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Fremantle will need to make at least two changes for Saturday’s clash against Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium, with Alex Pearce and Rory Lobb ruled out due to injury.
Here’s who could come in for the game.
Sean Darcy
Lobb’s injury opens the door for Darcy to play his first AFL game for Fremantle since round two.
Darcy has put up high hitout numbers in the WAFL, averaging 43 per game this season - excluding round six where he came off early due to an ankle injury. Darcy is listed as a test and is likely to come in if he is made available for selection.
Griffin Logue
If Logue is selected as the replacement for Pearce, he will play his first game since round 22 of the 2017 season.
The defender played 13 games in his debut season in 2017 and missed all of 2018 and the start of the 2019 season due to multiple injuries.
Logue was listed among Peel’s best in two of four appearances for the Thunder this season, averaging 13 disposals and 4.3 marks per game.
Stephen Hill
The elite running midfielder would be a welcome addition to the Fremantle line-up after missing the first half of the 2019 season due to a quad injury.
Hill is listed as a test to face Port Adelaide. If selected, he could either join brother Bradley on the wing or return to a half-back role where he played for the majority of his 13 games in 2018.
Harley Bennell
Bennell made his return from calf injury via the WAFL in round seven and put up impressive numbers, collecting 30 disposals and kicking two goals against West Perth and 25 disposals a week later against Subiaco.
Senior coach Ross Lyon said that Fremantle would not make a call on Bennell or Stephen Hill until after Thursday’s training session.
“Both (Bennell and Hill) are available, both are unlikely to be selected but both are a chance,” Lyon said.
“We have one final training session, we know things change quickly in this space, as evidenced by Alex Pearce and Rory Lobb, unfortunately. It’s great to have them available for selection.”
Ryan Nyhuis
Nyhuis is another potential inclusion with a spot available in Freo’s backline due to the Pearce injury. The defender has played three games this season, including an impressive shut-down role on Eddie Betts against Adelaide in round seven.
Cam McCarthy
McCarthy could be brought in to add some height up front with Matt Taberner and Lobb on the sidelines. McCarthy started the season strongly - kicking 10 goals in the opening four games before going goalless in rounds five and six.
Travis Colyer
The running midfielder played the opening eight games of the season before his omission in round nine. He has since played three games in the WAFL, highlighted by his 25 disposals and five marks against West Perth.
Scott Jones
While Darcy is the most likely ruck replacement, he was also listed as a test to return from an ankle injury sustained in mid-May. If Darcy is not available for selection, Jones could come in to play his first game since round 19 of the 2018 season.
Jones was listed as one of Peel’s best against Subiaco in round eight with 37 hitouts, four marks and 11 disposals.
Lloyd Meek
Young ruckman Lloyd Meek could also be in line to make his debut if Darcy is not available for selection.
Meek has played a mixture of league and reserves in the WAFL this season. His best performance came against West Perth in round seven, kicking two goals and pitching in with 27 hitouts in the ruck.