Fremantle Executive General Manager of Football Joe Brierty has said defender Brennan Cox will make his return to the playing field via Peel Thunder’s WAFL reserves this weekend.

“Yes he (Cox) will have 60 minutes in the reserves this weekend,” Brierty revealed on SEN WA Tuesday morning.

“It will be a slower build for Brennan where he will push through in the reserves, then into some more minutes, and then whether he is available for AFL around round 17 or 18 we will see how he progresses.”

Cox initially injured his hamstring tendon in the Club’s round one win over Brisbane at Optus Stadium and has been sidelined ever since.

“It’s fantastic to have him transitioning back in because you just know how important he is from a back half point of view,” Brierty said.

“Not only his ability to lock down on those big key forwards, but even his ball use and his ability to roll off and mark is really important to us.

“We are looking forward to him building back through the WAFL and then being available in a couple of weeks.”

Brierty was full of praise for 20-year-old key defender Joshua Draper who made his AFL debut in round two as Cox’s replacement, resulting in Draper playing the next 12 consecutive games for the Club.

“Drapes has done a fantastic job as a young key defender if you think about the players he’s coming up against in (Charlie) Curnow, (Charlie) Dixon earlier in the year, it’s a big job every week as a young defender,” Brierty said.

“I think it’s something he will continue to build on, work on his craft and I think it’s been a great opportunity for him to get a block of games at AFL level and is something I think will hold him in good stead across his career.”

Peel Reserves play West Perth this Saturday 22 June at 11.45am at Pentanet Stadium.