Fremantle Dockers make two changes ahead of Friday night clash with Richmond at Marvel Stadium

Rory Lobb has been ruled out of Fremantle’s clash against Richmond at Marvel Stadium on Friday night, while a regular best-22 member was dropped. The Dockers giant forward-ruck was a notable absentee from the club’s captain’s run training session at North Port Oval in Port Melbourne on Thursday afternoon after failing to fly due to a shoulder injury. It comes as speedster Travis Colyer, who has played all bar one game this season when he missed due to COVID protocols, has lost his spot in the side of favour of youngster Liam Henry. Henry is back for the first time since hurting his hamstring against Carlton in round 17, rewarded for a strong performance for Peel Thunder in the WAFL on Saturday. Colyer has missed just one of Fremantle’s past 40 matches. He has been named among the emergencies and could still play as a medical substitute, with Mitch Crowden also among the 24-player travelling party. Ruckman Lloyd Meek and winger Ethan Hughes, the unused medi-sub against Sydney on Saturday night, were also in the emergencies list but neither travelled to Melbourne. Swingman Griffin Logue has been named on the interchange bench but is likely to feature up forward in Lobb’s absence. Key defender Alex Pearce is back into the side, after missing the past two matches with a calf injury, which will free Logue up to play in attack. Ruckman Ivan Soldo has been including for Richmond after recovering from a thumb injury as they look to exploit the Dockers’ lack of ruck options other than Sean Darcy. Soldo will partner captain Toby Nankervis in the ruck, while Fremantle may have to look to Brennan Cox or Logue for a chop out without Lobb. Young defender Josh Gibcus and forward Jake Aarts have been omitted from the team that lost to wooden-spoon favourites North Melbourne last week.