Justin Longmuir believes Fremantle will have one of their most important players returning to the line-up when taking on Essendon on Saturday night.
 
Sean Darcy has missed the past two games due to a hamstring injury, both Fremantle losses, and has been given the all clear to play after getting through Wednesday night’s training session at Optus Stadium.
 
Longmuir’s comments come after there was media commentary heading into the bye around whether the Club needed to have two of the AFL’s most promising ruckmen on their list in Darcy and Luke Jackson.
 
“How things change, hey?,” Longmuir said when he was asked if Darcy was Fremantle’s most important player.
 
“He’s clearly up there with our most important players. I don’t sit and rank the importance of our players, but we’ve definitely missed him.
 
“He allows others to structure up, the way he allows others to play to their strengths and the way it allows us to get a bit more proactive inside stoppage when he’s getting his hands on it.
 
“He’s an important player, we haven’t shied away from the fact that’s the case.”

Darcy’s inclusion comes with Bombers ruck Sam Draper in doubt with a hip concern.
 
If Draper doesn’t play, Longmuir said Will Phillips would provide a significant challenge.
 
“I don’t know about taking advantage (of Draper potentially missing) but I think our team balances up a lot better with Sean in the team,” Longmuir said.
 
“It allows ‘Jacko’ to play the role he was playing before Sean got injured.
 
“Sean was in really good form all year pretty much up until he got injured. Hopefully he can come back into the team and take off where he left and give us an advantage, that’s the aim.
 
“Phillips is a really good ruck, he’s been in really good form, we’re going to have our hands full.”

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