Neil Erasmus, Will Brodie, Liam Reidy and Cooper Simpson have all been named as potential inclusions to Fremantle's final 23 that will take on Essendon at the MCG on Sunday.
Nat Fyfe is the only player from last week’s playing 23 to be omitted following the Club’s unsuccessful attempt to overturn his one-match suspension at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday.
Earlier today during his media conference, senior coach Justin Longmuir said whoever came into the final team to replace Fyfe would be ready to fill the role.
“Whoever gets an opportunity this week, they’ll step up,” Longmuir said.
Brodie and Erasmus are the like-for-like replacement options for Fyfe, with Matthew Johnson not being selected in the squad after being named as a test to play this week following a foot injury.
Erasmus has been a consistent performer in the WAFL, averaging 31 disposals, 6.3 marks and 5.1 tackles per game (excluding the East Fremantle clash where he was concussed at the opening bounce), with Brodie following a similar suit averaging 31.4 disposals, 4.1 marks and 3.6 tackles in his nine appearances for Peel this year (excluding his injured game in round 12).
Sunday will also be reigning Doig Medallist and Club star Caleb Serong’s 100th AFL game.
Serong averages 27 disposals against the Bombers from his three career appearances against them.
The 23-year-old has been named in the midfield alongside Andrew Brayshaw, Hayden Young and Sean Darcy, with Serong named as captain for the clash.
James Aish, Brodie, Tom Emmett, Erasmus, Jaeger O’Meara, Liam Reidy, Cooper Simpson, and Sam Sturt have been named on the Club’s extended bench.
Sunday will be first time Fremantle have played Essendon at the MCG since round 14, 1999.
Fremantle are currently on a two-game win streak against the Bombers, winning the last two meetings by an average margin of 40 points.
The Club's extended eight-man bench will be trimmed to five players tomorrow when final teams are announced.
Fremantle’s final team will be named at 3pm WST on Friday at fremantlefc.com.au
