It was only weeks ago Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said “there’s others ahead” of Luke Ryan as the two-time All Australian missed Round 1 selection.

But since his last minute call up from an emergency in Round 2 to replace teammate Brandon Walker, Ryan has shown why he’s such an important part of the Dockers defence.

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And now that’s he’s cemented his spot once again, Ryan has pledged to fight to keep it.

“We’ve got another six-seven blokes who can come in and do the exact role,” he told foxfooty.com.au.

“There’s a lot of competition for spots.

Luke Ryan gets the kick away.Source: Getty Images

“We’re a really tight group down there (in defence). Whoever comes in will do the role. We expect that as a group.

“All-Australians are great, but mean nothing for selection – that’s all in the past. We’re all about this year.

“Brandon Walker was playing some unbelievable footy in the practice games and he deserved that spot (ahead of Ryan in Round 1).

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“A lot of boys are ahead of me – unfortunately for Don (Walker), he got injured and it was my spot.

“But it can happen to anyone.

“Once one person goes down, the next person is in and plays a real role so it’s hard to get back in (but) it’s a great problem to have – that’s what all good teams have.

“Once your in the team, you want to stay in the team.”

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Ryan won plenty of praise for his efforts in Freo’s fighting Gather Round win over Collingwood last Friday.

“Luke Ryan was probably the one Fremantle defender that stood up in that first term. He’s back in the side and back in form,” Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson said.

“He’s having a field day back there Ryan, he’s just picking everything off,” Melbourne great Garry Lyon added, who described Ryan as “the quintessential old-fashioned footballer”.

“I thought he did an outstanding job.”

AFL great Jason Dunstall said Ryan was “just mopping everything up” while triple premiership Cat Tom Hawkins described the defender as “a key pillar”.

Luke Ryan has returned to Freo’s best line up.Source: Getty Images

“He’s not the most athletically gifted player, but in terms of identifying the drop zone — as all key forwards do — he just seems to do it better than anyone else,” Hawkins said.

It’s been a remarkable return to form for Ryan after he missed a large part of the pre-season due to his shoulder reconstruction at the end of last year.

As a result, he missed Freo practice and pre-season matches – instead playing at Reserves level to find his form and fitness.

But after his stunning efforts in the wet on Friday, he drew high praise from his coach.

“He was super in the first half,” Longmuir said of Ryan.

“Just was in some really vulnerable situations – we probably didn’t defend the greatest up the ground.

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“At times he was two v. one and just had to come forward and make a play. In the end, that’s why we won the game.

“When Collingwood had control of the game, field position, it was our backs to really hold the line and stand up.

“Luke was a massive part of that.”