Sean Darcy’s ruck dominance for Fremantle creates problem as opposition teams adjust

Sean Darcy is dominating hit-outs for Fremantle and was again outstanding in the ruck against West Coast, yet opposition tactics are turning the strength into a sore point.

Sean Darcy is almost too big an asset for Fremantle.

The Dockers have dominated hit-outs in the first three rounds, mainly on the back of Darcy’s fine ruck work. They are plus-84 after facing St Kilda, North Melbourne and West Coast.

But opposition sides are often expecting their ruckman to lose against Darcy and setting up at stoppages accordingly. That is resulting in the Dockers losing most clearance battles; they are minus-17 so far.

Fremantle beat injury-ravaged West Coast 69-16 in hit-outs on Sunday, yet were just plus-four in clearances. Coach Justin Longmuir conceded it was an area that needed work.

“We’ve been positive in the hit-outs all year, haven’t we?” he asked. “And we’ve only been able to get to plus four (clearances).

“It’s not as easy as everyone thinks, to get your ruck-mid connection right when the opposition expects to lose the hit-outs.

“So, we’ll keep devising plans and coming up with plans to try to maximise our hit-outs, our ruck-mid connection.”

Jake Waterman and Sean Darcy contest a ruck during the Western Derby. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

After two losses to start the season, the Dockers’ 41-point win over the Eagles was welcomed by Longmuir, though it wasn’t until the final term that they were able to kick away from undermanned West Coast.

Longmuir lamented a disappointing third term in which the Eagles, with no bench to call upon, somehow managed to reclaim momentum and get back into the game.

The Eagles had 105 touches to Fremantle 75 for the term, had five more inside-50s and kicked 3.5 to 1.3. Fremantle led by eight points at the final change but that could have been much different if the Eagles had kicked straighter.

“I got the players into a huddle at three-quarter time; I wasn’t saying well done,” Longmuir said. “I was disappointed we went away from our brand of footy.

“To expose an opposition in that sort of sense, you need to be able to win the ball and we couldn’t win it.

“It’s hard to expose their lack of run if you can’t get the ball in your hands.”

While the Eagles kicked the first goal of the final term to get the margin back to two points, the Dockers got their hands on the ball after that and ran away with the game to record their first win for 2023.

Originally published as Sean Darcy’s ruck dominance for Fremantle creates problem as opposition teams adjust