Fremantle have made six changes to their line-up for Friday night’s clash with North Melbourne at Optus Stadium, after a group of players entered the AFL’s health and safety protocols this week.
Senior Coach Justin Longmuir confirmed on Wednesday that Rory Lobb, Travis Colyer, Blake Acres, Griffin Logue, Michael Frederick and Lloyd Meek would all miss the game.
Fortunately, Fremantle will be bolstered with a number of players returning to the side in Sean Darcy, Hayden Young, Heath Chapman, Liam Henry and Bailey Banfield, while young key forward Jye Amiss will make his debut.
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Henry will come into the Fremantle line-up for his second game of the season, while Banfield has been elevated to the starting 22 after being the medical sub for the past two weeks.
Longmuir said Fremantle’s depth was in a good position, with players at Peel continuing to push for selection in the senior side.
The Senior Coach also flagged that second-year forward Josh Treacy would support Darcy in the ruck in the absence of Lobb and Meek.
SEE HOW NORTH MELBOURNE WILL LINE-UP
“It’s a challenge, but it’s an exciting one. It creates opportunities for other players,” Longmuir said.
“I’ve been saying that our depth is good and there’s players at Peel who deserve opportunities and that doesn’t change. They’ll be ready to take them.
“We’re confident Josh Treacy has done enough ruck work at Peel, and he’ll have to step up. He’s done that role in preparation for this opportunity.
“We’re going to field a team that allows us to play our best footy. We need to prepare well and respect the opposition, like we do every week and play our brand of footy for four quarters.”
Bouncedown for the clash is at 6.40pm WST, with the game broadcast live into Perth on the Seven Network and live nationally on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
This will be Fremantle’s first Friday night game in six years, with the Club’s last Friday night appearance coming against Geelong in round 17, 2016.
Amiss ready to step up
Match Day Information: Round 8 v North Melbourne
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FREMANTLE TEAM
IN: Sean Darcy, Hayden Young, Heath Chapman, Jye Amiss, Bailey Banfield, Liam Henry
OUT: Rory Lobb, Blake Acres, Griffin Logue, Michael Frederick, Travis Colyer, Lloyd Meek
B: Hayden Young, Alex Pearce, Heath Chapman
HB: Brennan Cox, Luke Ryan, Jordan Clark
C: Nathan O’Driscoll, Andrew Brayshaw, Brandon Walker
HF: Michael Walters, Josh Treacy, Lachie Schultz
F: Liam Henry, Jye Amiss, Sam Switkowski
R/Fol: Sean Darcy, Will Brodie, Caleb Serong
I: Darcy Tucker, David Mundy, James Aish, Bailey Banfield
E: Neil Erasmus, Sam Sturt, Nathan Wilson, Ethan Hughes
NORTH MELBOURNE TEAM
IN: Anderson, Corr, Bosenavulagi, McKay
OUT: Mahony (omitted), Bonar (hamstring), Larkey (suspended), Bergman (shoulder)
B: Turner, Corr, Walker
HB: McDonald, McKay, Young
C: Taylor, Davies-Uniacke, Scott
HF: Stephenson, Zurhaar, Thomas
F: Curtis, Ziebell, Anderson
R/Fol: Goldstein, Simpkin, Horne-Francis
I: Bosenavulagi, Greenwood, Coleman-Jones, Perez
E: Mahony, Powell, Hayden, McGuinness
