Fremantle have named an extended squad of 26 for Sunday’s Round 17 fixture at the SCG, with Alex Pearce a confirmed starter with James Aish, Jaeger O’Meara and Jeremy Sharp potential inclusions in the line-up. 

Pearce has been named in the last line of defence, while Aish, O’Meara and Sharp are named on the extended interchange alongside Bailey Banfield, Isaiah Dudley, Neil Erasmus, Oscar McDonald and Patrick Voss. 

Captain Pearce has spent five weeks on the sidelines, nursing a hot spot in his shin that flared after the Round 11 win over Port Adelaide.  

O’Meara hasn’t played an AFL match since injuring his foot and hamstring in Fremantle’s Round 6 loss to Melbourne at the MCG. Sharp was an emergency for last Sunday’s win over St Kilda, while Aish played for Peel Thunder. 

Fremantle’s last trip to the SCG, in Round 16 last season, ended in a dramatic one-point win over the Swans.  

Senior coach Justin Longmuir adamant the shape of the ground is likely to be more of a challenge than the surface, which faces one final AFL inspection on Friday. 

Fremantle will be permitted to hold their captain’s run at the ground on Saturday. 

“Both teams will have to play on the same surface, so we’ll embrace it and get to work,” Longmuir said.
 

“It is a bit wider and it does affect the way you attack and defend. 

“We had success up there last year, but we’ve got some fresh faces so we’ll revisit that. 

“It’s a big challenge. Sydney are in good form. They pushed the Bulldogs all the way; if they kicked a bit better they may have gotten over the line there. 

“Their contest work is strong and they’ve got some personnel back. They seem to be hunting oppositions before the bounce and during the game, so they’ve got a bit of their mojo back.” 

It’s also another big test for Fremantle’s two-pronged ruck combination of Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson against veteran big man Brodie Grundy. 

“It’s a big battle; Grundy’s form has been phenomenal,” said Longmuir. 

“Last week I thought he was the best player on the ground. His influence on the game was huge, so it’s going to be a challenge for Luke and Sean, but it’s a good opportunity to throw two different guys at him.  

“We’re going to have our work cut out, but I like that both of our rucks are slightly different in the way they will approach it and they’ll throw a couple of different things at him.” 

 Fremantle’s final team will be announced at 3pm WST on Friday at fremantlefc.com.au 

The tactical substitute will be confirmed one hour before bounce down on Sunday.