Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says defender Brennan Cox is in a “really tricky situation” as the Dockers weigh up handing the key defender a recall for Saturday’s grand final against Brisbane.
Cox has not lined up for the Dockers since injuring his calf in the final round of the home and away season against Carlton on August 22.
He was initially slated to feature in Sunday’s WAFL grand final for Peel Thunder before later being withdrawn. The club’s football boss Joe Brierty said the decision was to ensure “all our players the best week of preparation to be available for selection for next Saturday’s game”.
Longmuir told Seven he expected a decision on whether Cox plays against the Lions would be made after their main training session on Wednesday.
“He’ll (complete) main training and he’ll put his hand up for selection,” Longmuir said.
“We’ve only got the one training session this week, so we’ll get through that and then make a call on it.
“He’s in a really tricky situation.
“I think everyone would understand he’s in our best 23, if he’s fully fit and he’s got continuity, but that hasn’t been the case, so we’ll just have to weigh all that up.”
Longmuir said the decision to pull Cox out of the WAFL grand final was made after Oscar McDonald copped a big hit in a collision with teammate Mason Cox in a marking contest during the fourth quarter of their stunning preliminary final win over Sydney..
“There was a little bit of concern there. There’s no concern now, but we just thought the safest option and the best option at the time was for Brennan to miss the game and prepare by doing a really solid training session on Saturday,” he said.
After a delayed start to the season, Cox was sidelined by knee soreness for Fremantle’s late-season clashes with West Coast and Western Bulldogs before hurting his calf against the Blues.
McDonald has largely deputised ably when Cox has been absent this year, but had some shaky moments against the Swans.
The 30-year-old, three-club journeyman produced a career-best performance in Fremantle’s round 21 win over the Bulldogs which secured the minor premiership and has remained in their side since.
Meanwhile, Longmuir was full of praise for the club’s call to select his former teammate and great friend Shaun McManus as the club’s premiership cup presenter.
“I love it. He embodies a lot of what we’re about as a football club, he was such a strong role player for our club,”
“He’s been around since the start and I think it’s an inspired decision.”
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