Fremantle faces a major selection dilemma heading into September after defender Brennan Cox suffered a moderate calf strain in the Dockers' loss to Carlton.
With the Dockers preparing to face Hawthorn in the qualifying final next week, Cox's injury has left coach Justin Longmuir with a difficult decision over whether the 28-year-old can recover in time to feature at some point in the club's finals campaign.
Speaking on this week's episode of The Outer Wing, hosted by Mitch Keating and Digby Beacham, presented by TABTouch, Beacham shared his opinions on the critical call Fremantle will have to make.
"It would be a big call, wouldn't it, to go for a player who missed a bit of football, came back, has done a calf and then you go with him in a prelim," Beacham said.
"You have to rip the band-aid off now; you can't be sort of guiding and nurturing and protecting players through the course of September. They're either fit and are all in or, you go a different direction."
Cox has been an essential player to the Dockers' defence this season, with Longmuir and the match committee holding the defender in high regard.
"The Fremantle match committee, Justin Longmuir in particular, hold Brennan Cox in a very, very high regard; they love him, they love what he brings to the table," Beacham said.
Beacham noted there was even discussion around key defender Oscar Macdonald providing Fremantle with an alternative, producing strong form late in the season.
"There was even a conversation is he better placed for Fremantle than what Brennan Cox is," he said.
Despite questions surrounding Cox's urgency with the football at times, his ability to intercept remains an important part of what Fremantle values.
"Others outside the four walls will sometimes watch Brennan and think Brennan, a bit of urgency, please," Beacham said.
"He can give that sort of apathetic impression, but he cares, he's respected, and he's a very good interceptor, and that's what Fremantle do like."
While Cox's injury has left Fremantle with a significant blow, Beacham is still confident the side will hold up the cup on Grand Final day.
"For me I'm all chips in as I have been all season," Beacham said.
"You don't win a minor premiership by chance; you win it by hard work, discipline, commitment, selflessness, good coaching, availability... I think it's going to carry them a long way."
Listen to the full episode of The Outer Wing on the Zero Hanger AFL Podcast feed.
