Bunbury’s Connor Blakely earns full recall to Fremantle Dockers side in new role for loss to Brisbane Lions

After eight appearances as a medical substitute, Bunbury’s Connor Blakely earned a full recall to the Fremantle side to face Brisbane on Sunday. Blakely put in a workman-like performance in an unfamiliar role to him, being used mostly as an outside midfielder in the club’s 18.10 (118) to 8.6 (54) loss to the Lions. After initially being used by Ross Lyon as a mid-sized defender, and then an inside midfielder, Blakely’s latest reincarnation is as a wingman, with Darcy Tucker instead moving in to play a role on the ball alongside Fremantle’s young midfield. Blakely had 14 disposals and disposed of the ball at a reliable 86 per cent. His new role meant he also recorded 219 metres gained, blitzing his season best of 162m from round one and more than doubling his season average. Donnybrook’s Tobe Watson was a surprise omission from the Fremantle side after a solid showing against Richmond the week before, but relinquished his spot to Alex Pearce. Harvey’s Ethan Hughes also missed out again, having been named on the extended bench ahead of the clash. The AFL’s current bubble protocols meant neither were able to feature for Peel Thunder at the weekend. Busselton’s Damon Greaves was also omitted from the Hawthorn side which beat Collingwood on Sunday, continuing his rollercoaster season on the fringes at Waverley.