Fremantle Dockers team news: Hayden Young injury opens door for Chris Scerri as Sean Darcy remains No.1 ruck

Sean Darcy has retained his spot for Fremantle’s early must-win clash against Melbourne as pre-season signing Chris Scerri replaces injured star Hayden Young.

Darcy played only 45 per cent game time — the least of any player in the Dockers’ loss to Geelong in the season opener after a calf injury hampered his lead-in to the season.

The 2021 Doig medallist had only 10 touches, two marks and 22 hit-outs despite taking on Cats debutant Mitch Edwards and Mark Blicavs, with Collingwood premiership star Mason Cox watching from the grandstand after a faultless pre-season.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has stuck with Darcy over Cox, while veteran defender Luke Ryan and wingman Jeremy Sharp are also named as emergencies.

Speedster Scerri will debut only a month after landing the final spot on the Dockers list, coming into the team for Young, who was ruled out on Wednesday with yet another hamstring injury.

The 19-year-old was playing under-18s for Strathmore in the Essendon Districts Football League in 2024 before playing all 18 games for the now-defunct VFL side the Northern Bullants last year.

Scerri had signed with Richmond’s VFL side before he earned the chance to train on with the Dockers over summer, impressing the club with his pace and pressure.

“It’s been a crazy two months. I really haven’t sat down and taken it all in. It’s been crazy, and I’m super excited,” he said.

“Who would have thought, only two weeks ago, or even a bit more, I signed with Freo, and now I’m debuting (in) round two. Things can happen really quickly, and you just gotta get up to it.

“I’m especially looking forward to running out in front of the Freo Army, and I’m just keen to bring the pressure, show my traits as well, and just do my role for the team, so hopefully we can get the win.”

Scerri earned his place after being named in Peel Thunder’s best in their pre-season win over Perth last weekend.

Melbourne have named an unchanged line-up from the team that upset St Kilda by 13 points at the MCG in their season opener at the weekend.

FREMANTLE v MELBOURNE

Saturday, Optus Stadium, 4.35pm

DOCKERS

B: O McDonald A Pearce H Chapman

HB: J Clark B Walker J McVee

C: N Erasmus A Brayshaw M Johnson

HF: J Amiss P Voss S Switkowski

F: S Bolton J Treacy M Reid

FOLL: S Darcy L Jackson C Serong

I/C: C Scerri I Dudley N O’Driscoll K Worner C Wagner

EMG: M Cox L Ryan J Sharp

IN: C Scerri

OUT: H Young (hamstring)

Demons

B: D Turner J Lever C Jiath

HB: B Howes X Lindsay C Salem

C: T Sparrow J Steele H Sharp

HF: K Pickett J van Rooyen E Langdon

F: B Fritsch B Mihocek L Pickett

FOLL: M Gawn C Windsor T Rivers

I/C: H Langofrd K Tholstrup J Culley H Petty K Chandler

EMG: B Laurie T McDonald M Heath