Peel Thunder bye causes selection dilemma for Fremantle Dockers

THE comeback plans of several Fremantle players have been complicated by host club Peel Thunder’s WAFL bye this weekend.

Zac Clarke’s return could be put on hold because of Peel’s bye. Picture: Justin Benson-Co

THE comeback plans of several Fremantle players have been complicated by host club Peel Thunder’s WAFL bye this weekend.

Ruckman Zac Clarke, utility Nick Suban and defenders Garrick Ibbotson and Clancee Pearce will not be able to play a match this weekend if they don’t make the Dockers’ 22 for Saturday night’s clash against Gold Coast.

Clarke, Ibbotson and Pearce are returning from injury, while Suban needs a hit-out after serving a suspension from last year’s Grand Final.

Under the new alignment system introduced this season, Fremantle and West Coast players are no longer able to play for the bottom-placed WAFL reserves team if their own side has a bye.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon conceded the timing of Peel’s bye was unfortunate but said the players would continue their progression with a heavy training session this weekend instead.

“We’ll have to train them. It’s not ideal but the WAFL have done the best they can,’’ Lyon said.

“Our later byes are matched up, unfortunately this one doesn’t quite work out but that’s ok.

“I think there’s been some changes (this season), which I think’s fair enough. You want to try and be fair to all parties so I think that’s fair.

“We’ve got to be mature enough and professional enough to work around it, which I think we are.’’

The Dockers are considering taking the same 22 into Round 2 that smashed Collingwood in the season opener.

Lyon said Grand Final ruckman Clarke was unlikely to force his was back into the side despite Jack Hannath having just three possessions against the Magpies.

“We think Jack and Aaron are going quite well, the others are fit and healthy. But we’re quite confident that if we picked (Clarke) he would be able to hold his end up,’’ Lyon said.

“At the end of the day Zac’s got to try and force his way in, that’s the way it works. No one’s knocked on my office in the 22 and said look I’m happy to give my spot up for Zac. So Zac’s got a bit of work to do.

“We’ve still got to get through our last session. We’ve had a really good look at the Gold Coast, it’s horses for courses, so we’ll try and get the right team balance and we’ll wait until everyone gets through the last session because it’s an intense training session and there’s always an element of risk.’’