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The young Eagle was clearly in pain as he stayed down with medics quickly getting to his aid.<\/p>\n
After already overcoming what ex-Eagle Will Schofield described as \u201ccar crash-like\u201d injuries in recent seasons, the leg issue is just another blow to the youngster\u2019s AFL hopes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t look great for Noah \u2013 don\u2019t have any details yet other than he\u2019ll go off for scans,\u201d Eagles assistant Sam Radford said post-match.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur thoughts are definitely with Noah.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t look great in the tackle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coach has been down with him \u2013 he\u2019s obviously pretty disappointed without knowing exactly what\u2019s wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll put our arms around him and support him whatever the result.\u201d<\/p>\n
Long wasn\u2019t the only player to fail to see out Fremantle\u2019s 12.9 (81) to 8.5 (53) win – with Docker Brennan Cox finishing with ice on his left calf.<\/p>\n
But Dockers coach Justin Longmuir believes that was more for \u201cprecaution\u201d after the defender copped a knock to his leg.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had soreness in his calf. Hopefully it\u2019s precautionary but fingers crossed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Despite the result, West Coast\u2019s youngsters showed plenty of promise with their first two picks Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler slotting their first two goals.<\/p>\n
THE 3-2-1… (what we learnt)<\/p>\n
3. FAST FREO FINDING THEIR TEMPO<\/p>\n
It was only 12 months ago Freo coach Justin Longmuir copped it for his comments on the club\u2019s \u201cvanilla\u201d play.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s clear to see this is a fast-tempo Freo who are looking to take the game on at every opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreo have looked their best when they\u2019ve moved it fast today,\u201d ex-Eagle Will Schofield said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy hand initially and then being on the same page.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve looked really good switching and moving it fast. It\u2019s just whether against the best defences across the league that they can do it this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best defences will hold that switch up \u2013 they won\u2019t let Freo get there in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Getting those two back into the line up, and fit for 2026, will go a long way to Fremantle\u2019s hopes of playing finals.<\/p>\n
Coach Justin Longmuir said Walker had forced his way back into the side\u2019s best, leaving two-time All Australian Luke Ryan to find his form in the reserves match that followed on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust love how he plays on instinct,\u201d Longmuir said of Walker.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201c(He) demanded a spot today.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been able to force himself into (the best side).<\/p>\n
\u201cWalks is better suited to play a little bit deeper\u2026Having a small deep who can break a line, sometimes you actually get a little bit more space as a deeper defender.\u201d<\/p>\n
But what does that mean for Ryan?<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s others ahead of him at the moment,\u201d Longmuir shared.<\/p>\n
\u201cOthers have had a bigger and better pre-season than him through no real fault of Luke. He\u2019s come back from that shoulder reconstruction so he\u2019s only had a couple of intraclubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got some good competition for spots at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you haven\u2019t done a full pre-season, you\u2019ve been left behind a little bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeeps everyone on edge.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. EAGLES ROOKIES SHINE BRIGHT<\/p>\n
It took just minutes for West Coast\u2019s prized picks to have an influence against the Dockers.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s first goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number one pick with all the skills on show,\u201d Adam Papalia said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s only match sim but that will have high hopes for Eagles fans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ex-Eagle Will Schofield loved what he was seeing from the prized No.1 pick.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you want a bit of excitement West Coast fans, Duursma has had about 5 touches in a few minutes\u2026 jagged one from 50 into a pretty stiff breeze,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe absolutely love what we\u2019re seeing there if you\u2019re a West Coast fan.<\/p>\n
\u201cOff two or three steps, did not even consider passing that one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe top draft picks, that\u2019s how they are wired.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got great confidence in their ability. For such a young player, to back himself in there and slot that – It never looked like missing.<\/p>\n
\u201cExciting stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their second pick, No.4 Cooper Duff-Tytler then landed West Coast\u2019s second goal in promising signs.<\/p>\n
Harley Reid, the No.1 pick from 2023, was also back to his best \u2013 but Schofield warned the midfield star needed more support if he was to continue his great form.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019d like their senior players to be able to help him out \u2013 Elliot Yeo and Tim Kelly, probably the two there that I\u2019m speaking about,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need them to have good years so (Reid) doesn\u2019t have to carry the entire burden of the midfield for West Coast.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he can \u2013 he\u2019s good enough. But they\u2019ll just be hoping he has some support this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
1. CONFIDENCE KEY FOR RISING AMISS<\/p>\n
A bright spark in attack for Fremantle was the form of Jye Amiss.<\/p>\n
The forward, who is still just 22 years of age, kicked four goals in the 28-point win over West Coast on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Former Eagle Will Schofield believes Amiss needs early confidence to get back to his 2023 best.<\/p>\n
\u201cJye Amiss, I think he really needs to start the year well. What we\u2019ve seen today, has been really impressive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways coming at the footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s where he plays his best coming at the kicker.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s really quick off the mark and moves really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Amiss kicked 36 goals in 2024 and 32 goals last year.<\/p>\n
Off the back of his form on Saturday, Schofield noted: \u201cDon\u2019t think we\u2019ll see him on the wing too often this year\u201d.<\/p>\n
While Amiss added four goals, it was Pat Voss with three of his own.<\/p>\n