Fremantle defender Luke Ryan injured in practice match against West Coast

Fremantle has suffered an injury blow with Doig medallist Luke Ryan ruled out for the second half of practice match against West Coast.

The defender suffered a knee to the back during the second term.

Ryan, who was superb during 2020 before being named the Dockers’ best and fairest, was involved in a contest for the ball on the wing early in the quarter and struggled to get to his feet after Eagle Jarrod Brander landed on his back.

He was immediately attended to by trainers and took an extended time to leave the field.

An extremely ginger Ryan hobbled up the stairs to the changerooms at half-time with no ice applied to his body, but it was clear he was in pain.

The Dockers later confirmed Ryan’s day was done.

Ryan is a key to the Dockers’ defence given his ability to both play on opposition key forwards and take contested marks.

He filled the key defender role left vacant by injured duo Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling in 2020.

Respective captains Nat Fyfe and Luke Shuey are also sitting out the second half.

The duo have both moved to the second oval at Mineral Resources Park to do running sessions.

Fyfe and Shuey were both influential for their teams in the first half.

Eagles Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass and Jack Petruccelle were also withdrawn from the second half and were spotted training together on the second oval.