Nat Fyfe has been inserted directly into Fremantle’s AFL side for his first taste of footy in seven weeks, with the two-time Brownlow medallist among three inclusions for the Dockers against Gold Coast.
It comes as coach Justin Longmuir put his faith in Sean Darcy to resume his ruck partnership with Luke Jackson, while dealing with the unexpected loss of Alex Pearce through injury.
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Pearce has suffered a stress injury in his shin, with the club set to take a cautious approach with the 29-year-old who only days earlier overcoming his three-match suspension at the AFL Tribunal.
“On Tuesday, Pearce advised the club that he had some lingering pain in his lower leg following Saturday night’s win over Port Adelaide,” the Dockers said in a statement.
“Pearce had sustained an impact injury earlier in the season, though investigations did not find any abnormalities. Further investigation after a scan on Wednesday revealed a stress response in his left shin.
“Pearce will now undergo a deloading period and complete an off legs program. He will be reassessed after the club’s bye when Fremantle will be able to provide a further update.”
Fyfe hasn’t played at AFL level since Fremantle’s final home-and-away game of last season, with the 240-game veteran’s 2025 campaign disrupted by a string of injuries.
The 33-year-old suffered a hamstring setback playing for the Dockers’ affiliate side Peel at WAFL level in April, having had minor knee surgery earlier in the year.
Fyfe looms as a potential substitute option and will become the first 200-gamer to feature in a game for Fremantle this year, with the former skipper’s inclusion a boost to the side’s leadership in the absence of Pearce.
Josh Draper returns as a like-for-like replacement for Pearce in defence, while Darcy will be desperate for a clean run of health after being inserted to help nullify the influence of Jarrod Witts.
Isaiah Dudley was ruled out earlier on Thursday with a personal issue, with Cooper Simpson (shoulder) the other absentee from last week’s win over Port Adelaide. James Aish travelled as an emergency, while Andrew Brayshaw will captain the side in Pearce’s absence.
The Suns recalled Ned Moyle to partner Witts in the ruck against Freo’s twin towers, with Leo Lombard to make his long-awaited debut. Malcolm Rosas and Ethan Read have both been dropped.
Gold Coast are yet to lose a home fixture this season, which includes two matches at their People First Stadium base at Carrara and two at their home-away-from-home at Darwin’s TIO Stadium.
FREMANTLE LINE-UP
B: L Ryan, J Draper, B Cox
HB: H Chapman, K Worner, J Clark
C: J Sharp, S Bolton, M Johnson
HF: M Frederick, S Switkowski, M Reid
F: P Voss, J Treacy, J Amiss
R: L Jackson, C Serong, A Brayshaw
IC: N Fyfe, N Erasmus, C Wagner, S Darcy, B Banfield
EMG: H Davies, J Aish, N O’Driscoll
https://thewest.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/fremantle-dockers-recall-nat-fyfe-among-three-changes-for-road-clash-with-gold-coast-suns-c-18856358
