side' out of necessity.
'Some of those things are out of our control now with what we have lost through injury, versus what we can certainly bring into the side,' he said on Wednesday.
'The good thing about what we can bring into the side is some good experience that are available to us to bring into the side at a moment where you need some experience.'
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