Senior Coach Justin Longmuir agrees that changes need to be made after Fremantle’s lacklustre round four performance against Adelaide, with Will Brodie, Sam Sturt and Corey Wagner flying over to join the squad in South Australia.
Freo’s week in Adelaide will wrap up on Friday with a Gather Round clash against Gold Coast at Norwood Oval.
Matt Taberner is the only out at this stage, after the key forward returned to Perth to get scans on his back, opening the door for Sturt to play his first AFL game in more than two years.
Drafted at no.57 in the 2022 NAB AFL Draft, Wagner is pushing to make his Club debut after previously playing eight games for North Melbourne between 2016 and 2017, and 11 games for Melbourne in 2019.
“We brought over a defender in Wagner, a midfielder in Brodie and a forward in Sturt, and we brought them over for a reason as they’re all a chance to come into the team in some shape or another,” Longmuir said.
“There will be one to three changes I’d imagine. There’s not going to be wholesale changes, but we need to reward those players that are playing well at Peel and we’ll look to do that.”
Sturt impressed in his most recent appearance in Fremantle colours, kicking two goals in a pre-season clash against Port Adelaide at Fremantle Oval.
He was also instrumental in Peel’s four-point win in round one against East Fremantle on Good Friday, kicking two goals to go with his 14 disposals and four tackles.
“He’s impacting on both sides of the ball and bringing really strong intensity and consistent intensity for the whole game,” Longmuir said.
“I’ve been really happy with his pre-season, I think his game in the pre-season against Port Adelaide was a massive step forward for him.
“Last week in the last quarter when Peel needed something, he was able to kick a couple goals, lay a couple tackles and win some really strong contests.
“He's confident and deserves an opportunity, whether it’s this week or as a sub. We’ll sort through that.”
Sturt, Brodie, Wagner.
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) April 11, 2023
Straight into the action 👍#foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/JW8lW4oq8w
Longmuir said forward Michael Frederick was set to return after missing one week with an eye injury.
“It looks like Freddy has been given the all clear to come back into the team as well after that week off with his eye,” Longmuir said.
“There’s players that are ready to come back into the side which is always good. When things aren’t working you need to make some changes and we’ll thrash that out.”
