A tactical decision to rest Alex Pearce from playing WAFL last week may have paid dividends for Fremantle.
Senior coach Ross Lyon said Pearce was not selected for Peel after recovering from back bruising, in case injury hit its two star defenders Luke McPharlin or Michael Johnson.
It was a fateful decision, after Johnson suffered a serious hamstring injury just a few minutes into his 200th game against Richmond at Domain Stadium on Friday night.
Pearce is a likely replacement for Johnson to play Gold Coast on Saturday, after impressing in his first two games earlier this year.
“It was a conscious decision to hold him (Pearce) back at the weekend,” Lyon said.
“We knew if we lost one and he got injured for Peel we’d be in trouble.”
Lyon said Pearce would have had two solid weeks on the track but said he would be no guarantee to play.
Training Report: Peace puts his hand up
“Alex is more than likely to come in,” he said.
“We know he can really play a bit but he’s going to get beaten at times.
“If you don’t limit supply or pressure, it doesn’t matter who is there.”
Fremantle play Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday 13 June. Bounce down is at 1.40pm local time.
