No Nat Fyfe again as Fremantle name potential debutant Matthew Johnson as one of three inclusions for derby

Dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe won’t return from a foot injury in Sunday’s western derby at Optus Stadium as Fremantle look to bounce back from a 0-2 start.

Fyfe got through Dockers’ main training session at Optus Stadium on Thursday but it was decided to give him at least another week to rest his foot, meaning he will miss a second straight match.

It comes after he revealed on 7NEWS Perth that he’s been dealing with a plantar fasciitis injury for three months.

“I’ve been dealing with him for about three months, and every now and then it just spikes in how much it inhibits you,” Fyfe said.

“I gotta get through most of training and be in a place physically and mentally where I feel like I’ll be able to contribute really well. Positively the rest of my body is tracking really nicely on my build back to full fitness.”

Young gun Matthew Johnson is in line for a long-awaited AFL debut, with the Subiaco product one of three potential inclusions for the Dockers alongside winger Nathan O’Driscoll and rebounding defender Brandon Walker who both haven’t played this season.

All three were named on an extended bench, which will be trimmed to four at 2pm on Friday afternoon, alongside forward Jye Amiss, wingmen Liam Henry and Ethan Hughes, midfielder Will Brodie and utility Bailey Banfield.

Veteran goalsneak Michael Walters was named in the starting 18 after a successful two-goal return as a substitute last week against North Melbourne.

Out-of-form key forward Matt Taberner has been named on the ground in a sign he won’t get dropped, despite getting subbed out the opening two rounds and booting just one goal for the season.

Johnson is a second-year midfielder who has enjoyed a strong pre-season and recently racked up 38 disposals for Fremantle’s WAFL affiliate Peel Thunder in a practice match against his old club Subi.

Known for his elite kicking and running ability, the 20-year-old, likened to club games-record holder David Mundy, has spent time as an inside midfielder and on the wing over the summer.

O’Driscoll has made good progress since recovering from a foot injury, playing in the Thunder’s last two pre-season matches, while Walker has been overlooked in favour of in-form veteran Nathan Wilson.

West Coast have done the same as Fremantle from a team perspective, adding three players without dropping anyone at this stage.

Big-bodied midfielder Greg Clark, dashing half-back Brady Hough and tall defender Harry Edwards were all added to the eight-man bench alongside last week’s substitute debutant Elijah Hewett, Samo Petrevski-Seton, Campbell Chesser, Alex Witherden and Jamaine Jones.

Teams

Fremantle

B: B Cox, A Pearce, H Young

HB: H Chapman, L Ryan, N Wilson

C: J Clark, J O’Meara, J Aish

HF: M Walters, L Jackson, M Frederick

F: L Schultz, S Switkowski, M Taberner

FOLL: S Darcy, A Brayshaw, C Serong

INT (FROM): J Amiss, E Hughes, L Henry, W Brodie, B Banfield, N O’Driscoll, M Johnson, B Walker

West Coast

B: S Hurn, T Barrass, L Duggan

HB: T Cole, J McGovern, J Hunt

C: D Sheed, T Kelly, A Gaff

HF: N Long, J Darling, J Cripps

F: L Ryan, O Allen, J Waterman

FOLL: B Williams, R Ginbey, L Shuey

INT (FROM): E Hewett, S Petrevski-Seton, C Chesser, B Hough, A Witherden, J Jones, G Clark, H Edwards

More to come.