The biggest critic of Fremantle’s dual ruck policy has declared the Dockers wouldn’t have come from behind to beat St Kilda on Sunday without both Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy in the team.
Former Port Adelaide star and respected commentator Kane Cornes has long criticised the Dockers’ decision to sign Jackson and Darcy to lucrative long term contracts. He’s been adamant that Jackson should be left to play as the solo ruckman.
But after watching them combine for 11 disposals, three goals, three clearances and five marks during the final quarter against the Saints, Cornes had a clear answer when asked if Fremantle would have won without them.
“No,” he said on SEN.
“I’ve been hard on the two rucks. For three quarters it was a complete and utter disaster. They were destroyed from stoppage but credit to them for not throwing in the towel and impacting the game in the last quarter in a big way. In a huge way.”
Darcy and Jackson won the hit-out battle 57-26 against Rowan Marshall but couldn’t turn that dominance into clearance wins. St Kilda led the clearances 39-16 at three quarter time before the Dockers fought back in the final term, winning the stoppage battle by eight for the remainder of the game.
Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said the final quarter was a sign of what Darcy and Jackson could do for Fremantle.
“When I say horses for courses I think people assume I’m thinking to leave one out. Horses for courses means adjusting to what the game is telling us and who is having an impact,” he explained.
“My opinion was Sean was having more impact in the ruck for us and we opted to give him more minutes in the last quarter. The great thing about Jacko is he’s able to impact in other areas of the ground.
“After they kicked a goal, he took a mark on the top of the 50 and passed it to Sean. That’s a big play. Then for him to kick a goal out of the centre bounce was a big play. His ability to have impact in different areas of the ground gives us great flexibility.
“I thought Sean competed really well. He’s getting stronger in the ruck. It was nice to see him work around the ground. I thought his aerial contests were really strong.
“That’s improving. He played big minutes in the last. We’re lowering his minutes, but but he played big minutes in the last and he saw that out well. He’s taken steps forward.”
While Jackson and Darcy were influential in the last quarter, another of Fremantle’s biggest names was forced to watch the fightback from the bench.
Dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe was selected as the sub but reported calf awareness while warming up at half-time and the Dockers decided against putting him onto the field.
Fyfe has had an interrupted season with knee surgery and a hamstring injury keeping him to only four games, and that included him not getting on the ground against the Saints.
All eyes will be on Fremantle’s injury report on Tuesday to see whether Fyfe will spend more time on the sidelines after the latest setback.
But even if he is cleared, it is likely he will have to build match fitness in the WAFL instead of travelling to play Sydney.
Fyfe is out of contract at the end of the season and Cornes expressed concern for him.
“You can’t help but feel sorry for Nat Fyfe with what he’s going through with his body,” he said.
“It’s been a battle for him. He’s such a superstar of our game, and it’s a sad ending the way it’s playing out unfortunately.”
https://thewest.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/kane-cornes-gives-thumbs-up-to-impact-of-fremantle-dockers-ruck-pair-luke-jackson-and-sean-darcy-in-final-term-c-19200497
