GEELONG superstar Bailey Smith will miss the Thursday night blockbuster against Fremantle due to illness, while the Cats will again be without star defender Tom Stewart.
Smith has been replaced in the Cats side by Jack Bowes, while ruck Mitch Edwards has been named despite nursing a finger injury this week.
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Stewart will miss a second consecutive game due to concussion, while Gryan Miers – who was managed against Gold Coast last week – is also absent.
Smith has been averaging a career-high 32.3 possessions to go with 5.5 clearances per game this season to be rated as one of the Brownlow Medal favourites, while Stewart has been a rock in defence for the third-placed Cats (9-5).
While the Cats have some key players missing, the Dockers have welcomed back star midfielder Caleb Serong alongside defender Brennan Cox and youngster Matt Johnson.
Oscar McDonald, Jaeger O'Meara and Corey Wagner – who has missed just one game so far this season – have all been omitted.
The top-of-the-table Dockers are at close to full strength, with ruck Sean Darcy – who is set to play another week in the WAFL as he continues his comeback from injury – the only first-team player absent.
Fremantle is on a club-record 12-match winning run and they'll be aiming to celebrate captain Alex Pearce's 150-game milestone with a win.
- with AAP
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Fremantle v Geelong at Optus Stadium, 6.10pm AWST
FREMANTLE
In: B.Cox, M.Johnson, C.Serong
Out: O.McDonald (omitted), C.Wagner (omitted), J.O'Meara (omitted)
GEELONG
In: J.Bowes
Out: B.Smith (illness)
