"ON THESE results, we're just going to have to start playing kids".
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon couldn't have been clearer following Sunday's uncompetitive 89-point thrashing from Port Adelaide – the time has come to inject his side with youth.
The Dockers, in the midst of a four-year rebuild, remarkably fielded the third-oldest team in round two, featuring six players aged in their 30s in an unchanged side from their season-opening loss to Geelong.
Now heads will roll, and some of the coach's most trusted lieutenants will be nervous – including Zac Dawson, whose time might be up after 166 games.
The dour 31-year-old defender has kicked the ball only three times this season, and his only disposal by foot – under no pressure – against the Power missed teammate Michael Johnson and rolled out of bounds.
Sam Collins shapes as a ready-made replacement and, after two best-afield displays for Peel in three WAFL games, the 22-year-old key defender has form on his side.
Coming back from a year ruined by injury, Johnson looks a shadow of the player who earned All Australian selection in 2013, and it might be time for Freo to move on from the 32-year-old. Or at least give him a spell in the WAFL.
Is Griffin Logue – last year's No.8 draft pick – ready to be thrown into the deep end? Lyon has his doubts.
The athletic 193cm backman, who turns 19 next week, is certainly raw and would be learning on the run in the AFL cauldron.
But Logue is a key part of the club's future and has enormous upside, so perhaps it's worthwhile giving him a taste.
If he plays, the Dockers should have two debutants for the first time since Lyon rested 11 players before finals in round 23, 2015.
Michael Johnson is a long way from his All Australian best. Picture: AFL Photos
Harley Balic missed most of last season with a wrist injury after being taken at pick No.38 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, but the 20-year-old midfielder is leading the WAFL for disposals (92 in three games) and is banging down the match committee's door for a debut.
Turnovers from defence have killed the Dockers and 22-year-old rebounding backman Ethan Hughes, who was the travelling emergency for the Power debacle, also has to be in contention for a spot.
Versatile options Hayden Crozier and Tommy Sheridan – both surprisingly overlooked in favour of Nick Suban to replace Hayden Ballantyne in round one – should also be in the mix after strong form at Peel.
Suban has underwhelmed, averaging 12 touches and booting one goal in two games, and looks to be on the chopping block with Freo struggling to hit the scoreboard.
Hayden Crozier was a surprise omission in the first two rounds. Picture: AFL Photos
The Dockers are the lowest-scoring team in the League and while it's debatable how much of that is the forward line's fault, their attacking structure needs to be put under the microscope.
Does Freo need to play two ruckmen? Could 199cm key forward Matt Taberner – who has booted 7.7 in three WAFL matches – give Aaron Sandilands a chop-out and offer more than 31-year-old Jonathon Griffin has as a marking target?
Or would recruit Shane Kersten benefit from a spell away from the spotlight at WAFL level?
Some are calling for as many as eight changes for round three.
That might be a tad drastic, but supporters want to see a glimpse of a brighter future against the Western Bulldogs this Saturday night.
Who should the Dockers bring in for round three?
B: Lee Spurr, Sam Collins, Garrick Ibbotson
HB: Ethan Hughes, Joel Hamling, Lachie Weller
C: Bradley Hill, Lachie Neale, Stephen Hill
HF: Ed Langdon, Cam McCarthy, Hayden Crozier
F: Shane Kersten, Matt Taberner, Michael Walters
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Nat Fyfe, David Mundy
I/C: Harley Balic, Griffin Logue, Darcy Tucker, Connor Blakely
In: Harley Balic, Sam Collins, Hayden Crozier, Ethan Hughes, Griffin Logue, Matt Taberner
Out: Zac Dawson, Jonathon Griffin, Michael Johnson, Danyle Pearce, Nick Suban, Cameron Sutcliffe
Is time running out for Freo stalwarts Zac Dawson and Danyle Pearce? Picture: AFL Photos
