Fremantle midfielder Adam Cerra and pressure forward Sam Switkowski will be welcome inclusions to Freo’s starting 22 when they take on Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Cerra returns after making his way back from an ankle injury sustained against Adelaide in round five, while Switkowski has recovered from a finger injury which has seen him on the sidelines since Freo’s round three clash with Carlton.
The pair will come into Fremantle’s line-up for the injured Michael Frederick and the omitted Reece Conca.
Blakely, who came on as a medical sub in round nine against Brisbane, joins Lloyd Meek, Joel Western and Conca as Fremantle’s emergencies.
One of Freo’s four emergencies will be announced as the medical sub one hour before bounce down.
Senior coach Justin Longmuir flagged earlier in the week that Cerra and Switkowski could both return to the side in a media conference on Thursday.
“Before they got injured, they were both in good form, one through the middle of the ground and one up forward,” Longmuir said.
“I really like that they bring us really strong contests and they put good pressure on the opposition. It’s something we haven’t been quite good at the past couple of weeks. Those two areas will be great.”
Bounce down for the clash is at 11:10am WST.
The game will be broadcast live into Perth on Channel 7 and Fox Footy and can be streamed on Kayo.
Secure your tickets as Freo returns home to Optus Stadium to take on Sydney next Saturday night
TEAM v ESSENDON
IN: Adam Cerra, Sam Switkowski
OUT: Michael Frederick (ankle), Reece Conca (omitted)
B: Tobe Watson, Griffin Logue, Taylin Duman
HB: Nathan Wilson, Brennan Cox, Darcy Tucker
C: Blake Acres, Andrew Brayshaw, James Aish
HF: Lachie Schultz, Rory Lobb, Mitch Crowden
F: Travis Colyer, Matt Taberner, Michael Walters
R/Fol: Sean Darcy, Nat Fyfe, David Mundy
I: Adam Cerra, Sam Switkowski, Caleb Serong, Liam Henry
E: Lloyd Meek, Joel Western, Connor Blakely, Reece Conca
