Fremantle will field four first-year players in the club’s opening JLT Community Series game against Adelaide on Sunday at Strathalbyn Oval.
Freo narrowed their initial squad of 30 to 26 on Friday, including an extended bench of eight.
Andrew Brayshaw, Stefan Giro and Bailey Banfield will get a second taste of football action after their AFLX appearances in Adelaide last Thursday, while ruckman Lloyd Meek will pull on the Fremantle jumper for the first time.
New recruits Nathan Wilson and Brandon Matera will also run out for Fremantle after arriving at the club during the 2017 NAB AFL Trade Period.
The 26-man team also confirms Alex Pearce’s return to football, marking 645 days between appearances after breaking his leg in round nine, 2016.
It will be the first time Pearce will have game time with Freo’s six new additions during the 2017 Draft and Trade periods, alongside second-year players Brennan Cox and Luke Ryan and 2016 recruits Cam McCarthy and Bradley Hill.
Aaron Sandilands, who returns after injuring his hamstring in round 15, 2017, will share the ruck load with Meek, with senior coach Ross Lyon stating on Friday that the pair will play half a game each.
Fremantle will field a strong engine room with captain Nat Fyfe named alongside Lachie Neale, David Mundy and forward Michael Walters, who is set for more midfield time in 2018.
Outside of his AFLX appearance, it will be Walters’ first game of football since injuring his knee in round 18, 2017, against Hawthorn.
Ed Langdon, who missed the second half of 2017 with a knee injury, is also named to play his first game since round 11, 2017.
Bouncedown at Strathalbyn Oval, 55km south east of Adelaide, is at 1:35pm EST (11:05am WST).
FREMANTLE TEAM
1. Hayden Ballantyne
3. Brandon Matera
6. Danyle Pearce
7. Nat Fyfe
8. Andrew Brayshaw
9. Bradley Hill
10. Michael Walters
11. Tommy Sheridan
14. Michael Wilson
16. David Mundy
18. Darcy Tucker
19. Connor Blakely
20. Matt Taberner
23. Cam McCarthy
25. Alex Pearce
26. Ed Langdon
27. Lachie Neale
28. Brady Grey
30. Lloyd Meek
31. Aaron Sandilands
33. Cam Sutcliffe
36. Brennan Cox
37. Michael Johnson
38. Luke Ryan
41. Bailey Banfield
42. Stefan Giro
