As part of the club’s 20-year recognition game this Sunday against Greater Western Sydney at Patersons Stadium, several past players and their children will take part in a friendly AFL 9’s game before the main game.  

The fun kicks off at 12.10pm, and fans wanting to catch all the pre-game action can enter through Patersons Stadium gates 8 and 26 from 12pm.

One past player to be pulling the boots back on this Sunday is one of the biggest players to ever play the game, Matthew Burton.

Better known as ‘Spider’, at 210cm he was the tallest player in the AFL before Aaron Sandilands (211cm).

Burton was an inaugural Freo Docker and he played in the club’s first ever game in 1995.

fremantlefc.com.au caught with up ‘Spider’ to see how his preparations were going leading into his return to footy.  

Have you been doing anything in particular to prepare for the game?
Nothing at all.

Who are you most looking forward to lining up against?
I’m just looking forward to catching up with all the players. I thinkit’s a great initiative to have the kids involved. A lot of the time, we retire and our kids don’t see us play. For them to be out on Patersons Stadium and see what dad used to do will be a real buzz.

Who do you think is most likely to pull their hamstring?
Is Luke Toia playing? If Luke’s playing, it’s a fair paddock for him. Since he’s retired, I’d suggest he’s not moving as well as he was in the mid 90s. I think he’d definitely provide some humour by going down.

What’s your favourite memory from your playing days at Freo?
My favourite memory is the first ever game against Richmond at the MCG in 1995. Just being there at the start and being a pioneer was great.

Which current Freo players do you like watching?
There are four and they’re all equal first because I’m biased. Aaron Sandilands, Zac Clarke, Kepler Bradley and Jon Griffin, all the big fellas

What are your thoughts on the current Freo team?
I think they’re going exceptional. I think you just know what you’re going to get from them every week.