Brennan Cox headlines the inclusions for Fremantle’s final 23 players named to take on Richmond on Saturday night at Optus Stadium.
Cox will play his first AFL minutes since injuring his hamstring tendon in the Club’s round one win over the Brisbane Lions, adding valuable experience to the Club’s key defensive stocks in the absence of captain Alex Pearce.
The match on Saturday will be just the seventh time in Cox’s 103-game career that he has played the Tigers.
Veteran Michael Walters has also returned to the team after missing two games with a hamstring injury.
Walters has averaged 10.6 disposals, three marks and 1.3 goals per game in his last three meetings with the Tigers.
The veteran forward has been named on the bench alongside James Aish, Bailey Banfield, Matthew Johnson, and Hayden Young.
Brandon Walker will miss the clash with a shoulder injury, with the Club electing to take a no-risk approach with the speedy defender.
Walker has played 13 games so far this season, often taking the tough task of matching up on the opposition's most dangerous small forward.
Young key defender Hugh Davies has been omitted for the clash after debuting in round 15 against Gold Coast and playing back-to-back games.
The substitute will be confirmed from one of the five players named on the bench, one hour before the bounce on Saturday.
Bouncedown for the clash is at 6.10pm WST and will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Fox Sports 3 and streamed live on Kayo.
The last time the two teams met was in round eight earlier this year, with Fremantle prevailing 54-point winners after multiple goals from Josh Treacy (4), Jye Amiss (2), Sean Darcy (2) and Young (2), while Luke Ryan, Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw and Young all gathered over 30 disposals.
Fremantle will be captained by midfielder Caleb Serong in the absence of Alex Pearce, while senior coach Justin Longmuir will coach his 100th AFL game on the weekend.
KIDS GO FREE!
For the month of July, children aged 14 years old and under can watch Freo footy live at Optus Stadium for FREE! That includes our round 17 clash with Richmond and our highly anticipated round 19 Starlight Purple Haze game, presented by South32, against Melbourne
TEAM v Richmond
IN: Brennan Cox, Michael Walters
OUT: Brandon Walker (injured), Hugh Davies (omitted)
B: Heath Chapman, Brennan Cox, Joshua Draper
HB: Corey Wagner, Luke Ryan, Jordan Clark
C: Jeremy Sharp, Nat Fyfe, Jaeger O'Meara
HF: Sam Sturt, Luke Jackson, Michael Frederick
FF: Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss, Sam Switkowski
R/Fol: Sean Darcy, Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw
INT: James Aish, Bailey Banfield, Matthew Johnson, Michael Walters, Hayden Young
EMG: Ethan Hughes, Pat Voss, Karl Worner
