When Fremantle senior coach Justin Longmuir gave Tobe Watson the nod to play just over an hour before the bounce of Monday night’s clash with Geelong, he felt surprised but prepared to play.

Watson was given the late call up to replace fellow defender Brennan Cox, who pulled up with hip soreness.

The 190cm defender took a mark early to the applause of the Freo faithful, and felt he was able to settle into AFL level from that moment.

“It was very surprising, I thought all week that ‘Coxy’ was going to be playing and then found out really late just before the game,” Watson said. 

“It was all a bit manic and very surprising, but my preparation was the same throughout the week.

“(My family are) at every game anyway, so they were here tonight.

“I think they might have done the late call and dragged a few cousins and friends out as well! It was good to see the support here tonight.”

Watson commended the experience of fellow defender Luke Ryan, who is continuing his impressive form this season in an undersized Fremantle backline. 

Ryan finished the match with 23 disposals and a game-high 14 intercepts and 661 metres gained. 

“Luke is awesome, every week his contest and his ability to play undersized on these big boys is unreal,” Watson said. 

“He’s doing such a great job for us at the moment…we’ve lost all our key backs and he has to play on these big boys.

“He’s fighting, he’s scrapping, he is playing awesome footy at the moment. 

“Luke is always directing from the back…he can see everything as he’s the deepest guy (in Freo’s backline).

“He’s always talking to us backs and telling us where to go, so it’s really good hearing that voice from behind and it gives us a lot of reassurance up the ground.” 

Watson also praised the efforts of fifth-gamer Caleb Serong who lined up alongside experienced Geelong midfielder Patrick Dangerfield for the majority of the night.

Serong had 22 disposals, seven tackles and kicked a goal while limiting Dangerfield to 18 disposals for the match.

“I thought he did a really good job…Dangerfield is a really good player and his ability to get forward and take the game on

“He’s a really powerful player so for Caleb to not just draw level but actually beat him I thought was a credit to him.

“He’s only a first-year player and a really young bloke…he played outstanding tonight.”