Although there was a lengthy 391-day gap between Heath Chapman’s 26th and 27th games due to injury, it only took less than 30 minutes to be confronted with the harsh realities of AFL football.
The Dockers suffered a setback when tall defender Josh Draper sustained a hamstring injury just before quarter-time on Saturday night, leaving their defensive line undersized against the towering Western Bulldogs attack featuring Sam Darcy, Aaron Naughton, and Rory Lobb, with Marcus Bontempelli also frequently moving forward.
Chapman, Luke Ryan, and Alex Pearce had to quickly adjust their roles, receiving support from offensive defenders James Aish and Jordan Clark.
Bailey Banfield and Jaeger O’Meara, accustomed to facing challenges, were called upon to assist in defense before returning to their forward positions.
“We had some players filling roles they’re not accustomed to. Jaeger and Banners played crucial roles for us,” Chapman remarked, acknowledging Banfield’s contribution, who scored two final quarter goals to help secure the victory.
Chapman was initially slated for a wing position before sustaining a hamstring injury just before the season began. While he may still transition to that role in the future, for now, his height and mobility make him a valuable asset in defense, especially with Hayden Young now playing in midfield.
Against the Bulldogs, Chapman spent nearly 89 minutes on the field, tallying 14 disposals, six marks, two tackles, 12 pressure acts, and 203 meters gained.
“It’s been a long journey, and I’m grateful to be back out there. Hopefully, there are many more games to come,” Chapman expressed.
Chapman also commended the AFL debuts of Patrick Voss and Cooper Simpson in the hard-fought win over the Bulldogs, highlighting Voss’s energy and Simpson’s composure.
Nat Fyfe’s resurgence to form was instrumental in Freo’s bounce-back performance following their previous week’s derby loss. Fyfe and vice-captain Caleb Serong led the charge, with both collecting a game-high 37 possessions, with Serong also setting a club record with 17 clearances.
“The win was a good response to the derby loss. It’s all about winning the contest,” Chapman concluded, emphasizing the team’s focus on contesting and controlling the game.
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