Defender Alex Pearce is set to make his Fremantle comeback, while up to seven new faces could also play, when the team takes on Adelaide in the JLT Community Series on Sunday at Strathalbyn Oval, 55km south east of Adelaide. 

Pearce has been named in the squad of 30, which will be narrowed to 26 on Friday, with an extended bench of eight players and 18 players on the field.

If Pearce plays, it will be 645 days between Fremantle appearances after breaking his leg in round 9 of the 2016 season against Richmond at Domain Stadium.

The 22-year-old, who has played 21 AFL games for Fremantle, joins a squad that is comprised of a number of new faces since he last played, including seven players who arrived at the club during the 2017 Draft and Trade periods.

This includes new recruits Nathan Wilson and Brandon Matera, as well as first-year players Andrew Brayshaw, Adam Cerra, Lloyd Meek, Stafan Giro and Bailey Banfield.

Senior coach Ross Lyon has also opted to go with experience against last year’s Grand Finalists, with leadership group members Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands, Michael Walters, Lachie Neale, David Mundy and Lee Spurr all named in the side alongside Doig Medallist Bradley Hill.

It will be the first Fremantle appearance for Sandilands since sustaining a hamstring injury in round 15 against St Kilda, while Walters continues his comeback after his knee injury against Hawthorn in round 18.

Defender Joel Hamling, who played every game in his first season at Fremantle, was unavailable for selection due to a family wedding.

FREMANTLE’S EXTENDED SQUAD
Cam Sutcliffe
Alex Pearce
Luke Ryan
Connor Blakely 
Michael Johnson
Nathan Wilson
Bradley Hill
Aaron Sandilands
Nat Fyfe
Lachie Neale
Michael Walters
Darcy Tucker
Hayden Ballantyne
Danyle Pearce
Brandon Matera
Cam McCarthy
Matt Taberner
David Mundy
Tommy Sheridan
Ed Langdon
Andrew Brayshaw
Brady Grey
Brennan Cox
Stefan Giro
Lloyd Meek
Griffin Logue 
Shane Kersten
Lee Spurr
Adam Cerra
Bailey Banfield