Fremantle’s strength and conditioning team will make a call later this week on where Nat Fyfe will make his return from injury with the captain set to be available this weekend, according to Executive General Manager of Football Peter Bell.

Fyfe is yet to play this season due to a back injury but is likely to face either Brisbane in the AFL at Optus Stadium on Sunday or Subiaco in the WAFL at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

“Nat’s going really well and it’s been a steady build,” Bell said.

“Barring anything unforeseen occurring in the next 48 hours or so, he’ll be available to play this weekend. We’ll just work through whether that’s at WAFL or AFL level.”

Forward Matthew Taberner is Fremantle’s only injury concern from their win against Melbourne on Saturday at the MCG, coming off in the final quarter due to back spasms.

Taberner kicked two goals against the Demons and is listed as a test for the Brisbane clash.

“Matthew had some back spasms late in the game, so we took him from the field,” Bell said.

“He’s pulled up a bit stiff and sore, he has had a bit of a history at times with these types of incidents.

“He’s a bit slow to go early in the week but we’re hoping that he’ll make significant improvement, as he has done before, and he’ll be a test for the weekend.”

Jye Amiss has been moved to Fremantle’s long term inactive list after sustaining a kidney injury in a contest when representing Peel against South Fremantle on 21 May.

The move gives Fremantle the option to take an additional player in the mid season draft with one spot in their list already available due to the pre-season retirement of Luke Valente.

Bell said Fremantle are now considering whether to draft one or two players on Wednesday evening.

“We’ve made the decision on the back of the kidney injury that he sustained to move Jye to the long term inactive list,” Bell said.

“That opens up another list spot, should we decide to use it, in the mid season rookie draft.”

INJURY LIST ROUND 12
Nat Fyfe (back) – Test
Matt Taberner (back) – Test
Joel Western (hamstring) – 3-4 weeks
Nathan O’Driscoll (foot) - TBA
Jye Amiss (kidney) - Long Term