FREMANTLE will give Peter Sumich the opportunity to coach the Dockers in their first NAB Challenge match against West Coast on Tuesday at Arena Joondalup.

 

Senior coach Ross Lyon will still sit in the coach's box despite not being in charge for the match.

 

Sumich was a candidate to replace John Worsfold at the Eagles after the 2006 premiership coach resigned last September. But the two-time premiership player was overlooked despite having served as an assistant coach at the Eagles for 10 years before joining the Dockers in 2012.

 

Now, he gets a chance to coach in Adam Simpson's first game as Worsfold's replacement at West Coast.

 

Fremantle's football operations manager Chris Bond told the club's website it was a chance for Sumich and the coaching staff to develop further experience.

 

"This continues our work in helping to develop all of our coaches," Bond said.