Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir confirms Dockers will unleash defender Brennan Cox as a forward against Lions

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has confirmed he will unleash star defender Brennan Cox as a forward for the Dockers’ season opener against Brisbane at Optus Stadium on Sunday. Unexpected knee surgery to No.1 ruckman Sean Darcy on the eve of the season has forced Longmuir to reshuffle his side both up forward and in the midfield. Luke Jackson will lead the ruck and be backed up by forward Josh Treacy – a combination they used last year in Darcy’s absence – while former Carlton and Melbourne defender Oscar McDonald will make his debut for the club. McDonald will partner captain Alex Pearce to tackle the Lions’ powerhouse duo of Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood. Cox’s fitness has been the subject of plenty of speculation leading into round one after he sustained a stress fracture in his fibula in January which sidelined him for several weeks. While he didn’t play in either of the Dockers’ pre-season hit-outs against West Coast or Port Adelaide, he will take to the field in round one alongside rising star Jye Amiss and Treacy. It’s a new-look forward line already with Tom Emmett getting first crack at filling the void left by small forward Lachie Schultz after his trade to Collingwood. Cox is no stranger to playing in attack, booting four goals against Adelaide at Optus Stadium back in 2018 in only his 16th game. The 25-year-old has since established himself as a pivotal defender for the Dockers, being named in the All-Australian squad in 2022. Longmuir said Cox’s move forward was on the back of always wanting two tall forwards on the field to ensure Amiss wasn’t left to tackle Brisbane’s defence – which is led by co-captain Harris Andrews – alone. “If we weren’t to play an extra tall it probably leaves Jye one out and we don’t want to do that, we want to give him some aerial support,” Longmuir told Triple M. “Getting a contest on the ball and bringing it to ground level at worst in our front half is going to be important. “He (Cox) has done a super job to get himself up to this point. It was probably unlikely that he would be fit enough to play but he’s gone about his rehab well and I couldn’t not pick him.” Fremantle’s hopes of beating last year’s grand finalists were given a boost when dual Brownlow medallist and former Doig medallist Lachie Neale was ruled out with injury on Thursday. While Longmuir joked he “wasn’t disappointed” with Neale’s omission, he wouldn’t put too much weight on his absence, highlighting the Lions’ midfield depth as a strength. “All their half forwards can go through the middle of the ground as well,” Longmuir said. “I try not to get too excited because there’s a lot of other players, we need to make sure we deal with as well.” Fremantle have held over top draftee Cooper Simpson from the WAFL as their gameday emergency.