Fremantle has added experienced pair Steven Dodd and Kepler Bradley along with new recruit Nathan Fyfe to the team that beat Adelaide last week for this Sunday’s clash with Essendon at Etihad Stadium.
All three performed well for their respective WAFL teams last weekend and have been included on an extended interchange bench, which will be trimmed on Friday afternoon.
Fyfe, 18, was the club’s 20th pick in the 2009 AFL Draft and can play as a strong-marking half-forward.All three performed well for their respective WAFL teams last weekend and have been included on an extended interchange bench, which will be trimmed on Friday afternoon.
He has been selected in the initial squad of 25 after two strong performances for ladder-leading Claremont in the WAFL.
If selected, Dodd, who has made a quicker than expected recovery from pre-season shoulder and wrist surgery, could continue in the midfield shut-down role that he performed well in last season.
And after Aaron Sandilands went solo in the ruck last week, Bradley could be called upon to offer backup to the 2009 Doig Medallist against Essendon’s combination of David Hille and Patrick Ryder.
Adam McPhee is in doubt with an ankle injury, although the former Bomber will be given every chance to shake his ailment in a bid to face his old side.
Despite the performance against the Crows, Fremantle Coach Mark Harvey said the final make-up of the side had yet to be decided.
“You would like to reward the group for that sort of performance but you have to look at the balance of your side when you play a different side,” Harvey said. “We will go over that process.”
Fremantle will attempt to win their first two games of the season for the first time since 1997, although Captain Matthew Pavlich wasn’t interested in the past.
“Teams change and game systems change,” he said. “It’s different week to week, let alone year to year.
“If we play the way we’ve trained and the way we’ve developed our game plan, we know the end result will occur.”
Fremantle Team
Backs: Alex Silvagni Chris Tarrant Garrick Ibbotson
Half Backs: Greg Broughton Luke McPharlin Roger Hayden
Centre: Anthony Morabito David Mundy Adam McPhee
Half Forwards: Michael Johnson Matthew Pavlich Stephen Hill
Forwards: Jay van Berlo Chris Mayne Hayden Ballantyne
Followers: Aaron Sandilands Michael Barlow Paul Duffield
Interchange (from): Des Headland Nick Suban Steven Dodd
Nathan Fyfe Kepler Bradley Paul Hasleby Ryan Crowley
IN: Nathan Fyfe, Steven Dodd, Kepler Bradley
NEW: Nathan Fyfe (No. 13) - 186cm, 75kg, born 18/09/91 - Drafted 2009 NAB AFL Draft 2nd round selection (Fremantle) No. 20 overall (from Claremont).
