Jack Anthony is set to make his Fremantle debut in Sunday’s Carlton Mid Derby at Patersons Stadium.

Freo senior coach Mark Harvey confirmed that the former Collingwood player would line up for his 44th AFL match.

Harvey said Anthony had ticked the boxes to earn his senior call up.

“His pressure up forward and his ability to kick goals at Subiaco has been significant,” Harvey said.

“Our expectations of Jack on Sunday will be measured by how hard he works when we haven’t got the ball.”

Anthony played three seasons for the Magpies from 2008-2010, kicking 80 goals before being picked up by Freo in the 2011 Pre-season Draft.

The 23-year-old has been playing for WAFL side Subiaco this season where he has booted 15 majors in his six appearances.

Anthony said knowing he was going to play AFL again reminded him of the feeling he got when he was selected for his AFL debut for Collingwood in 2008.

“It’s exciting,” he said.

“I came over here and I wanted to play for Fremantle and be a part of something special.

“Now I’ve got the opportunity to show the faith that the Fremantle Football Club has showed to me.”

Anthony said having to earn his spot in the side through the WAFL has proved to be a big positive.

“I look at it in hindsight now and I prefer that I’ve had to get a game in this way,” he said.

“It’s made me feel like I’ve really earned my spot.

“For once, I’ve got a game not through injuries, but because the coaches think I’ve deserved it.”

Anthony said he and the Freo coaching staff have been working together to improve certain aspects of his game.

“I’ve been biding my time in the WAFL and doing all the extra work that the coaches wanted me to get better at,” he said.

“That’s made me a better player.

“Hopefully I can provide the team with something different that I haven’t been able to do previously in my career because I’ve never had this sort of time at WAFL or VFL level where I’ve had to hone the skills I wasn’t good at.

“It’s been a great learning curve.”

Anthony said he would be well prepared for the pressure associated with a Carlton Mid Derby because of his time at Collingwood.

“Every game is different and every club has rivalries with history behind it, but in 2009 I was fortunate enough to play in an Anzac Day game against Essendon at the MCG,” he said.

Anthony won’t be placing any expectations or setting any goals on himself for his Freo debut.

“I’m going to go out there and, just like I have been for the past six or seven weeks, I’m going to enjoy it,” he said.

“When I enjoy it I play better football.”