Home

Fremantle Dockers recall Joel Western, Tobe Watson and Josh Treacy for Richmond clash at Optus Stadium

Headshot of Braden Quartermaine
Braden QuartermaineThe West Australian
Liam Henry could get his chance on the wing with a number of stars missing.
Camera IconLiam Henry could get his chance on the wing with a number of stars missing. Credit: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Fremantle youngster Liam Henry could be the biggest beneficiary of the early end to Nat Fyfe’s season, with coach Justin Longmuir considering unleashing the speedster on the wing in Sunday’s clash with Richmond.

With the midfield rotation reduced by the absence of Fyfe and Michael Walters through injury, Henry is poised to move up the ground in a bid to find the form he has teased at without producing regularly.

“If you watch his game closely, he’s nearly having an impact,” Longmuir said on SEN WA.

“There’s the Carlton game that springs to mind a couple of weeks ago where he nearly kicked three goals or should have kicked three goals but didn’t.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“So he’s probably not maximising those opportunities. I think we’ve got to look to get him up the ground a little bit more and we’ll try and give him a bit of wing time.”

More AFL news:

The Game AFL 2024

Henry, 19, has kicked eight goals in 13 games in his second season and multiple goals only once in his career.

The Dockers made three changes, with youngsters Joel Western and Tobe Watson recalled alongside key forward Josh Treacy. They will replace injured trio Fyfe (shoulder), Walters (hamstring) and Alex Pearce (concussion).

Western will play his second game after being quiet on debut in round 13, while Watson will make his first appearance since round 12.

Teenager Nathan O’Driscoll was overlooked for a debut, named an emergency alongside Ethan Hughes, Brett Bewley and Connor Blakely.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 12: Debutant Joel Western of the Dockers is congratulated by Josh Treacy during the 2021 AFL Round 13 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Gold Coast Suns at Optus Stadium on June 12, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Camera IconJosh Treacy and Joel Western have been named for Fremantle to take on Richmond this Sunday. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Fremantle midfield coach Josh Carr is barred from attending the game after being charged with three counts of breaching quarantine orders and being forced into strict home quarantine for the remainder of his 14 days. Defender Brandon Walker was named after being fined $1000 for his own quarantine breach after taking his dog for a walk.

The Tigers, who have spent the week in quarantine in Perth, made one change to the side that lost to Geelong last Sunday. Midfielder Dion Prestia is back from injury, replacing West Australian Marlion Pickett (managed).

It will be Richmond’s third game at Optus Stadium this season after they won the Dreamtime match against Essendon and lost a thriller to West Coast the following week.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick was comfortable with his side’s preparation.

“Probably the thing that’s been most challenging is we came over here looking forward to the beautiful Perth weather, but it’s turned very Melbourne on us,” Hardwick said.

“The facility at Arena Joondalup has been great and we’ve been able to get out and train. It’s a challenge, there’s no doubt. But from our point of view, we’re happy to be over here and with the capacity to play the game come Sunday.”

Hardwick said it was a welcome relief to be able to include Prestia for the first time since round 15 and described Daniel Rioli’s move to defence as a “silver lining”.

“I thought he was probably our best player last week,” he said.

“One of the things that you look for in these challenging times is a silver lining and Daniel’s been one of those.

“He probably at the start of the year didn’t have the sort of season that he would like. He went back and learnt his craft at the lower level and came back what I feel as a better player.”

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails