Fremantle will be without one of its brightest young talents for Friday night’s blockbuster against Adelaide, with Murphy Reid failing to overcome a low blow.

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir on Wednesday revealed Reid had suffered a knock to his groin area in the first quarter of last weekend’s loss to Melbourne, with the 20-year-old being assessed by medical staff.

Fremantle recalled captain Alex Pearce and speedy small forward Chris Scerri and dropped defender Judd McVee.

Key position defenders Brennan Cox and Oscar McDonald retained their spots in the back half alongside Pearce, depsite the Crows managing retiring tall forward Taylor Walker out of their team for the trip west.

Adelaide regained another goalkicking weapon Darcy Fogarty after he served a three-match suspension as one of six inclusions, alongside backmen James Borlase and Luke Nankervis as they prepare to tackle the Dockers’ trio of attacking talls Jye Amiss, Josh Treacy and Patrick Voss.

Midfielders Jake Soligo and and ruckmen Lachie McAndrew and Tobyn Murray also return, with Rory O’Brien, Archie Ludowyke, Billy Dowling and Oscar Ryan omitted.

Experienced forward Alex Neale-Bullen has been left out of the side for personal reasons.

Reid did not appear on the track at main training in Cockburn on Wednesday morning, throwing further doubt about his chances to tackle the Crows.

“He got a hit in the nether regions, and we’re monitoring it,” Longmuir said.

“He’s in a bit of doubt. He’s handling the workload really well, and he wants to keep playing. But we’ll make the call a bit later.”

Reid will miss his first match since being drafted at the end of 2024.

The Dockers named leading goalkicker Amiss, who appeared to be doing a fitness test midway through the warm-up at main training on Wednesday.

Things didn’t look ideal early when Amiss was at the back of the pack on a series of run-throughs, before he did a test with a trainer where he was in some clear discomfort with his right leg.

The 23-year-old did come from the track last week with a minor concern before playing against Melbourne at the MCG, kicking five goals in a starring role

Amiss is the club’s leading goalkicker this year with a career-high 53 majors and is still in contention for the Coleman Medal, but will need a big final two games with Sydney’s Charlie Curnow nine ahead on 62.

Fremantle v Adelaide

Friday, Optus Stadium, 6.10pm

FREO

B: B Cox A Pearce H Chapman

HB: J Clark L Ryan K Worner

C: M Johnson A Brayshaw M Frederick

HF: S Bolton I Dudley S Switkowski

F: P Voss J Amiss J Treacy

FOLL: L Jackson C Serong H Young

I/C: M Cox C Scerri N Erasmus N O’Driscoll O McDonald

EMG: J McVee T Murray T Whan

IN: A Pearce C Scerri

OUT: M Reid (groin) J McVee (omitted)

CROWS

B: J Borlase J Worrell M Michalanney

HB: I Cumming M Keane B Cook

C: J Peatling J Dawson C Ah Chee

HF: L Nankervis R Thilthorpe J Rachele

F: H Hall-Kahan D Fogarty D Curtin

FOLL: L McAndrew I Rankine J Soligo

I/C: R Laird B Keays Z Taylor S Berry T Murray

EMG: B Dowling C Jones T Walker

IN: J Borlase L Nankervis D Fogarty L McAndrew J Soligo T Murray

OUT: A Neal-Bullen (personal) T Walker (managed) R O’Brien (omitted) A Ludowyke (omitted) B Dowling (omitted) O Ryan (omitted)