Fremantle will need to make at least two changes when they face North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with ruckman Aaron Sandilands ruled out through injury and forward Cam McCarthy suspended. 

Senior coach Ross Lyon may need to select two tall forwards to replace McCarthy and Sandilands, with Sandilands and Sean Darcy splitting their time between the ruck and forward line prior to Sandilands injury.

Lyon may instead opt to send midfielders Nat Fyfe or David Mundy up forward, as he has done on occasion in 2017, opening the door for a number of midfielders who are pushing for inclusion.

Stephen Hill
After missing Freo’s round 15 clash with St Kilda, elite midfielder Stephen Hill is a strong chance to return after missing last week’s game with an injured calf.
“We’re aiming to have Stephen available,” said Lyon about Hill in his weekly media conference, with the 27-year-old listed as a test for this week. 

Connor Blakely
Omitted for not meeting team standards against St Kilda, Blakely is back in the mix for selection, according to Lyon.
The in-form midfielder was one of Fremantle’s best in his most recent appearance in round 14 against Geelong, picking up 27 disposals and taking seven marks.

Shane Kersten
Kersten is a chance to fill at least one of the vacant roles up front. The 191cm forward was omitted against St Kilda after featuring in every Freo game up to round 14. In Peel’s win over Claremont in wet conditions last Saturday, Kersten kicked two goals, the Thunder’s only multiple goalkicker on the day.

Matt Taberner
Having featured as a forward/ruck for both Peel and Fremantle in 2017, Taberner is a chance to come in for the injured Sandilands.Taberner, who kicked one goal for Peel against Claremont, has kicked five goals from five appearances for Fremantle this season.

Ed Langdon
Listed as a test for this week, Langdon has missed four of Freo’s past five games with a knee injury. The utility has averaged 18 disposals per game in 2017, kicking two goals in his most recent AFL appearance against Collingwood in round 11.

Josh Deluca
Deluca featured strongly in the midfield on debut against Geelong but slowed late in the game after picking up an ankle injury. The 21-year-old was ruled out of last week’s game due to the injury and has been listed as a test for this week.

Ryan Nyhuis
Nyhuis has continued to impress since his elevation to the senior list, picking up 30 disposals across half-back with six marks, four tackles and three inside 50s last week against Claremont.