Murphy Reid stars as Fremantle finish pre-season on a high

Fremantle's Murphy Reid is primed for increased midfield responsibility in 2026.

The 2025 Rising Star winner had an equal game-high 30 disposals in Fremantle's AAMI Community Series win over Adelaide.

He looked clinical in the middle, setting up forward thrusts and moving through traffic seamlessly.

The second-year player was predominantly a half forward last year, but played significant midfield minutes as a junior for Vic Metro premiership team Sandringham.

“He's evolved his game. He's being used slightly differently but having an impact wherever we use him,” coach Justin Longmuir said post-game.

“He knows how to find space and find the footy and uses it well. 

“He's been an important player and will continue to grow in all aspects in the next three to four years.

“(We're) not really (sure where we'll use him). We've got ideas but the game tells you different things at times. 

“If we feel like our midfield's not working, we know he can play a role in there but we do like him forward of centre because he's probably one of our better kicks going inside 50 and doesn't waste too many.”

Hayden Young provided a reminder to the competition of his potency after a year where he managed just nine games due to injury.

Young had a game-high eight clearances from 24 disposals and, like Reid, adds to an embarrassment of riches for the Dockers in the engine room.

Luke Jackson also went to several centre ball-ups as a pure midfielder, while leaders-in-waiting Caleb Serong and Andy Brayshaw will again both have big roles to play.

That mix of excitement, class and grit helped the Dockers win the clearances 41-31, contested possessions 133-130 and inside 50s 58-42.

Mason Cox and Jackson both performed well in the ruck against an Adelaide side favouring Lachie McAndrew over Reilly O'Brien as their Round 1 ruck.

The performance of Fremantle's ruck provides a welcome selection headache for Fremantle, with Sean Darcy set to become available after getting through a WAFL practice game on managed minutes.

With a tall forward line possessing Josh Treacy, Pat Voss and Jye Amiss, all who averaged well over a goal per game in 2025, playing all of Cox, Jackson and Darcy will be unfeasible.

“Probably not,” Longmuir said if all three could play together.

“I wouldn't have thought so, especially not early in the year when the game asks for a lot of run and fatigue is more present early in the year so I would doubt it.”

Darcy is contracted until 2030 but expected to struggle with the new ruck rules. Treacy was stand-in skipper for the match 

Adelaide is facing a different type of ruck dilemma.

Two-gamer McAndrew has the leap, size and reach to exploit the ruck rules, but lacks experience, which shone through against more seasoned opponents.

O'Brien's experience, however, is offset by his preference to engage in physical contact in ruck contests which is now prohibited.

The form of Josh Rachele in an inexperienced midfield group was a shining light for last year's minor premiers.

Rachele's stats line of 18 disposals, six tackles and a goal belies the impact he had, looking dangerous every time he got first hands on the footy. 

Riley Thilthorpe was a late withdrawal after waking up with a slightly sore lower back but was guaranteed for Round 1.

Other absences included Sam Berry, Izak Rankine, Jake Soligo, Dan Curtin, Brennan Cox, Alex Pearce, Sam Switkowski and Luke Ryan.

Coaching director Murray Davis confirmed post-game that Soligo has returned to the club after being withdrawn from last week's practice match with an irregular heartbeat.