Fremantle Dockers remain unchanged for pivotal clash with Carlton at Optus Stadium
In a round where much of the competition's top eight play each other, the Dockers have the chance to earn a place in the top five with a win over the Blues at Optus Stadium.
The Western Bulldogs have already done the men in purple a favour, belting the Giants by 88 points to lift Fremantle into seventh on percentage, while they could also jump Hawthorn and Brisbane should those two sides lose to Adelaide and Collingwood, respectively.
Hayden Young will likely play increased minutes after being subbed out in his Glendinning-Allan Medal-winning performance in the western derby as the three-pronged attack of Josh Treacy, Pat Voss and Jye Amiss will put pressure on Carlton's struggling defence.
The Blues are missing Charlie Curnow, whose season is over after knee surgery, as well as former Docker Adam Cerra.
Sam Docherty retired after last week's clash with Hawthorn.
Fremantle will need to overcome a poor record against the Blues, having won just one of their past five meetings, with Carlton claiming their last clash at Adelaide Oval in 2024 by 10 points.
Alex Pearce will miss a fourth consecutive game. However, Justin Longmuir said he was confident the key defender would be ready to play a significant role in the last month of the season after battling shin splints.
'We've probably been a little bit more conservative this time. So that should hold him in good stead,' Longmuir said.
Fremantle resisted the urge to bring dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe straight back into the seniors as a sub, opting to instead give him a run in the WAFL with Peel Thunder.
Sunday, Optus Stadium, 3.10pm
DOCKERS
B: L Ryan B Cox O McDonald
HB: H Chapman K Worner J Clark
C: J O'Meara H Young N O'Driscoll
HF: S Switkowski P Voss S Bolton
F: M Frederick J Treacy J Amiss
FOLL: L Jackson C Serong A Brayshaw
I/C: S Darcy M Reid B Banfield N Erasmus I Dudley
EMG: B Walker W Brodie J Draper
BLUES
B: A Saad J Weitering M Carroll
HB: L Cowan H O'Farrell N Haynes
C: B Acres P Cripps C Lord
HF: Z Williams J Motlop O Hollands
F: L Fogarty H McKay W White
FOLL: T De Koning G Hewett A Moir
I/C: M Pittonet F Young L Young F Evans C Durdin
EMG: J Binns J Boyd H O'Keeffe
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