FREMANTLE'S defence will be able to cope with the loss of key defender Luke McPharlin in 2016, backman Lee Spurr says.
McPharlin retired at the end of the last season after 256 AFL games, including 244 with Fremantle and 12 with Hawthorn.
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The 2012 All Australian had been the rock of Fremantle's defensive structure since coach Ross Lyon arrived at the Dockers ahead of the 2012 season.
But Spurr said Fremantle would cope with his absence next year and beyond, as they have proven they can win without McPharlin given the injury issues he suffered late in his career.
"There's no doubt Luke was a great player in the competition and one of the best full-backs going around," Spurr said.
"But if you look over the last couple of years, Luke had some injuries, and at times we managed without him and we still managed to finish high on the ladder in consecutive years, and he didn't play any of the finals series.
"So we've managed before without Luke and we've got no doubt someone will step up and play his role and we'll still go forward."
McPharlin failed to play in the 2012, 2014 and 2015 finals series due to injury. The Dockers won just two of the six finals they played in those seasons.
He played all three finals in 2013 when the Dockers made the Grand Final for the first time, only to lose to Hawthorn by 15 points in the decider.
While the Dockers will need to replace McPharlin in defence, they will still have the services of Matthew Pavlich up forward in 2016.
But there has been mounting speculation about whether Pavlich will remain as skipper after deciding to play on into a 17th season.
The Dockers will vote on the captaincy and the leadership group in January.
Spurr, who was a member of the leadership group last season alongside Pavlich, Nat Fyfe, David Mundy and Aaron Sandilands, said he had not discussed the issue with Pavlich, but backed his skipper.
"I haven't spoken to 'Pav' about it personally. I think it's a decision for him to make," Spurr said.
"I think 'Pav' has been a great captain for us. If he puts his hand up again I'd be in full support behind him to continue in the role because he is sensational in what he does."
