Duff and Quarters: The curious case of Connor Blakely, the Fremantle favourite could look elsewhere for a game

In one of the least attractive games of the season, Fremantle were held to just 16 points in a loss at home against Geelong, one player that may have helped the Dockers grunt in wet conditions is Connor Blakely.

The midfielder has managed 60 games for the Dockers, including 8 30+ disposal performances, but has been left out in the cold in 2020 with coach Justin Longmuir favouring draftees ahead of the 24-year-old who hasn’t played this season.

On this week’s episode of The Duff and Quarters podcast the West Australian’s chief footy writer Mark Duffield and The Sunday Times’ sports editor Glen Quartermain try to understand why a proven AFL player can’t get on the park for the Dockers.

“I don’t understand why with the game played how it was last night, Connor Blakely wasn’t in that 22,” Duffield said.

“Big body last night, in the slog, shifting the ball your way he would have been invaluable to them.

“Justin Longmuir spoke about it after the game, he gets asked about this every week.”

“Why is he not playing? We’re all scratching our heads, why is he not playing, only Freo can answer. If this continues he has to be moving on next year,” Quartermain replied.

Fremantle have debuted five draftees in 2020 Sam Sturt, Hayden Young, Caleb Serong, Michael Fredericks and Tobe Watson as well as selecting trade acquisitions, Blake Acres and James Aish.

The West Australian understands that multiple clubs are interested in potential trades for Blakely, who is under contract at Fremantle until 2022 but while Blakely could play for another club the pair believe Freo should keep him in WA.

“He doesn’t necessarily move on and go somewhere else and do well, we had similar conversations about Viv Michie who was excelling in the WAFL and Anthony Morabito when he was coming back from another knee injury.”

“The one thing I would say is I think Connor Blakely is a better player than five players that represented Fremantle last night, I won’t name them but there are at least five players he can play better than.

“It might be that he already believes he has that player in the structure, but I recon you try and get your best 22 in your best 22 and I recon Connor Blakely is in their best 22.”