Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says his thoughts on the Dockers’ structure were challenged after his experiment with the land of the giants worked in his favour.

Longmuir and the Dockers’ selectors raised eyebrows when they stuck with the dual-ruck option of Sean Darcy and Lloyd Meek, as well as handed tall forward Josh Treacy his debut to play in attack alongside Matt Taberner for their clash with Hawthorn at Optus Stadium, despite the forecast of heavy rain.

Darcy kicked a career-high three goals to go with 18 hit-outs (10 to advantage) and 14 disposals, partnering Taberner (two goals) and Treacy (10 disposals and five marks) well, while Meek held his own against Hawks Ben McEvoy and Jon Ceglar in the ruck to help the Dockers to a 15-point win.

More AFL News:

• Longmuir: Lobb’s a chance to face Crows
• In Fyfe we trust! Goal woes not all it seems
• Former Docker Hasleby joins cyclone clean-up effort

This philosophy is set to be challenged once again, with the forward-ruck Rory Lobb a chance to be fit to take on Adelaide this Sunday after a speedy recovery from a knee injury sustained in the pre-season derby.

“Last year we were pretty settled with just Lobby and Tabs, and that was probably on the back of Lobby being a really good second ruck option,” Longmuir told 6PR.

“I’ve liked playing the two rucks because not only do they give us a good contest forward but they bring energy into the ruck as well and we don’t lose anything with either of them in the ruck.

“We brought young Treacy into the side at the weekend and he’s a little bit different because he’s not really a stand there and one-on-one marker, he’s more of a leading player and he comes at the footy really well. He’ll only get better off what he produced on the weekend. I think his physicality and intent to defend was really strong as well.

“We’ve got some headaches and it asks the question of me in some sense because I was always a firm believer in the two talls (in attack) and then getting our mids rotating through there, but their performance on the weekend was really strong and asked questions of Hawthorn’s defenders.

“If we can keep getting that much supply and that much speed on the ball, then the three talls looks really dangerous.”

Fremantle’s early season injury crisis is seemingly almost behind them, with defender Griffin Logue available to play in the AFL after getting through Peel’s clash against East Perth at the weekend, while Lachie Schultz (concussion) and Darcy Tucker (hamstring) are set to be available.