With a top four finish on the line, the Fremantle Dockers are bringing in underdone stars Michael Barlow and Matthew Pavlich for Saturday’s clash against Port Adelaide.
Knowing the chances of winning a premiership almost entirely disappear outside of a top four finish, coach Ross Lyon has taken a calculated risk as the Dockers look to defend their spot on the AFL ladder.
Barlow missed last week’s demolition of Brisbane after sustaining a broken thumb in Round 21’s impressive victory over Hawthorn and was initially expected not to return until week one of the finals.
Lyon yesterday listed Barlow as unlikely to suit up against the surging Power while Barlow himself sounded sceptical about his chances of making the cut earlier on Thursday.
“I’ll put my hand up to play regardless of who we’re playing, but the powers-that-be will make that decision,” he told Perth’s 6PR.
“It’s crystal ball kind of stuff, but I’d definitely be putting my good hand up to play if it was the grand final this week.”
“It’s going to be tested out over the next week. (I’m) pretty keen to get back for the first final and all things are tracking really well to do that at the moment.
“I’ll build some ball-work into my program over the next week and build a lot of confidence with that.
“I’m hoping to go into the (first finals) game thumbs-up.”
Matthew Pavlich also returns to the side after being a very late withdrawal against the Lions. The duo replace two other Fremantle mainstays who have struggled with recent injury concerns, Garrick Ibbotson and Matt de Boer.
Fremantle hold a one-win advantage over Port on the AFL ladder, however a loss would see Port’s 0.5 percentage advantage replace them in the four.
Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images
