Nat Fyfe is likely to make his return against Hawthorn on Sunday at Optus Stadium providing he gets through Thursday’s training symptom free, according to senior coach Justin Longmuir.
Longmuir said the Fremantle captain hadn’t experienced any side effects of the head knock following Fremantle’s round two win against GWS.
“We’ll have to see if he gets through main training. That will probably be the last box he has to tick,” Longmuir said.
“He’s been feeling really good within himself. He’s had no symptoms since he had it, he’s ticked every box the doctors have asked and he just needs to get through training and tick that final one.
“In conversations with me, he’s feeling really confident.”
Longmuir said he wouldn’t be making any alterations to Fyfe’s role after the midfield was soundly beaten without him against Carlton.
“I think he’ll still split his time, like he has in most of the pre-season and early rounds,” Longmuir said.
“Our mids were beaten on the weekend but that was the first time they’ve been beaten. I’ll back them in to rebound.
“We’ll need him forward at times, we’ll need him in the midfield at times. That’s no different to the usual.”
Bailey Banfield is set to come in for Lachie Schultz (concussion) while Longmuir highlighted defender Tobe Watson as a potential inclusion for Hayden Young (hamstring).
He added that Josh Treacy, who kicked seven goals in a pre-season game for Peel in his most recent football game, and Sam Sturt, who kicked five goals for Peel in round one, would be unlikely to play for Fremantle this week.
Longmuir said he would be likely to favour playing two rucks in Sean Darcy and Lloyd Meek over bringing in Treacy.
“We’d like to play Josh and give him opportunity but the second ruck becomes a bit of an issue,” Longmuir said.
“It’s probably why ‘Lobby’ (injured ruck/forward Rory Lobb) is such an important part of our team.
“He gives us a genuine contest forward of the ball but he’s also a second ruck who could be first ruck if he wanted to.
“We just have to try and strike that balance forward of the ball.”
Longmuir said Sturt would be given more time in the WAFL to build his minutes.
“Sam did everything we asked but the question is he’s been out of footy for a long time and rushing a younger and inexperienced player back, is that the right thing for him? We’ve got to balance that out,” Longmuir said.
“The thing on his side is he hasn’t had soft tissue injuries, (he’s returning from) an ankle injury. He’s done a lot of loading behind the scenes…it’s just whether he has the match fitness and we don’t want him coming into the side and not being right and having to go in and out. There’s a bit to weigh up.”
Longmuir added that defender Griffin Logue would make his return to football via Peel.
“(Griffin is) not available for senior selection but he’ll play minutes in the WAFL,” Longmuir said.
“He’ll start his journey back. He comes to hand pretty quick usually, so it’s just more about making sure he’s really confident with his body so he’ll get minutes in the WAFL.”
