Tessa Lee, Sports journalist reporting on global leagues since 2021.
Fremantle Caleb Serong return news has provided a major boost for the AFL ladder leaders ahead of Thursday night's blockbuster clash with Geelong at Optus Stadium. The Dockers are chasing a club record extending 13th consecutive victory and could regain several key players following their bye, including Serong, Brennan Cox, Matthew Johnson and Sean Darcy. The timing is significant as Fremantle prepares for one of its biggest tests of the 2026 season against a fellow premiership contender.
The Dockers have established themselves as the competition benchmark with a remarkable 12 game winning streak despite dealing with several important injuries throughout recent weeks.
Now, after a well timed bye, coach Justin Longmuir appears set to welcome back some crucial reinforcements.
Serong Expected to Return
Vice captain Caleb Serong looks almost certain to face Geelong after recovering from a calf injury.
The three time Doig Medallist was close to returning before the bye but Fremantle opted to take a cautious approach and provide him with additional recovery time.
Longmuir expressed confidence that the star midfielder would be available for selection.
“He’s one of our better players, clearly. We’ve had the luxury of giving him an extra week off to make sure we get him right for the back half of the year,” Longmuir said.
“I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get through training and is not ready to play.”
“It’s a bit of a luxury to get him back.”
Although Serong did not complete every aspect of Monday's training session, he moved freely and showed no obvious signs of discomfort during individual work with development coach Chris Mayne.
His return would provide an immediate boost to Fremantle's midfield as it prepares to face one of the AFL's strongest opponents.
Cox and Johnson Also Closing In
Longmuir was less definitive regarding the availability of defender Brennan Cox and midfielder Matthew Johnson.
Both players have been working their way back from injuries suffered during Fremantle's victory over Brisbane last month.
The coach indicated their availability would depend on how they responded to training.
“We’ll get through training, see where everyone sits. There’s still a few boxes for players to tick,” Longmuir said.
“We’re expecting a couple back, but the lengths we’ll go to, we’ll work out.”
Despite the cautious approach, both Cox and Johnson appeared unrestricted during training and did not display any obvious concerns related to their recent injuries.
If selected, their inclusion would further strengthen a side already performing at an elite level.
Sean Darcy Creates Selection Dilemma
Ruckman Sean Darcy is another player pushing strongly for senior selection.
After overcoming a calf injury, Darcy has completed two impressive matches for Peel Thunder in the WAFL and has built significant momentum heading into the second half of the AFL season.
Longmuir revealed the club had carefully managed Darcy's workload during the bye period.
“It was more about giving him a bit of a rest as well,” Longmuir said.
“He’s done a lot of work in rehab and obviously two games back at WAFL level.”
“He’s in good form in the WAFL. We’ll sit down after training and have a chat about if he comes in or if he keeps building his form.”
Darcy's potential return creates an intriguing selection decision regarding Fremantle's ruck structure and overall team balance.
Healthy List Strengthens Premiership Credentials
One of the most encouraging developments for Fremantle is the improving health of its playing list.
Outside of Serong and the players nearing a return, only a handful of Dockers remain unavailable for an extended period.
Defender Ollie Murphy, forward Sam Sturt and defender Brandon Walker are among the few players still working through longer term recoveries.
Walker returned to training on Monday wearing protective headgear after suffering multiple concussions during recent WAFL appearances.
The club's strong injury position is particularly significant given the demanding run toward finals.
Few contenders can match Fremantle's current depth, making the prospect of a near full strength squad a worrying development for rivals across the competition.
Tough Calls Await Match Committee
The return of several key players means Fremantle's selection panel faces difficult decisions ahead of Wednesday's team announcement.
Oscar McDonald appears the most likely player to make way if Brennan Cox returns in defence.
Additional changes may be required if Serong, Johnson and Darcy are all cleared for selection.
Those decisions highlight the strength of Fremantle's current position, with fringe players performing strongly during the club's winning streak.
Competition for spots has become fierce and Longmuir acknowledged that several players could consider themselves unlucky if omitted.
Dockers Staying Grounded
Despite sitting atop the ladder and carrying premiership favouritism into the second half of the season, Longmuir insisted his side remains focused solely on the immediate challenge ahead.
The coach emphasised that Fremantle's approach throughout 2026 has been built around concentrating on one opponent at a time.
“We look at blocks, blocks of one game,” Longmuir said.
“That’s the way we approach it. We give all our effort to Geelong.”
“There’s some long term planning behind the scenes, but we ask our assistant coaches and our playing group just to focus on the next game ahead.”
That philosophy has served the Dockers well during their historic winning run and will be tested again against a Geelong side widely regarded as one of their biggest premiership threats.
A victory on Thursday night would further cement Fremantle's position as the AFL's team to beat and strengthen belief that a maiden premiership could be within reach.