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Fremantle regain Sam Switkowski, Adam Cerra for Essendon match, West Coast name Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass

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Catherine HealeyThe West Australian
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Jeremy McGovern (right) and Tom Barrass (left) are back for the Eagles.
Camera IconJeremy McGovern (right) and Tom Barrass (left) are back for the Eagles. Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian

Fremantle have been given a boost ahead of the must-win clash with Essendon on Sunday, regaining injured duo Sam Switkowski and Adam Cerra.

While West Coast have been bolstered by the return of star duo Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass to face an Adelaide Crows outfit minus leading goal kicker Taylor Walker.

Fremantle’s Reece Conca has been dropped while Michael Frederick will miss with injury in the two changes to the Dockers outfit beaten by Brisbane.

Switkowski will play his first game since round three after injuring his finger while Cerra returns from a foot injury suffered against Adelaide in round five.

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SEE THE FULL TEAMS BELOW

Last week’s medical sub Connor Blakely remains an option for the role on Sunday, alongside fellow emergencies Conca and Lloyd Meek.

The Game AFL 2024

Joel Western has also been named as an emergency, but isn’t even in Melbourne according to Dockers assistant coach Josh Carr.

“No Joel won’t be making a debut,” Carr said on ABC Sportstalk on Saturday.

“He’s back in Perth.”

The Bombers have rested prized draft pick Nik Cox with Jake Stringer already ruled out.

David Zaharakis will start alongside last week’s medical sub Matt Guelfi.

For the Eagles, veteran forward Josh Kennedy has been named despite finishing last week’s win over Hawthorn injured on the bench.

Kennedy tweaked his calf late in the clash but has been passed fit to face Adelaide on Sunday.

Young defender Harry Edwards and small forward Zac Langdon have been dropped.

They are joined by Luke Foley and Xavier O’Neill as emergencies for the Optus Stadium clash, with one to be selected as the medical sub.

For the Crows, Walker has been rested while Elliott Himmelberg and Andrew McPherson were dropped.

Lachlan Murphy (syndesmosis) and Ned McHenry (concussion) will miss through injury.

Ronin O’Connor will debut while Billy Frampton, Shane McAdam and Chayce Jones return.

McGovern and Barrass haven’t played since the Eagles’ shocking 97-point loss to Geelong in round six, but West Coast are yet to lose a game since then.

By regaining the star defensive duo, young Oscar Allen can again return to the Eagles forward line, where he kicked 16 goals in just six games.

But the rising star hasn’t kicked a goal in his past two matches after being shifted into defence.

FULL TEAMS

DOCKERS

B: T Watson G Logue T Duman

HB: N Wilson B Cox D Tucker

C: B Acres A Brayshaw J Aish

HF: L Schultz R Lobb M Crowden

F: T Colyer M Taberner M Walters

FOLL: S Darcy N Fyfe D Mundy

I/C: L Henry S Switkowski C Serong A Cerra

EMG: C Blakely J Western R Conca L Meek

IN: S Switkowski A Cerra

OUT: C Blakely R Conca (both omitted) M Frederick (injured)

EAGLES

B: T Cole T Barrass B Sheppard

HB: A Witherden J McGovern J Rotham

C: J Redden T Kelly J Waterman

HF: J Cripps J Darling J Petruccelle

F: O Allen J Kennedy B Ah Chee

FOLL: N Naitanui D Sheed A Gaff

I/C: J Brander J Nelson J Jones B Williams

EMG: Z Langdon X O’Neill L Foley H Edwards

IN: T Barrass J McGovern

OUT: H Edwards Z Langdon L Foley (all omitted)

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