Fremantle forward Sam Sturt is ‘not far away’ from returning to Fremantle’s AFL line-up, according to Executive General Manager of Football Peter Bell.
Sturt last played for Fremantle against Hawthorn in round four last season and has totalled four AFL games across two injury-interrupted seasons.
The crafty forward put together an impressive WAFL pre-season performance two weekends ago, with a five-goal haul for Peel in a 90-point win over East Perth.
Bell confirmed that Sturt would travel on Friday with the playing squad that are set to take on Essendon, to keep connected with the group as he nears a return to the line-up.
“He’s got a little bit of knee soreness this week, but he will be available next week,” Bell told SEN WA.
“Sam is not far away from playing AFL, and we are actually taking him to Melbourne as part of our travelling squad to keep him really connected to the program and to keep him connected to how we are preparing for Essendon.
“He will play (football at some level) next week for sure.”
Bell also indicated the hard work put in by skipper Nat Fyfe throughout his rehabilitation from back surgery.
Fyfe is yet to play this season but has kept heavily involved amongst the Club’s day-to-day operations.
“He is doing a lot of re-conditioning at the moment and is in every day working really hard,” Bell said.
“At times with Nat, we just have to hold him back a bit as he is a bull at a gate sometimes and is so desperate to get back out there.
“He is having a really good influence around the rest of the squad as well.
“Nat’s involved with our planning and our reviews and very involved with our trademark which is keeping him really connected to the group.”
Bell said Fyfe will still remain sidelined for a while longer.
“He will be out a little while longer and categorically for the record, the shoulder is absolutely fine,” Bell said.
“He had a minor back surgery and that is what he is rehabilitating himself from.
“In all of this and the delay in coming back, it does give the time for that shoulder to get stronger and stronger, but the shoulder was essentially good to go for almost round one.
“We’ve just got to get the back right.”
