Fremantle has included All Australian defender Michael Johnson to the 22 that will represent the club against Sydney in its first home preliminary final.
 
Midfielder Tom Sheridan was the player to make way. He has been named as an emergency along with Alex Silvagni and Jack Hannath.
 
Johnson missed the qualifying final win over Geelong with a calf injury.
 
Fremantle general manager of football Chris Bond said the 28-year-old had trained well this week and would slot straight back into the league’s best defence.
 
“We obviously know the year that he’s had,” he said.
 
“He plays a very important part of our back six and he’s up against some real quality opposition as well, so he’s a very important in for us.”
 
For Johnson to come in,someone had to make way, and that was young midfielder Sheridan, who Bond said was unlucky to miss out.
 
“He’s a second-year player who, like a number of our second-year players, has really stood up this year,” he said.
 
“He played a role in a significantly big final.
 
“It’s really disappointing for Tom, but we know the character of the person he is.
 
“He’ll hold himself together really well, and we know he’s going to be the future of this football club.”
 
Bond said Saturday night’s prelim at Patersons Stadium would be a great contest against a great side.
 
“They’ve been there, done that,” the football manager said of the Swans.
 
“From our point of view it’s a great challenge for our group. We’ve prepared really well and trained really well, which we’ve been really pleased with all year.
 
“It’s going to be a great night against quality opposition - last year’s premiers - and I think it’s going to be a fitting night for everybody involved.”
 
The winner will face either Hawthorn or Geelong the following Saturday in the 2013 Toyota AFL Grand Final.

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