Home

AFL 2021: Fremantle Dockers are still deciding how to juggle Sean Darcy and Rory Lobb in the ruck

Headshot of Braden Quartermaine
Braden QuartermaineThe West Australian
VideoAFL documentary details tough 2020 season

Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy says he’s fitter than ever as he prepares for a return to 20-minute quarters this season.

Darcy said the Dockers were yet to decide how to split ruck time between he and Rory Lobb this year.

It shapes as a key tactical issue for coach Justin Longmuir, with Lobb underwhelming when stationed mainly in attack last year but likely to again be required as a tall target given the lack of key forward options.

Darcy said the pair were in discussions with Longmuir and ruck coach Aaron Sandilands about the club’s ruck strategy.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“I’m keen to play forward as well as play ruck. So me and Rory, we’re in talks with Aaron and JL,” he said.

“We’ll see how the pre-season goes. But I always love playing ruck. I love being in the middle and going as much as I can.

The Game AFL 2024

“Rory’s a really good long-distance (athlete), he can jump really high. And I like to use my strength a little bit more. So I feel like we work well together as a pair and it’s good for us against the opposition.”

Fremantle Dockers Sean Darcy hopes to spend more time forward in 2021.
Camera IconFremantle Dockers Sean Darcy hopes to spend more time forward in 2021. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

Darcy, 22, made an instant impact on the AFL scene with his big body and tap nous, but has strived to become more mobile to boost his influence around the ground.

He said he had made significant gains during a so-far uninterrupted summer.

“I feel like I’m covering the ground a lot better. I’m not as tired in training. I’m thinking a lot more clearly, making the right decisions,” Darcy said.

“My approach has just been to get as fit as possible. Make sure I’m healthy, make sure I’m out training every training session.

“I’ve had a lot of pre-seasons where I’ve come back fit and then I break down in January and I’m out for about eight weeks, which really affects you during the year.”

Darcy described the current pre-season as the toughest he had done and said skipper Nat Fyfe’s return to training this month had driven the players to a new level.

Intense competition for spots leading into round one had also placed importance on every session.

“I think this is probably the most intense pre-season while I’ve been here, in terms of drills, tackling and going at each other fully,” he said.

“We’re trying really hard to go at each other, because that’s how we’re going to improve.

“I feel like we’ve gone up another gear and that’s probably from Fyfey. Fyfey’s come back in really good shape, he’s leading the way. He’s been really intense.”

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails