Ryan Crowley’s return to Domain Stadium will be an interesting feature of Fremantle’s clash with Essendon on Saturday night.
While both sides have seen positive signs from their younger players so far in 2016, all eyes will be on the 2012 Doig Medallist, who played 188 games in 10 seasons for Freo.
Crowley’s physical style and tagging prowess made him a favourite with the Purple Army, and it will be interesting to see how the crowd reacts to his attempts to shut down the likes of Lachie Neale, Stephen Hill or skipper David Mundy.
Shortly after signing with Essendon, Crowley said he was looking toward to the opportunity to face his old club with the intention of proving that he can still play at the AFL level.
“Yeah, there’s a little bit of that,” Crowley admitted.
The Crowley homecoming should provide an interesting side-story to Saturday night’s game, but it’s not the first time a Freo player has had to face off against his old teammates in recent memory.
HBF Injury Update: Two face tests for Essendon clash
Recent reunions
Since 2010, five former Fremantle players have returned to face their old team, and Freo have come out on top in these contests with four wins to just one loss.
Brett Peake – 118 career games (Freo/St Kilda), 75 with Freo 2005-2009
Finished with 13 touches in a 15-point win for the Saints against Freo in round 4, 2010.
Robert Warnock – 88 career games (Freo/Carlton), 21 with Freo 2007-2008
Warnock had 12 disposals and 28 hit outs in a six-point loss to Freo in round 22, 2010.
Rhys Palmer – 119 career games (Freo/GWS), 53 with Freo 2008-2011
The midfielder finished with 22 disposals as Freo defeated the Giants by 95 points in round 17, 2012.
Greg Broughton – 110 career games (Freo/Gold Coast), 68 with Freo 2009-2012
Broughton had 20 touches as Freo ran out 45 point winners against the Gold Coast Suns in round six, 2013.
Dylan Roberton – 90 career games (Freo/St Kilda), 37 with Freo 2010-2012
The running defender had only 14 disposals against his old club as Freo defeated St Kilda by 30 points in round 15, 2013.
