Gather Round: Fremantle Dockers ruckman Sean Darcy left dazed after big hit

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says he’s “gutted” for Sean Darcy after suffering a concussion in their win over Collingwood, as former Pie Mason Cox edges closer to a Dockers debut.

However, Longmuir said the premiership Pie was no certainty to suit up for next week’s blockbuster western derby despite his dominant WAFL form.

Cox was best on ground in Peel’s win over East Fremantle with 24 disposals, six marks, 45 hit outs and a goal, but Longmuir was coy over whether he would be an automatic inclusion next week..

“We’ll see. We haven’t really dove into the West Coast. I think they’re only playing one ruck, but they’ve got some real height across their team. So we’ll work out that as it comes,” he said post-game.

“It’s an unlucky incident. It’s going to cost Darcy a little bit of time. I feel bad for him, but we want to make sure we look after him as well, so he will enter the protocols.

“Clearly, we had a focus of trying to build his game time tonight as well. He’ll be right. He’ll bounce back, and we’ll get him back in the team.”

Darcy has been carefully managed across the start of this season, often spending little more than 50 per cent time on ground, with Longmuir admitting it was “frustrating” for him to cop another setback.

“He missed most preseason last year and then built, and he had some injury interruptions early in this year. It’s frustrating. Footy throws challenges at you that you have to just work through,” he said.

“He’ll work through this. It’s like Youngy. He’s working through his challenges at the moment, Freddie’s working through his challenges, so yeah, throws up some challenges the season, and he’s just gonna have to deal with this.”

Darcy was lifting himself up after he picked up the footy deep in defence when his head hit the shoulder of Magpie Ned Long.

The big man was visibly rattled as he got up off the ground and was taken straight from the ground in the hands of the trainer.

It left Luke Jackson to ruck solo against Collingwood pair Darcy Cameron and Oscar Steene with either Pat Voss or Josh Treacy to back him up.

Collingwood also went down to 22 men with star Jordan De Goey ruled out after he failed a concussion test following an incident in the first term.

Cox has been named to play for Peel Thunder against Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium tomorrow.