AFL: Clark gets rare air in final
Fremantle’s selection gamble has failed to paid off, with defender Brandon Walker injuring his ankle amid a tough night trying to curtail Nick Watson at Optus Stadium.
Walker was the shock inclusion for the Dockers when teams dropped on Wednesday afternoon, but lasted less than three quarters in the qualifying final.
The 23-year-old had not played in the AFL side since round one because of several injuries, but was called up by coach Justin Longmuir to go head-to-head with Hawks star goalsneak Watson.
Walker started poorly when Watson escaped his attention to kick his team’s first goal of the game, one that changed the momentum of the match.
He had some shaky moments with ball in hand but rallied for some encouraging moments, before injury struck in the third term when he badly rolled his ankle late in the third term.
Walker tried to fight on but couldn’t get to Watson, who slotted his second goal after getting free for a mark.
The defender was taken from the ground in the hands of trainers and wasn’t able to begin the final term, which saw the Dockers trail by 33 points.
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