AFL: Fremantle pulled a selection shock ahead of their Optus Stadium qualifying final against Hawthorn with a home preliminary final on the cards for the victor.
Brandon Walker has made three AFL appearances in two seasons and had an injury scare just over a month ago.
However, his fortunes have turned around with Justin Longmuir calling him into the side for the club’s first September bout.
He joins Murphy Reid, Jye Amiss, Heath Chapman and Sam Switkowski as ins for Fremantle while Jack Ginnivan’s return is the only change at Hawthorn.
Follow all the action with our live blog.
Eight minutes!
Both teams are on the ground.
We just have the Welcome to Country and then the anthem before we get the finals series proper underway!
Any purple fans nervous yet?
Big boos
The Hawks were given a Fremantle welcome as they ran through the banner with plenty of boos.
Milestone men
Jordan Clark hits his 250th AFL game tonight.
He has not missed one since moving across to Fremantle from Geelong and a qualifying final win would be quite the way to celebrate it.
Pat Voss also plays game No.50 tonight and is a good chance of a bag.
“Good Laugh”
The wizard Nick Watson has given his reaction to the back page of today’s The West Australian.
“Itching”
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says he has been itching to bring Brandon Walker back into the senior team.
He said Walker had “by far” been their best player at WAFL level despite a raft of injuries, including two concussions.
Longmuir also confirmed he’d play on Nick Watson.
“We lacked a bit of speed in our backline. He has been really unlucky with injury,” he said pre-game.
“He was in the team for round 1, he had a couple of concussions at WAFL level and then hurt his shoulder in the WAFL. We have been itching to get him back in.
“It’s a bit of a leap of faith but his form at WAFL level has been well above. We feel like he’s ready to go.”
Time will tell tonight if the call was the right one.
Wharfie Time
The Hawks are the only team to force the Dockers to use Wharfie Time this year in round nine.
The Women used it on Sunday and fell just short against Carlton.
Will it be needed tonight?
Heavens open
The rain has arrived at Optus Stadium.
There is expected to be some showers throughout the night but hopefully nothing heavy.
Pearce test?
The Freo skipper is the first Docker on the ground for an official warm-up and he does some run throughs before running at the ball and taking some marks.
He gets a high five afterwards so if it was a quick test he passed with flying colours.
The Malthouse take
Reunion
2018 premiership Eagles Tom Barrass and Will Schofield have shared a hug in the middle of Optus Stadium as the Hawks continue to take some shots at goal.
The pair were pillars of that premiership and the Hawks will be hoping Barrass can lead them to the promised land as well.
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