Fremantle veteran Luke Ryan to make first Peel Thunder appearance since 2017 after Dockers selection bombshell

Out-of-favour Fremantle veteran Luke Ryan will play his first game for Peel Thunder in more than eight years as he looks to prove to coach Justin Longmuir he deserves a spot in his backline. Ryan’s omission from the Dockers’ season opener against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium was the biggest shock at the selection table on Thursday. Despite this week being declared “ready to go” the dual All-Australian was overlooked after a pre-season hindered by a shoulder reconstruction, despite Fremantle missing key back Brennan Cox to a calf injury. Ryan didn’t even travel as an emergency to take on last year’s grand finalists on Saturday, with Oscar McDonald named at full back and two-gamer Hugh Davies heading east as back-up. It leaves the 30-year-old in limbo as the Dockers head into what is expected to be a defining season for Longmuir, with many tipping the club to be a contender for the premiership. Ryan – who played 107 consecutive games and last missed a match in May of 2021 – will now turn out for Peel for the first time since he won the Simpson Medal in their 2017 grand final victory when they take on Perth down in Mandurah. He played eight games for Fremantle’s WAFL affiliate in his first season in between 11 AFL games but has not turned out since after becoming a first-choice backman the following season. Ryan won the Doig Medal as the Dockers’ club champion in 2020, the same year he earned his first All-Australian blazer having been picked as a mature-age recruit out of Coburg in the VFl. He earned a second All-Australian honour only two seasons ago on the back of a career-best season when he averaged 24 touches at 88 per cent efficiency and nine marks in 23 matches. The Thunder have named a dozen Fremantle-listed players to take on the Demons, including experienced wingman Jeremy Sharp who will also start on the outer after signing a two-year in September. Sharp has been overlooked in favour of Matt Johnson, Nathan O’Driscoll and Corey Wagner even though veteran Jaeger O’Meara is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Speedster Cooper Simpson will be part of a strong backline for Peel that also features Dockers Josh Draper and Ollie Murphy, while Jaren Carr and Charlie Nicholls have also been named. There will be plenty of fresh faces as well with all of the Dockers’ draftees set to get a game with mature-age forward Tobyn Murray to continue to push for a spot a debut after an impressive pre-season. Adam Sweid, Leon Kickett, Ryda Luke and Toby Whan will all play against a strong Demons outfit that will feature former Collingwood defender Charlie Dean as well as reigning Sandover medallist Charlie Constable and former Sydney-listed wingman Indhi Kirk.