Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has defended the club's decision to bring in small defender Brandon Walker for his second game of the year for the Qualifying Final.
The Dockers lost in a dour affair, and Walker's (who had not played since Round 1) opponent Nick Watson was central to Hawthorn's creativity and run.
Walker was brought into the side for Judd McVee to try and control Watson, who was fresh off his first All-Australian. The Dockers defender did an alright job keeping Watson from tearing the game apart, but the Hawks dynamo still kicked two goals on him.
Speaking after the match, Longmuir said he was pleased with Walker's efforts to quell Watson.
"(The decision to bring in Walker was) pretty basic. We thought he was up to the challenge. I think he showed he was up to the challenge," Longmuir said.
"We had a good chat about it at match committee. Jade Rawlings the backline coach thought his form was good enough, we had a good chat and we backed him against Watson who is one of the best small forwards in the comp.
"Yeah, there are things he could have done better but I thought he had a lot of good moments."
Walker, who has had a terrible run with injury, went down with a rolled ankle in the second half and didn't return to the match.
The 23-year-old was seen in tears on the bench after the injury. He has only played four games in two years due to injury.
Longmire said he had no clear news on Walker's injury after the match.
"I haven't really got an update, but he has rolled his ankle and clearly some ankles you can jab and get them back out there and this wasn't one of them. That tells me it's serious and really unfortunate because I thought he was holding his end of the bargain up," he said.
"I thought he had some really good moments. He had a pretty good tussle with Watson. It's been a bit of his story for the past two years right?
"Every time he gets an opportunity and works his way back into the side he hasn't been able to string multiple game sotgether. I feel for him at the moment."
