Fremantle Dockers team news: Liam Reidy picked as No.1 ruck to take on Geelong Cats on Saturday

Fremantle have put their faith in young ruck Liam Reidy for their round one clash with Geelong on Saturday.

And the Dockers have also named a super tall backline, picking all of Brennan Cox, Alex Pearce, Luke Ryan and Josh Draper.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL DOCKERS LINE-UP, AND SEE WEST COAST’S ROUND ONE TEAM HERE

Reidy has been named in the side and will lead the ruck department, supported by Luke Jackson, for the clash with the Cats.

It means Patrick Voss, who travelled to Victoria on Thursday, misses out and has been named as an emergency.

Geelong has named frontline ruck Rhys Stanley as an emergency, with Sam De Koning listed as their main man, while Mark Blicavs has been named in defence but is likely to carry some of the load.

Reidy was well beaten by seven-time All Australian Max Gawn in Fremantle’s pre-season clash with Melbourne a fortnight ago. Gawn had 46 hit-outs and kicked a goal on the Docker, who has played two senior games.

Coach Justin Longmuir hinted on Wednesday they would take a “horses for courses” approach with their rucks.

The Dockers’ move to load up on tall defenders is intriguing given Geelong will play West Australian Shannon Neale in partnership with Jeremy Cameron up forward. They have named an otherwise small forward line that includes Patrick Dangerfield, who has been named in a pocket.

Fremantle will have to wait for a first glimpse at prized recruit Shai Bolton, who was not on their flight east earlier on Thursday. Michael Walters and Sam Sturt will also miss the clash with injury, but Pearce, Draper and Sam Switkowski have all overcome fitness concerns to be picked.

The Dockers are also without injured trio Nat Fye, Sean Darcy and Hayden Young for the first week of the season.

Debutant Murphy Reid has been named at half-forward.

Bailey Banfield, Matt Johnson, Karl Worner, Heath Chapman and Corey Wagner have been named on a five-man bench, with Worner the likely frontrunner to start as the substitute.

Voss was the only one of Fremantle’s three emergencies to travel, with Neil Erasmus and Cooper Simpson staying at home. It means they are in line to play Peel Thunder’s practice match against Perth at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday afternoon.

West Aussie veteran Mitch Duncan has missed out for Geelong and has been named an emergency. The Cats have not picked Shaun Mannagh, despite clearing him to play earlier this week after he battled a foot injury.

FREMANTLE V GEELONG

Saturday, 10.20am AWST, GMHBA Stadium

Fremantle

B: B Cox A Pearce J Draper

HB: L Ryan B Walker J Clark

C: N O’Driscoll J O’Meara J Sharp

HF: M Reid M Frederick S Switkowski

F: L Jackson J Treacy J Amiss

FOLL: L Reidy C Serong A Brayshaw

I/C: B Banfield M Johnson K Worner H Chapman C Wagner

EMG: P Voss N Erasmus C Simpson

Geelong

B: C O’Sullivan J Henry M Blicavs

HB: Z Guthrie T Stewart L Humphries

C: B Smith M Holmes O Dempsey

HF: B Close G Miers T Stengle

F: S Neale J Cameron P Dangerfield

FOLL: S De Koning T Atkins J Bowes

I/C: O Mullin M O’Connor O Henry J Clark M Knevitt

EMG: T Clohesy M Duncan R Stanley