A number of Freo’s backline have put their hands up to move forward if required as Fremantle look for a replacement for forward/ruck Rory Lobb.
In an interview on 6PR, senior coach Justin Longmuir discussed a number of options for a tall forward replacement, including fielding two rucks in Sean Darcy and Lloyd Meek or increasing the minutes midfielders like Nat Fyfe and David Mundy play up front.
Longmuir said tall defenders Alex Pearce, Joel Hamling and Griffin Logue were eager to help out, but added that versatile defender Brennan Cox will not be used up front.
“To be honest, they’ve come to me this week and put their hand up. Must be something a little bit less stressful than playing on the opposition’s best key forward!” Longmuir told 6PR.
“Brennan’s probably the only one who hasn’t and, I’ve said before that I’m just reluctant to move Coxy around too much.
“I feel that early in his career, he was a bits and pieces man for us and he really got settled into the one role for an extended period of time.
“Given his form last year, he’s probably taken it to another level over the pre-season. I’m really reluctant to move him from his best spot.
“It’s probably more likely going to be one of the others. We’ve got Griffin Logue coming back from injury as well…we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Longmuir said the 201cm Pearce had the ability to play as a forward but said he wouldn’t be sent forward for the duration of Lobb’s injury.
“Pearce played a lot of underage footy as a key forward. He’s played there at AFL level as well before he got injured,” Longmuir said.
“He’s been out for a long time and we really want to settle him down as well.
“There’s a lot to go in to these decisions and Lobby is going to be out for at least half the season as well.
“We don’t want a short term fix, so we don’t want to be swinging Pearce, Hamling or Cox forward and back each week.
“We just need to take a long term approach and be (looking) long term rather than just looking for quick fixes.”
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