Fremantle ruckman Mason Cox pushes for Dockers debut amid calls for Justin Longmuir to play just one ruck

Mason Cox has done his western derby debut chances no harm, with the Fremantle recruit dominating for Peel Thunder as an AFL expert for Luke Jackson to be the solo ruckman in the absence of Sean Darcy. Darcy will miss the clash against West Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday because of a concussion he sustained in the second term of the Dockers’ thrilling six-point Gather Round win against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on Friday night. It has swung open the door for Magpies premiership cult hero Cox to make his highly-anticipated debut for the Harbour club after he was signed as a rookie late last year. The 35-year-old was impressive all pre-season and has been a standout for Peel in his first two WAFL games, starring against Claremont with 18 disposals, 16 contested, six clearances and 34 hit-outs as Justin Longmuir wacthed on. Darcy flew home with teammates on Saturday morning and looked in good spirits at Perth Airport, even stopping to take photos with some Fremantle faithful. However, he will be sidelined for the next 12 days after entering concussion protocols, meaning he won’t be available until the Anzac Day clash against Carlton on April 25 at the earliest. Former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley was critical of a clearly dazed Darcy being part of the team song post victory. “It was a terrible look,” Hinkley told SEN. “Sean is full of energy usually…he didn’t know he was in that song.” It’s the latest setback for the 27-year-old, who missed a chunk of the preseason with a calf strain, while he has not played more than 17 games in a season since 2021 due to ankle and knee issues. The Dockers had been slowly building Darcy into the season, playing on average just 50 per cent of game time through the first four rounds, with Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir admitting it was “frustrating” for Darcy to be back at square one. Jackson was forced to ruck solo in his absence against Magpies big men Darcy Cameron and Oscar Steene after half-time, and the superstar stood tall to play a match-winning role. The 24-year-old had only four touches and two tackles in the first half, but exploded in the third term with eight disposals, six tackles, 12 hit-outs and two clearances to help them turn the game. Channel 7 expert Kane Cornes said Longmuir must now play Jackson as their No.1 ruckman. “Not that you wanted to see Sean Darcy leave the field in those circumstances but it is Luke Jackson’s midfield,” he told AFL.com.au. “He is one of the best rucks in the game and to start the second term, I look up and Luke Jackson is heading to full forward with the forwards. “I know there’s Mason Cox, I know there’s Sean Darcy who you’ve made a big investment in but Luke Jackson is your ruck. He’s not a forward, he’s not a midfielder and there just a far more dangerous side when he plays that way. “I just hope Justin after watching this experiment unfold for two years now realises what he has to do and that is play Justin in the ruck.” Fremantle will have to weigh up how they tackle the Eagles who have their own ruck woes. Matt Flynn has been dropped for West Coast’s Gather Round clash against Geelong at Norwood Oval on Sunday morning after he was comprehensively beaten by Sydney counterpart Brodie Grundy in the triple figure loss last weekend. Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said his replacement Bailey Williams was not yet fit enough to be the No.1 ruckman after a groin injury hindered much of his pre-season, leaving first-round draftee Cooper Duff-Tytler and forward-ruck Archer Reid to shoulder most of the load. Jackson polled one Brownlow vote each of the western derbies last year. He rucked solo in the absence of Darcy with forward Pat Voss in the round three win and again polled a Brownlow vote having finished with 35 hit-outs, 17 disposals, four clearances and a goal. Later that year, Jackson collected up 21 disposals, six clearances, five inside 50s and a goal in the 49-point victory. That day the Melbourne premiership player teamed up with Darcy (30 hit-outs) to get the better of Flynn and Williams in a rare game where McQualter used both his most experienced ruckmen on his list. Fremantle’s only other genuine ruckman on their list is rookie Aiden Riddle who played reserves for Peel Thunder on Saturday.