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Source: perthnow.com.au   FREMANTLE developed a major pre-season headache last night with dashing midfielder Stephen Hill injured in an intra-club clash at Subiaco Oval.
The speedster limped from the ground just 10 minutes into the second term and took no further part in the game. Early indications are that the classy mover had suffered a cork in his right hamstring, but Hill will be assessed today and have scans as early as tomorrow. 
Hill's scare was the only dark side of a spirited practice clash with coach Mark Harvey sending a preferred first team against a batch of largely second-tier players and 11 WAFL based guest players. Better news for Freo was the stirring performance from boom recruit Anthony Morabito. The classy moving midfielder got better and better as the game wore on and his disposal and possession winning in contests was a standout.
The Dockers' first draft pick, No. 4 overall, appeared reluctant to dispose of the footy at his first thought, but clearly indicated he could quickly adapt to be a key player as a crucial member of his new side's midfield rotations. Despite having a distinct edge in senior players and overall talent, the Dockers' main team was too often scrappy in their disposal and should have been far bigger winners over the lesser outfit in the 10.9 (69) to 6.4 (40) scoreline. Freo's preferred goal-mouth combination of crumbers Hayden Ballantyne, Chris Mayne and Des Headland appeared to need more fine-tuning after some fumbling and missed chances. Goalsneak Ryan Murphy was a casualty of some indecisive forward movement from the main team's midfield in a congested forward zone as the lesser team flooded back. Murphy, 24, was the stand-in full-forward last night with champion focal point Matthew Pavlich rested and alternative goal-mouth marking target Michael Johnson also on the sidelines after suffering a twisted ankle last week. But in a significant selection shock at half-time, Harvey swung drafted forward Nathan Fyfe into his main team after he had booted a first-half goal and presented as a competent leading and marking goal-mouth option and Murphy had battled to have any significant influence. The powerfully-built and fit Adam McPhee slotted straight into a role of hard-edged sweeper from the defensive side of stoppages, invariably rushing into action from a wing. Harvey exposed early planning with his defence for next Sunday as key defender Luke McPharlin made a surprise appearance in the backline after he suffered a slight leg injury late last week, alongside Antoni Grover and Chris Tarrant, flanked by creative running backs Paul Duffield and Roger Hayden. Rookie newcomers Michael Barlow and Alex Silvagni both grabbed crucial chances to impress with important touches and effective disposal and could be surprise starters against the Demons on Sunday. |
