A fast-moving Fremantle has claimed a 28-point win over West Coast in Saturday’s match simulation, but the result has been soured by a serious looking injury to Eagles rookie Noah Long.
Long went down late in the contest as his left leg appeared to jam into the Victor George Kalis Oval turf in a Karl Worner tackle.
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The young Eagle was clearly in pain as he stayed down with medics quickly getting to his aid.
After already overcoming what ex-Eagle Will Schofield described as “car crash-like” injuries in recent seasons, the leg issue is just another blow to the youngster’s AFL hopes.
“It didn’t look great for Noah – don’t have any details yet other than he’ll go off for scans,” Eagles assistant Sam Radford said post-match.
“Our thoughts are definitely with Noah.
“It didn’t look great in the tackle.
“The coach has been down with him – he’s obviously pretty disappointed without knowing exactly what’s wrong.
“We’ll put our arms around him and support him whatever the result.”
Long wasn’t the only player to fail to see out Fremantle’s 12.9 (81) to 8.5 (53) win – with Docker Brennan Cox finishing with ice on his left calf.
But Dockers coach Justin Longmuir believes that was more for “precaution” after the defender copped a knock to his leg.
“He had soreness in his calf. Hopefully it’s precautionary but fingers crossed,” he said.
Despite the result, West Coast’s youngsters showed plenty of promise with their first two picks Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler slotting their first two goals.
THE 3-2-1… (what we learnt)
3. FAST FREO FINDING THEIR TEMPO
It was only 12 months ago Freo coach Justin Longmuir copped it for his comments on the club’s “vanilla” play.
But it’s clear to see this is a fast-tempo Freo who are looking to take the game on at every opportunity.
“Freo have looked their best when they’ve moved it fast today,” ex-Eagle Will Schofield said.
“By hand initially and then being on the same page.
“They’ve looked really good switching and moving it fast. It’s just whether against the best defences across the league that they can do it this year.
“The best defences will hold that switch up – they won’t let Freo get there in the first place.”
Central to the movement was Hayden Young who missed a chunk of 2025 through injury and Brandon Walker, who suffered a serious shoulder injury in the early stages of last season.
Getting those two back into the line up, and fit for 2026, will go a long way to Fremantle’s hopes of playing finals.
Coach Justin Longmuir said Walker had forced his way back into the side’s best, leaving two-time All Australian Luke Ryan to find his form in the reserves match that followed on Saturday.
“Just love how he plays on instinct,” Longmuir said of Walker.
“He can break the first line of defence just because he bounces up with the ball. His leg speed is able to break that first layer of defence which opens the game up.
“(He) demanded a spot today.
“He’s been able to force himself into (the best side).
“Walks is better suited to play a little bit deeper…Having a small deep who can break a line, sometimes you actually get a little bit more space as a deeper defender.”
But what does that mean for Ryan?
“There’s others ahead of him at the moment,” Longmuir shared.
“Others have had a bigger and better pre-season than him through no real fault of Luke. He’s come back from that shoulder reconstruction so he’s only had a couple of intraclubs.
“We’ve got some good competition for spots at the moment.
“If you haven’t done a full pre-season, you’ve been left behind a little bit.
“Keeps everyone on edge.”
2. EAGLES ROOKIES SHINE BRIGHT
It took just minutes for West Coast’s prized picks to have an influence against the Dockers.
No. 1 selection Willem Duursma racked up disposals at will in the opening minutes before nailing an absolute roost from outside 50 for West Coast’s first goal.
“The number one pick with all the skills on show,” Adam Papalia said.
“It’s only match sim but that will have high hopes for Eagles fans.”
Ex-Eagle Will Schofield loved what he was seeing from the prized No.1 pick.
“If you want a bit of excitement West Coast fans, Duursma has had about 5 touches in a few minutes… jagged one from 50 into a pretty stiff breeze,” he said.
“We absolutely love what we’re seeing there if you’re a West Coast fan.
“Off two or three steps, did not even consider passing that one.
“The top draft picks, that’s how they are wired.
“They’ve got great confidence in their ability. For such a young player, to back himself in there and slot that – It never looked like missing.
“Exciting stuff.”
Their second pick, No.4 Cooper Duff-Tytler then landed West Coast’s second goal in promising signs.
Harley Reid, the No.1 pick from 2023, was also back to his best – but Schofield warned the midfield star needed more support if he was to continue his great form.
“They’d like their senior players to be able to help him out – Elliot Yeo and Tim Kelly, probably the two there that I’m speaking about,” he explained.
“They need them to have good years so (Reid) doesn’t have to carry the entire burden of the midfield for West Coast.
“Because he can – he’s good enough. But they’ll just be hoping he has some support this year.”
1. CONFIDENCE KEY FOR RISING AMISS
A bright spark in attack for Fremantle was the form of Jye Amiss.
The forward, who is still just 22 years of age, kicked four goals in the 28-point win over West Coast on Saturday.
Former Eagle Will Schofield believes Amiss needs early confidence to get back to his 2023 best.
“Jye Amiss, I think he really needs to start the year well. What we’ve seen today, has been really impressive,” he said.
“Always coming at the footy.
“That’s where he plays his best coming at the kicker.
“He’s really quick off the mark and moves really well.”
Amiss has struggled to emulate his 2023 career-best feat of 41 goals in recent years, but has enjoyed the addition of Josh Treacy and Pat Voss to bolster the attack.
Amiss kicked 36 goals in 2024 and 32 goals last year.
Off the back of his form on Saturday, Schofield noted: “Don’t think we’ll see him on the wing too often this year”.
While Amiss added four goals, it was Pat Voss with three of his own.
Follow the match in our live blog below. If you can’t see the blog, click here
SQUADS
Fremantle: Jye Amiss, Shai Bolton, Andy Brayshaw, Heath Chapman, Jordan Clark, Brennan Cox, Mason Cox, Neil Erasmus, Michael Frederick, Luke Jackson, Matt Johnson, Oscar McDonald, Judd McVee, Tobyn Murray, Nathan O’Driscoll, Jaeger O’Meara, Alex Pearce, Murphy Reid, Caleb Serong, Chris Scerri, Josh Treacy, Pat Voss, Corey Wagner, Brandon Walker, Karl Worner, Hayden Young
MISSING: Bailey Banfield, Jaren Carr, Sean Darcy, Hugh Davies, Josh Draper, Isaiah Dudley, Leon Kickett, Ryda Luke, Ollie Murphy, Charlie Nicholls, Alex Riddle, Luke Ryan, Jeremy Sharp, Cooper Simpson, Sam Sturt, Adam Sweid, Sam Switkowski, Toby Whan
West Coast: Willem Duursma, Jake Waterman, Josh Lindsay, Elliot Yeo, Elijah Hewett, Harley Reid, Tim Kelly, Noah Long, Jamie Cripps, Matt Owies, Tom McCarthy, Tylar Young, Cooper Duff-Tytler, Archer Reid, Ryan Maric, Matt Flynn, Bo Allan, Tom Cole, Clay Hall, Rhett Bazzo, Jack Williams, Jobe Shanahan, Hamish Davis, Deven Robertson, Sandy Brock, Harry Edwards, Tyrell Dewar, Finlay Macrae, Jacob Newton, Harry Schoenberg
MISSING: Liam Baker, Reuben Ginbey, Tyler Brockman, Liam Duggan, Jack Graham, Brady Hough, Ryan Maric, Harvey Johnston, Tom Gross, Harry Barnett, Lucca Grego, Bailey Williams, Malakai Champion, Jack Hutchinson, Fred Rodriguez, Tylah Williams, Sam Allen, Brandon Starcevich