Fremantle forwards Matt Taberner and Brady Grey will make their long-awaited returns from injury in Sunday’s Western Derby at Optus Stadium.
The pair are two of five inclusions for the clash, with Taberner returning for the first time since round five and Grey playing his first game of 2018.
The 197cm Taberner will provide Fremantle another key marking target up front, alongside Brennan Cox and fellow inclusion Cam McCarthy.
As well as Grey, Fremantle have also added some more mobility and ability to pressure the defence by including small forward Hayden Ballantyne and midfielder/forward Mitch Crowden.
The five inclusions could all play as a part of a revamped Fremantle’s forwardline, coming in for the injured Cam Sutcliffe and the omissions of Tommy Sheridan, Stefan Giro, Scott Jones and Taylin Duman.
Taberner kicked three goals in the WAFL for Peel against West Perth last Saturday while Gray collected 25 disposals and kicked a goal.
Grey will play his first AFL game since round 20 of the 2017 season, with the small forward returning from multiple hamstring injuries.
Crowden has also built his form in the WAFL in recent weeks, with 57 disposals in his past two appearances for Peel.
Hayden Ballantyne is looking to play his first game since missing a month at AFL level with an ankle injury while Cam McCarthy could make his return to the starting 22 since his omission following Fremantle’s clash with Essendon in round 18.
Jones, Duman, Sheridan and Giro have been named as the emergencies.
Sunday’s clash at Optus Stadium is an ‘away’ game for Fremantle with bouncedown at 2.40pm.
SQUAD V WEST COAST
1. Hayden Ballantyne
3. Brandon Matera
4. Sean Darcy
5. Adam Cerra
8. Andrew Brayshaw
9. Bradley Hill
10. Michael Walters
12. Mitch Crowden
14. Nathan Wilson
16. David Mundy
18. Darcy Tucker
20. Matt Taberner
21. Joel Hamling
23. Cam McCarthy
25. Alex Pearce
26. Ed Langdon
27. Lachie Neale
28. Brady Grey
32. Stephen Hill
36. Brennan Cox
38. Luke Ryan
41. Bailey Banfield
