FREMANTLE defender Luke Ryan has been called up for his first game of the season as a late replacement for Brandon Walker after the small defender was withdrawn from the team to face Melbourne on Saturday with soreness. 

Ryan was surprisingly overlooked for the Dockers' season-opener against Geelong after an interrupted pre-season and named as an emergency for Saturday’s clash against the Demons. 

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The 30-year-old missed both pre-season games for Fremantle and was due to play in a WAFL practice match for Peel Thunder last week before he was struck down with illness. 

The club champion and dual All-Australian bounced back to train well late in the week, however, and earn a recall. 

After a terrific pre-season, Walker would have been a candidate to run with Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett, particularly when the dangerous goalkicker is stationed forward. 

The Dockers (0-1) burst out of the blocks with eight goals in the first quarter before losing much of its run and dare as Geelong gradually mowed them down.

Fremantle v Melbourne at Optus Stadium, 4.35pm AWST

LATE CHANGE
Fremantle: Brandon Walker (soreness) replaced in selected side by Luke Ryan

Freo reached 100 points against the Cats after only hitting the mark six times last season, but it might be more concerned by the fact it conceded its highest score since the same round and against the same side last year.

Melbourne (1-0) began the Steven King era in the best possible way as it won a shootout with St Kilda to get a hint of redemption for the horror loss to the same side late last year.

The new-look Demons showed all the hallmarks of a team in transition, but it was their urgency to move the ball at speed that should give hope for a more rapid bounce than had been widely expected this year. 

Fremantle has stuck with Sean Darcy ahead of Mason Cox to battle superstar Demon Max Gawn.

Darcy was relatively quiet in the loss to Geelong but he will again pair up with Luke Jackson to face an unchanged Melbourne on Saturday night.

Pre-season rookie signing Chris Scerri will come in and make his AFL debut for Hayden Young (hamstring). 

Greater Western Sydney v St Kilda at Engie Stadium, 4.15pm AEDT

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Richmond v Gold Coast at the MCG, 1.15pm AEDT

LATE CHANGE
Richmond: Kane McAuliffe (illness) replaced in selected side by Tyler Sonsie

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