Talented midfield prospect Matthew Johnson will make his debut in Sunday’s RAC Derby, named as the tactical substitute.
The 20-year-old was informed on Friday by Senior Coach Justin Longmuir in a team meeting, with the news greeted by cheers from his teammates.
The Subiaco product was drafted by Fremantle at no.21 in 2021 - the opening selection of the second round after Freo drafted Jye Amiss and Neil Erasmus in the first round.
He endured a tough start to his AFL journey, with a pre-season foot injury in January last year seeing him miss two months of football early in the 2022 season.
He played 14 games at WAFL league level for Peel, highlighted by 25 disposals and a goal against East Perth in round 15.
He has taken his game to another level this pre-season for Peel with two prolific performances in the midfield.
Longmuir told Johnson he had thoroughly earned the opportunity.
"I'm excited to announce that we have got a debutant this week," Longmuir said as he addressed the playing group.
"Johnno, you have worked so hard and I don't reckon you had an off-season. You hit the gym, you got to work with your running and had a monstrous pre-season.
"You have been banging the door down for a couple of weeks now, and I love what you have been doing at Peel.
"This reward for effort is probably more on a body of work. I'd love for you to go out there and play with intensity and a bit of mongrel - and give us the spark that we are after."
Johnson becomes the 240th player to pull on the Fremantle jumper in the AFL, and the first to make their AFL debut this season.
The 193cm and 84kg midfielder already boasts significant size, and has earned comparisons to David Mundy, even from the Freo legend himself.
“He’s a big lad, he shows so much promise,” Mundy said about Johnson on 10 News Perth on Wednesday.
“He shows all the physical attributes, the speed, the endurance and he’s a beautiful kick.”
Fremantle will announce their starting 22 for Sunday’s RAC Derby at 2pm on Friday via fremantlefc.com.au.
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