Fremantle’s coaching group is pleased to see Freo’s engine room nearing full strength ahead of round one, according to assistant coach Mark Stone.

Both ruckman Aaron Sandilands and inside midfielder Lachie Neale have been named in Fremantle’s 29-man squad to face Collingwood at Rushton Park, for Fremantle’s second game of the JLT Community Series.

“We’re rapt to have Sandilands back, and Neale as well,” Stone said. 

“We programmed their return for this week, and everything’s on track.

“We’re pleased to be able to get some minutes in them.”

After a strong pre-season, Sandilands suffered a set back in January with a minor calf strain, but as expected, the experienced ruckman has recovered in time to feature this pre-season.

“(Sandilands) was training really well, really strongly,” Stone said.

“(His injury) was just a little hiccup, we were precautious with it and took time to get it right.

“Now he’s really itching to get out there and play. Obviously we’d like to have him for round one, and this is an opportunity to get some minutes in him.”

“These are important games for Aaron and all of our players to get game minutes in now in the pre-season and prepare them for round one.”

Sandilands and Neale could prove to be vital additions as Fremantle faces a big test against a strong Collingwood midfield, which features Scott Pendlebury and Adam Treloar.

After last week’s loss to West Coast, where the Eagles dominated the possession count 414 to 214, Stone said Fremantle would focus on lifting their intensity around the contest.

“These games are about us and how we perform,” Stone said.

“(Last week) certainly wasn’t anything to do with our structure for not getting our hands on the ball, it was all about effort and intensity.

“In our review we said we’ve got to step up in that area of intensity and sustained effort.”

Fremantle v Collingwood AFL & AFLW Double Header
Saturday 4 March - Rushton Park, Mandurah
AFL Women's: 10.35am
AFL Men's: 1.40pm
Tickets through www.ticketmaster.com.au