However, debuting in the regular season is set to be a tough ask for Fremantle’s first-year players, with coach Mark Harvey hopeful he won’t have to call on many of his new recruits in 2010.
Barlow and Silvagni, both 22, impressed in Fremantle’s intra-club match on Saturday and Harvey said the pair would line up alongside No.4 draft pick Anthony Morabito and captain Matthew Pavlich in Sunday's game.
“Through the hardship of not getting on a list at 18 they’re really putting their best foot forward and, at this stage, you can reward that in the NAB Cup,” Harvey said from Fremantle Oval on Wednesday.
“There’s a real desire about them forging their careers at their age.
“They’ve got to earn the respect of their teammates before we can actually put them in the side, and I think that these guys have actually done that".
Barlow, who averaged 30 possessions a game in the VFL last year and won Werribee’s best and fairest, will play in the midfield, while Harvey forecast a match-up with exciting Melbourne forward Liam Jurrah for Silvagni.
“You can go one or two ways: you can give them a big role, or you can see how they fit in,” the coach said.
“I would be giving them a big role and seeing where they’re at - that's what I was taught to do.”
Harvey said he would field a side on Sunday that is roughly 30 per cent off his ideal line-up for round one.
Nick Suban and full-back Chris Tarrant were both rested from Wednesday’s training session with minor back complaints and won’t play. However, Stephen Hill (cork) and Chris Mayne (leg) both trained and are available for selection.
Pavlich will play his first game for the season after missing the trial game with a minor calf injury.
“We’re just monitoring him, but he’s starting to step his training up”, Harvey said.
“It’s just whether we play him as a sub or not. Can you imagine going to Pav and saying, ‘You’re a sub?’”
Of Fremantle’s remaining first-year players, Dandenong Stingrays recruit Dylan Roberton appears to be the next in line for a call-up.
However, Harvey made it clear he would like to avoid the scenario of 2009, when Fremantle debuted 10 first-year players.
“I’m pretty much hoping that we don’t have to go into a lot of our first-year players this year", Harvey said while adding that he would like to build the development of the younger players who have already had a taste of AFL football.
“You have to have a good injury run, so hopefully you don’t have to go early with those guys - you can let them evolve.”
