Fremantle have made four changes heading into their first AFL game at Optus Stadium on Saturday night against Essendon.
190-game player Stephen Hill returns after missing round one with a calf injury, while defender Joel Hamling comes into the team alongside debutants Adam Cerra and Mitch Crowden.
Hill was listed as a test but got through Tuesday’s training session and will train again on Thursday evening at Optus Stadium.
After back issues affected his 2018 season preparation, Hamling returns to the team after playing every game in 2017.
Hamling placed sixth in the Doig Medal in his first season at the club and will be an important addition to Freo’s backline.
Cerra arrived at Fremantle with pick no.5 in the NAB AFL National Draft and has been highly touted as a future midfield star, alongside no.2 pick Andrew Brayshaw, who made his debut in round one.
Arriving with pick no.59 in the 2017 draft, Crowden’s selection reiterates Fremantle’s confidence in their new draftees, regardless of their draft number, after fielding rookie Bailey Banfield against Port Adelaide.
With Brayshaw and Banfield retaining their places in Freo’s starting 22 , Fremantle will have four first-year players in their round two team.
Shane Kersten, Danyle Pearce, Cam Sutcliffe and Darcy Tucker have been omitted and Sean Darcy, Brennan Cox, Tommy Sheridan and Ethan Hughes are the emergencies.
The team is significantly different to the one that lost by 15-points to Essendon in round 23 last August at Etihad Stadium.
Only 10 players who faced the Bombers will do so again on Saturday night, in Nat Fyfe, Lachie Neale, David Mundy, Stephen Hill, Bradley Hill, Matt Taberner, Hayden Ballantyne, Joel Hamling, Michael Johnson and Luke Ryan.
TEAM
1. Hayden Ballantyne
3. Brandon Matera
5. Adam Cerra
7. Nat Fyfe
8. Andrew Brayshaw
9. Bradley Hill
10. Michael Walters
12. Mitch Crowden
14. Nathan Wilson
16. David Mundy
19. Connor Blakely
20. Matt Taberner
21. Joel Hamling
23. Cam McCarthy
25. Alex Pearce
26. Ed Langdon
27. Lachie Neale
31. Aaron Sandilands
32. Stephen Hill
37. Michael Johnson
38. Luke Ryan
41. Bailey Banfield
