It’s going to be a big week at the selection table with Fremantle needing to make at least two changes for Sunday’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.

Aaron Sandilands (concussion) and Stephen Hill (quad) have been ruled out of the clash with senior coach Ross Lyon indicating last Sunday that Fremantle were going to ‘double down’ on playing the club’s younger players.

Stefan Giro
Did Lyon have Giro in mind when making his comments on bringing in more young players? The 19-year-old excelled in the WAFL last Saturday against East Fremantle, racking up 34 disposals, seven marks and five clearances. The midfielder was ranked as one of the hardest runners in his draft class and could take on the role left open by Hill.
If selected, Giro will be Freo’s sixth player to debut this season.

Michael Apeness
If Apeness is selected, it would mark 645 days between AFL appearances. The versatile ruck / forward has averaged 30 hitouts from his past four WAFL appearances and has been highlighted by Lyon as a potential replacement for Sandilands.

A debut ruckman?
Aside from Apeness, Lyon has three other ruck options from Fremantle’s ranks – all of whom are yet to make their AFL debuts.
Recently, Scott Jones and rookie Luke Strnadica have rotated through the ruck and the forwardline with Apeness while Lloyd Meek has played in the reserves. Ruck coach Simon Eastaugh has previously indicated that playing ruckmen in the reserves is not necessarily an indicator of form. Instead it is done to ensure that one player can get in excess of 80 ruck contests in one game - as opposed to sharing the load in the league team.

Taylin Duman
The second-year defender has played four games at AFL level since making his debut in round five and could be in line for a recall with a 25 disposal and 14 mark performance for Peel. Duman has averaged 12.5 disposals and 3.5 marks per game at AFL level and was another flagged by Lyon as a potential inclusion.

Ethan Hughes
The 23-year-old defender had 25 disposals and took 10 marks for Peel against East Fremantle. Hughes has averaged 22 disposals and eight marks per game from five WAFL appearances this season. Hughes has made one AFL appearance in 2018, lining up against Richmond where he collected 12 disposals.

Griffin Logue
Logue is yet to make an AFL appearance in his second season with Fremantle, with a foot injury keeping the defender out of action until last week’s return through the WAFL. The 19-year-old collected 11 disposals and delivered four inside 50s against East Fremantle, but he may need more time to build at WAFL level before making the jump back to senior footy.

Mitch Crowden
The midfielder / forward returned to WAFL level after playing eight consecutive games since making his AFL debut in round two. Against East Fremantle, Crowden collected 14 disposals and laid three tackles.

Tom North
The first-year midfielder is continuing to develop at Peel with 20 disposals and a goal. From six WAFL appearances this season, North has averaged 18 disposals and 3 marks per game.