Nat Fyfe can’t wait for midfield teammates Aaron Sandilands and Stephen Hill to return against Carlton on Thursday night.

The pair are near certainties to play at Patersons Stadium after missing the round 18 loss to St Kilda through injury.

Fyfe said ruck champion Sandilands gave the club a big advantage at the stoppages.

“I’m pretty stoked to have him back to be honest,” he said.

“Jon (Griffin) and Zac (Clarke) really compete for it, but we know Aaron can give us that first use and we can really dictate and set up around that.

“And also his around-the-ground work, his follow-up and his pressure is vital, he becomes another midfielder for us.”

Hill’s absence has been felt across the board at Freo, and Fyfe said he would benefit directly by the speedster’s inclusion.

“We know what he brings, that outside run. I’ll be pretty keen to have him out there,” he said. 

Fyfe said the group received a big morale boost at training on Tuesday morning when exciting forward Michael Walters joined the main session.

Walters has not played since he had surgery on his ankle after the round 3 game against Hawthorn.

“He certainly gets everyone up and about when you see him running around,” Fyfe said.

“There were stages there where we didn’t know if he’d be coming back, but to see him whizzing around and kicking freakish goals, it’s what all Fremantle supporters want to see.”

Fyfe was also asked how he would feel if he topped the Brownlow Medal count later this year as an ineligible player, but the superstar midfielder remained diplomatic.

“It is what it is,” he said.

“The incident happened way back in round two.

“There are other prizes I’ve got on my mind.”