Fremantle have made four changes ahead of their vital clash with Geelong at Optus Stadium on Saturday, headlined by the loss of breakout key forward Josh Treacy and return of Nat Fyfe.
Fyfe is back after serving his one-week suspension for striking.
The six-day break wasn’t enough for Treacy to recover from the collision injury he sustained to his right knee during the fourth quarter of the Club’s loss to Essendon.
The Club remains hopeful Treacy will play against GWS in round 23.
Fyfe joins Matthew Johnson, Pat Voss and Karl Worner in the side, replacing James Aish (omitted), Tom Emmett (suspended), Neil Erasmus (omitted) and Treacy (injured).
Dual Brownlow medallist Fyfe is averaging 4.8 clearances (above average) and 19.8 disposals per game this year, and averages 25.07 disposals across his career against Geelong.
Voss made his AFL debut in the Club’s round seven win over the Bulldogs and has kicked three goals in four AFL games so far this season.
Veteran Aish has been omitted after featuring as the Club’s substitute for the last three fixtures, while Worner will feature in his fourth senior game for the year.
Johnson returns from his foot injury after playing 60 minutes for Peel against Claremont.
The clash will also be speedy defender Jordan Clark’s 100th AFL appearance, with the 23-year-old playing 67 consecutive games for the Club since joining at the end of 2021.
Clark has taken his game to a new level in 2024, averaging 25.3 disposals (elite), 7.1 marks (elite), and 453.4 meters gained (above average) across his 20 appearances so far this year.
Fremantle is celebrating their 30-year anniversary in the Club’s Retro Round by wearing the inaugural home jumper from 1995.
Ironically, it was the jumper worn during the Club’s first ever home win against Geelong in round two at the WACA.
The jumper will feature the traditional ‘anchor’ style jumper that includes the iconic red, green and purple colours worn during home games between 1995 and 2000.
Andrew Brayshaw will lead the side as captain for the third time this season in the absence of Alex Pearce.
Bailey Banfield, Sam Sturt, Voss, Corey Wagner and Worner make up the Club’s five-man bench, with one of them to be named substitute an hour before bouncedown on Saturday.
Erasmus, Matthew Taberner and Nathan O’Driscoll have been named as emergencies for the clash.
Bouncedown for the clash will be at 2.35pm (WST) and will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Fox Footy and streamed live on Kayo.
