Aaron Sandilands, Chris Tarrant and Paul Duffield will return for Fremantle’s AFL Heritage Round clash with Sydney at the SCG on Sunday.
Sandilands’ inclusion in the 25 man squad comes after missing last Saturday’s 77 point win over Carlton with a groin strain. His inclusion will assist his side in combating Sydney’s revered ruck stocks of Peter Everitt and Darren Jolly.
Tarrant’s return after a club imposed one match suspension paves the way for the former Magpie to line up alongside goal sneak Jeff Farmer for the first time this season.
With Farmer, Matthew Pavlich and Des Headland each having solid returns last week with four, four and five goals respectively, Connolly said Fremantle would go into the Sydney clash with a stronger forward structure with Tarrant joining the trio.
“I think we go in to the game with a more potent forward line,” Connolly said.
“But again the clearances will be a big test. Robbie Warnock and Aaron Sandilands against (Peter) Everitt and (Darren) Jolly – that will be influential in the outcome as will our work at ground level.
“Coming off the back of the Carlton game it’s an area we weren’t so good in and it’s an area Sydney are very good in so that will be a major focus for us.”
In Sandilands’ absence against the Blues, Robbie Warnock took predominant responsibility in the ruck against Carlton big men Cain Ackland and Setanta O’hAilpin. The 20 year old racked up 16 hit outs amongst his 16 possessions and five marks changing with Daniel Gilmore in the ruck.
Connolly was impressed by Warnock’s efforts against the Blues.
“He should be really proud of himself for the way he took on the game on the weekend, particularly early when we were under pressure,” Connolly said.
“Young ruckmen, a player of his size, to influence the game like he did on the weekend was an outstanding effort.
“This weekend will be a great test against one of the more formidable ruck combinations.”
Paul Duffield has also been recalled and is named on an extended bench that will be reduced from seven players to four tomorrow afternoon.
Duffield lead from the front in the midfield for the Bulldogs in their Round 14 WAFL clash against East Perth last weekend to help South Fremantle recover from a 49 point deficit midway through the second term to record a hard fought 27 point win.
Fremantle will celebrate the AFL Heritage Round’s ‘70s theme by wearing the jumper made famous by East Fremantle in the 1979 WAFL Grand Final between the Sharks and arch rivals South Fremantle.
The 1979 Grand Final, played before the largest football crowd ever in Western Australia where 52,781 packed Subiaco Oval, was won by East Fremantle defeating South Fremantle 21.19 (145) to 16.16 (112).
In the 150th anniversary year of the foundation of Western Australia, more than one million people attended football matches for the first time in WAFL history in 1979.
The East Fremantle Premiership side in 1979 was captained by Brian Peake, father of current Fremantle player Brett Peake and legend of the Fremantle Football Club (inducted in 1976). Peake’s Vice Captain was current Fremantle Football Club director Tony Buhagiar.
Fremantle Team – Round 14 v Sydney
B: Hayden, McPharlin, Thornton
HB: Johnson, Grover, Dodd
C: Black, J. Carr, Mundy
HF: Headland, Pavlich, Solomon
F: Farmer, Tarrant, Sandilands
Foll: Warnock, Hasleby, Bell
IC (from): Schammer, McManus, M. Carr, Parker, Gilmore, Murphy, Duffield
Team Changes
In: Tarrant, Sandilands, Duffield
Round 14 Broadcast Details
Sunday 8 July
Fremantle vs. Sydney
SCG, 1:10pm (EST)
TV
FOX Sports 1
Live Nationally
Channel Seven
PERTH – live
SYDNEY – live
BRISBANE – live
WA REGIONAL – live
Radio
PERTH - 6PR, ABC
SYD - Triple M, ABC
MELB - SEN
ADEL - ABC
CANB - ABC
DAR - ABC
** check local guides **
