Fremantle have made two changes for Saturday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
Darcy Tucker has earned a recall on the back of his impressive form in the WAFL, while Nathan O’Driscoll returns to the AFL team for the first time since injuring his foot against North Melbourne in round eight.
The pair come in for the omitted Travis Colyer and Liam Henry. Henry, Bailey Banfield, Nathan Wilson and Matthew Johnson are the emergencies.
One of the emergencies will be named as the medical sub an hour before bouncedown. If it is Johnson, it will mark his AFL debut after being selected by Fremantle at no.21 in the 2021 NAB Draft.
Tucker has played 11 games this season, most recently in round 13 against Hawthorn where he came on as the medical sub.
In the past three weeks for Peel, he has had 27 disposals and a goal against Subiaco, 32 disposals and two goals against Perth and 38 disposals and three goals against East Perth.
In his mid-week media conference, Senior Coach Justin Longmuir said Fremantle were reluctant to make too many changes to give players continuity at AFL level, but added that Tucker’s form had been too good to leave out of the team.
“I think players grow confidence from getting backed in and not being on edge all the time, but we need to find the balance between rewarding performances at Peel as well,” Longmuir said.
“We’re looking at players that have put a body of work together…Darcy Tucker has put three best on grounds together and not only has he done that, he’s worked away at a few things in his game that he needed to work on.”
Selected at no.27 in 2020, O’Driscoll has been impressive in what has been his debut AFL season.
He had 22 disposals against Essendon in his most recent appearance at Marvel Stadium against Essendon, while his best performance came against GWS where he kicked two goals to go with his 20 disposals.
Bouncedown for the clash is at 2.35pm and the game will be broadcast live on Fox Footy and streamed on Kayo.
Unfortunately, the game will be delayed on free to air with the broadcast on 7mate commencing at 3.30pm.
It will be David Mundy’s final home and away game in Melbourne and is the last guaranteed chance for Fremantle’s Victorian fanbase to farewell the Fremantle legend.
TABtouch 22 v WESTERN BULLDOGS
IN: Darcy Tucker, Nathan O’Driscoll
OUT: Liam Henry, Travis Colyer
B: Heath Chapman, Brennan Cox, Brandon Walker
HB: Hayden Young, Alex Pearce, Luke Ryan
C: Jordan Clark, Andrew Brayshaw, Blake Acres
HF: Lachie Schultz, Rory Lobb, Caleb Serong
F: Michael Frederick, Matt Taberner, Michael Walters
R/Fol: Sean Darcy, Will Brodie, James Aish
I: Griffin Logue, Darcy Tucker, David Mundy, Nathan O’Driscoll
E: Bailey Banfield, Matthew Johnson, Liam Henry, Nathan Wilson
