Fremantle has selected two players to make their club debuts on Saturday night against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in round 1 of the 2011 season.

Former Port Adelaide midfielder Nick Lower and 2010 draft pick Jayden Pitt have both earned the right to represent the Freo Dockers for the first time.

The match also marks the first time Freo will officially run out for a home and away fixture in the club’s new look jumper.

For Lower, selection was the ultimate reward for his perseverance after his AFL career was at the crossroads when Port delisted him at the end of the 2009 season.

The 23-year-old South Australian went back to SANFL level in 2010, where he gained more possessions than any player in the competition. That led to Fremantle picking him up in the 2011 Rookie Draft.

Lower grabbed his second chance at AFL with a string of solid pre-season performances that couldn’t be overlooked by Freo selectors.

After last week being promoted to the senior list as the club’s nominated rookie for 2011, Lower said it was exciting to see his name in the selected team for round 1.

“It’s been a long time since I played AFL and it’s something I thought I might not have had the chance to do again,” he said.

Lower said it was extremely rewarding to know he had made it back to the top level after his prior disappointments.

“It’s been a long process since I realised I wasn’t going to be in the AFL back in 2009,” Lower said.

“I just went back and played and tried to work my way back in. It’s been a long road and getting a game here at Fremantle is still just a small step in that process.”

Eighteen-year-old Pitt was the club’s highest draft pick (No. 20) in the 2010 AFL Draft. He said he was too excited to talk when he saw his name on the team selection board.

“I was lost for words,” he said.

“I hadn’t put any expectations on myself to be selected for round 1, I just wanted to get out there, have a good pre-season, train well and if was lucky enough to get an opportunity I’d take it with both hands.”

Pitt said he expected a tough initiation at the Gabba but that he was looking forward to the challenges his coaches give him.

“The coaches expect that I give my all and work on winning the contested ball,” he said.

“I can’t wait to get out there and prove myself against the bigger bodies.”

Fremantle defeated the Lions in round 7 at the Gabba last year, but that was the first ever win at the ground out of nine attempts.

Adam McPhee could be earmarked to negate the influence of star Brisbane midfielder Simon Black, who has polled Brownlow Medal votes in his past four matches against the Freo Dockers.

Collingwood recruit Jack Anthony was left out of the 22 to play the Lions on Saturday, but could come in after being named as one of the emergencies.

In accordance with the AFL’s new interchange rules, Fremantle will name its substitute player tomorrow.

Fremantle Team
B: Broughton, Grover, van Berlo

HB: Duffield, McPharlin, Crowley

C: Lower, Mundy, Fyfe

HF: Bradley, Pavlich, JOhnson

F: Ballantyne, Mayne, Hill

Foll: Sandilands, McPhee, Suban

Int: Palmer, Pitt, Roberton, Walters

Emg: Crichton, ANthony, Michie