Fremantle Midfielder Caleb Serong will be given to the final hour to put his hand up for selection for RAC Derby after missing training this week due to knee soreness.
The Club and West Coast have been given an extension to Saturday 2.30pm WST to submit their final teams and the stand-in coach Jaymie Graham says they are giving Serong every opportunity to play.
“He has been sore (this week) but we are going to give him right up to the last minute to see if he is available,” Graham said.
“Because we have got until late to name the team, we are going to give him every chance as he is so important to our midfield.”
Executive General Manager of Football Peter Bell told SEN on Thursday afternoon that the Club managed his load this week in order for the young midfielder to take the Eagles this weekend.
“He’s actually got a bit of a sore knee at the moment which is impacting his training. He is in some danger of missing on the weekend,” Bell said.
“He’s fine form the AFL health and safety protocols, but he was absent at training today just because we wanted to give him a lighter day today and give him every chance to play on Sunday.”
If Serong was to miss this Sunday he would join a growing list of Fremantle midfielders in Nat Fyfe (injury) and David Mundy (Health Safety protocols) to be out of this Sunday’s RAC Derby.
But the Club was buoyed by the announcement on Friday that the 2021 first round draft pick Neil Erasmus will make is debut against the Eagles.
Erasmus is Freo’s second debutant in consecutive weeks after Nathan O’Driscoll was selected as the medical sub in round two. Graham has hinted that Erasmus will play promotively in the midfield on Sunday.
“It’s exciting for Neil,” Graham said.
“He’s had a fantastic pre-season and he is well loved by the playing group and staff.
“His effort, intent and the way he goes about things at training has been astounding and he has really earnt this opportunity.
“His form at Peel Thunder has been excellent, he his a hard worker and puts his head in the hole to get the hard ball.
“It’s exciting for him but also his family.”
