Prized Fremantle recruit Luke Jackson is about to be unleashed as a big-bodied midfielder in Sunday’s western derby as coach Justin Longmuir makes an attempt to spark his misfiring on-ball brigade into gear.
The Dockers swung an enormous choice shock on Friday by axing midfielder Will Brodie within the wake of shock losses to St Kilda and North Melbourne.
The frequent components for Fremantle throughout these two video games have been a malfunctioning ahead line and an incapability to win the competition and stoppage battles.
Jackson, who made a big-money transfer to Fremantle on the finish of final season, has come underneath heavy criticism after taking only one mark and failing to kick a aim whereas enjoying predominantly as a ahead throughout the opening two rounds.
The former Demon spent a small stint within the midfield towards St Kilda in spherical one, however he is slated to play a a lot greater on-ball function towards West Coast, particularly with Brodie now on the outer.
“He (Jackson) is a very good ground level player and a very good pressure player, which is what you need to be a midfielder,” Longmuir instructed reporters.
“We’ll need his aerial presence down forward and we think he can turn that around, but he also offers us a lot at ground level.
“We want to begin successful the competition round stoppages and he can help in that space.”
It’s not only Jackson who will be sent into the midfield to add spark, with goalsneak Sam Switkowski another option.
Highly rated youngster Matthew Johnson will also get his chance after being named for his AFL debut as the tactical sub.
“I simply assume we have to do a couple of extra of these issues, change the power, change the dynamic, not be as predictable,” Longmuir stated.
“At the second, we’re not likely specializing in being a dominant midfield, we simply want to verify we break even in there.
“We haven’t done that. Our hitouts – that (dominance) hasn’t been transferring to breaking even.
“We want to alter the combo up in there. We want to alter our construction slightly bit to see if we will profit from what our huge fellas (Sean Darcy and Jackson) are doing within the ruck.”
The return of Nathan O’Driscoll will give Fremantle more potency on the wing, while last week’s sub Michael Walters will add further excitement after being named in the 22.
The Eagles go in unchanged following last week’s 19-point win over GWS.
Longmuir said Jackson has been handling the criticism well.
“Like he stated to me the opposite day he is performed some common video games at Melbourne as effectively,” Longmuir stated.
“He’s creating sufficient alternatives. He had three photographs on aim towards St Kilda, he created some extra marking alternatives final week.
“The final piece of the puzzle is to take (those opportunities).”
Two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe (plantar fasciitis) fell simply in need of proving his health in time for the derby, however Longmuir is optimistic the 31-year-old will probably be match for subsequent week’s conflict with Adelaide.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
