Defender Luke Ryan is excited about what key defensive duo Joel Hamling and Alex Pearce can bring to Fremantle in the coming years.
The pair combine for just 119 games of experience with Pearce set to play his 50th game this Sunday against Richmond at Optus Stadium.
With a number of the AFL’s best key defenders out due to injury early in the season, including Richmond’s Alex Rance, some media commentators have rated Hamling and Pearce as the best defensive duo in the competition right now.
Ryan admitted he might be biased in agreeing with that sentiment but added that he couldn’t wait to see what the 26-year-old Hamling and the 23-year-old Pearce achieve in the coming seasons.
“I’d agree they are (the best) just because they’re my teammates,” Ryan said.
“It’s a pretty good combo, they’re both young, haven’t played that many games as of yet, to see what they’re doing now is pretty special.
“The way they’re playing at the moment, it’s pretty hard to get past them. Joel and Alex have been playing super this year. For Freo to keep them out on the field and have them playing the way they are, it’s going to be good for us in the long term.”
Ryan praised Pearce’s emergence after almost two-seasons out of the game in 2016 and 2017 due to injury.
“It’s his leadership on and off the field, he’s been elite, especially with where he’s come from with a couple of broken legs, to do what he’s doing now,” Ryan said.
“He’s playing on the best forwards every week and keeping them to one or two goals. It’s unbelievable and I’m really proud of the way he’s going.”
Ryan feels Fremantle need to be careful not to underestimate a wounded Richmond line-up that fell to the Western Bulldogs by 47-points in round seven.
He said the 4-3 Tigers remain a threat despite an injury list that includes Rance, Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin.
“They’re still Richmond, they’ve been one of the best sides for the past two years,” Ryan said.
“Even with those injuries, they have really good depth and they’re going to turn up and play really good Richmond footy and we expect that this week.”
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Conversely, Fremantle face a different sort of selection headache with defender/midfielder Connor Blakely on the cusp of a return from a hamstring injury after playing two promising game with Peel Thunder.
“It’s lucky I’m not in match committee as it’s going to be pretty hard this week,” Ryan said.
