FREMANTLE'S match committee had no hesitation bringing in an 11th debutant for this week's western derby, despite already having eight first-year players in the team.
Disciplined midfielder Jay van Berlo will make his debut against West Coast on Saturday, becoming Fremantle's 10th first-year player to earn an AFL call-up this season.
Football administration manager Brent Dawkins said the selectors drew confidence from the raft of successful debuts orchestrated this season and had no hesitation naming another on Thursday afternoon.
"The first-year players we've brought in before have performed so we're expecting Jay to do the same," Dawkins said. "They haven't been overawed by the situation and I'm sure Jay won't be either.
"He's a really smart young guy and a level-headed individual both on and off the field, so I think he'll take it in his stride no worries at all."
Van Berlo, 20, stunned Fremantle's development coaches when he returned from stress fractures in his shins four weeks ago.
Development coach Steve Malaxos said his 14-possession, two-goal effort in a half of reserves football was as good as he had seen from a Fremantle player returning from a long injury layoff and he had steadily improved since.
He collected 21 possessions in an impressive display against Peel Thunder last weekend and Fremantle has named the elevated rookie in a forward pocket.
Dawkins said van Berlo had many strings to his bow, which would help him at the elite level.
"He's a good runner and he does have the ability to play in a number of positions – across half-back, across half-forward, onball if need be – so he does have that flexibility in his game."
Captain Matthew Pavlich and star ruckman Aaron Sandilands both got through Wednesday night's closed training session and return to the side this week.
Dawkins was also confident that derby specialist Paul Hasleby and key defender Chris Tarrant, who jarred a knee against the Brisbane Lions last week, would play.
"They're really looking forward to getting out there in a western derby and putting some experience around those young guys," he said.
Andrew Foster has been ruled out for up to a month with an ankle injury, while Adam Campbell and Scott Thornton have both been omitted.
The Brisbane Lions were the last side to debut 11 players in one season back in 2005.
First-year Fremantle players Stephen Hill, Nic Suban, Greg Broughton, Matt de Boer, Hayden Ballantyne, Zac Clarke, Clancee Pearce, Tim Ruffles and Michael Walters have been unveiled this season along with second-year rookie-elevation Luke Pratt.
Round 17: AFL Rivalry Round
Fremantle v West Coast
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Subiaco Oval – 2.10pm (WST)
TEAM LIST
B: Greg Broughton (48), Chris Tarrant (20), Nic Suban (8)
HB: Antoni Grover (14), Luke McPharlin (18), Paul Duffield (41)
C: Garrick Ibbotson (5), Paul Hasleby (4), Tim Ruffles (35)
HF: Stephen Hill (32), Matthew Pavlich (29), Dean Solomon (6)
F: Hayden Ballantyne (17), Kepler Bradley (26), Jay van Berlo (47)
R: Aaron Sandilands (31), Steven Dodd (25), David Mundy (16)
I/C: Brett Peake (7), Matt de Boer (40), Clancee Pearce (46), Zac Clarke (30)
Emg: Clayton Hinkley (19), Marcus Drum (9), Scott Thornton (22)
In: Pavlich, Sandilands, van Berlo
Out: Andrew Foster (ankle), Scott Thornton, Adam Campbell
NEW
Jay van Berlo
Recruited from: West Perth
Height: 186cm
Weight: 80kg
D.O.B: 19/9/88
Jay, who is the brother of Adelaide’s Nathan van Berlo, won the senior best and fairest for West Perth in the WAFL in 2008 despite pre-season shoulder surgery.
FORECAST
Saturday: Early shower then fine.
Min 5 Max 15
BROADCAST DETAILS
TV
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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
