Fremantle Dockers training notes: Murphy Reid’s fitness test as Hayden Young and Matt Johnson press claims

Justin Longmuir put the heat on his players to bring their teammates into the game before their main training session at Cockburn on Wednesday and days out from their must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs. Here is what we saw on the track. Murphy’s law First-year gun Murphy Reid was put through a fitness test under the close eye of staff during the session. Reid trained mostly away from the main group and was put through mobility and dynamic movement exercises in front of a number of trainers. The Rising Star contender was battling what appeared to be a lower-leg tweak. He returned to the main group for a 10-minute match simulation session and finished training looking largely unimpeded. Sunday’s crunch clash with the Bulldogs is also Reid’s final chance to impress Rising Star judges in his likely three-man race with Adelaide’s Dan Curtin and Brisbane’s Levi Ashcroft. Young and the restless Hayden Young trained fully with the midfield on Wednesday and appeared unhampered by the groin injury he is hoping to return from. Young has not played since the early stages of the club’s win over Carlton. Longmuir was cagey when asked about whether Young was ready during his morning press conference, but the star midfielder put his best foot forward during the session. And he is not the only player pushing for an injury return. Young midfielder Matt Johnson — who hurt his ankle in the famous win over Collingwood a month ago — also impressed at training. Johnson showed a burst of speed to get away from an opponent during one drill and appears to be approaching full fitness. That’s despite not playing a game in the WAFL on his way back from injury. His potential return comes with the heat placed on out-of-form wingman Nathan O’Driscoll. Super Cooper? All the talk at Dockers training was around if they will pull the trigger on half-back Cooper Simpson amid criticism of their ball movement in Friday night’s loss to Brisbane. Simpson performed well without training the house down and could come into consideration for a spot in the back six, while Brandon Walker was also raised as an option by Longmuir as they prepare to take on the dangerous Bulldogs forward line, including crafty small Rhylee West. Peel news Will Brodie trained fully on Wednesday after missing Saturday’s WAFL clash with Subiaco with a hamstring issue. The in-demand ball-winner is down the pecking order at the Dockers, but is a boost to their midfield depth ahead of what they hope will be a finals campaign. James Aish was unsighted with the main group after he was pulled out of Peel’s match with the Lions with delayed concussion symptoms.