Four new faces and the long-awaited return of Alex Pearce highlight Fremantle’s team of 22 that will face Port Adelaide on Saturday at Adelaide Oval.

Doig Medallist Bradley Hill also comes into the 22 after missing Fremantle’s JLT Community Series clash with West Coast due to a quad injury. 

Rookie draftee Bailey Banfield, who turned 20 in February, joins no.2 pick Andrew Brayshaw as Fremantle’s round one debutants, while new recruits Nathan Wilson and Brandon Matera will play their first AFL games in a Fremantle jumper.

Pearce’s return to AFL football will mark 672 days since he last played for Freo after breaking his leg in round nine of the 2016 season against Richmond.

The 22-year-old has played 21 games at AFL level and won the 2015 Beacon Award as Fremantle’s most promising young player.

Pearce has since been added to Fremantle’s leadership group alongside Bradley Hill, joining captain Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Aaron Sandilands, Michael Walters and Lachie Neale – who have all been named in Freo’s team. 

Defender Nathan Wilson’s career with Fremantle starts after playing 77-games with GWS, while small forward Brandon Matera played 101 games with Gold Coast.

Lee Spurr (knee), Joel Hamling (omitted) and Lloyd Meek (omitted) have come out of the JLT Series squad of 24 that faced West Coast.

 Bouncedown is at 4.05pm CDT (1.35pm WST) and is broadcast live into Perth on Channel 7 and Fox Footy.