TABtouch Team: Two Changes for Key Match Against Giants
Fremantle has announced their final squad of 23 players for the crucial match against the GWS Giants this Saturday. The team will see two significant changes: ruckman Liam Reidy will make his debut, and Nathan O’Driscoll will return to the lineup.
Matthew Taberner and Karl Worner have been excluded from the team for this fixture. O’Driscoll’s return marks his first AFL appearance since Round 18 of the previous year, ending a 399-day hiatus from the league. The 22-year-old winger has been in strong form with Peel, having played eight games this season and delivering an average of 24.6 disposals, 2.3 marks, and three tackles per game over his last three matches. He had been recovering from a knee injury early in the season but has since returned to the WAFL with solid performances.
O’Driscoll has participated in 22 games for Fremantle, with career averages of 14.2 disposals, 3.8 marks, and 11 goals. He will join Corey Wagner, Nat Fyfe, Sam Sturt, and Matthew Johnson on the extended bench. The team’s substitute will be named an hour before the match begins.
Liam Reidy, who was picked 13th in the 2022 Rookie Draft, will be making his debut in the ruck position. Reidy has had a notable presence with Peel Thunder, averaging 44.38 hit-outs, 11 disposals, and four tackles per game in his 13 WAFL appearances this year.
In recent encounters with the Giants, Fremantle has secured victory in three of the last four matches. A win on Saturday would narrow the gap between the teams to just two points on the AFL ladder.
Caleb Serong will act as captain in place of Alex Pearce, while Worner, Neil Erasmus, and Michael Walters are listed as emergencies.
The match will commence at 11:45 AM WST and will be broadcast live on 7mate and Fox Footy, as well as streamed on Kayo.
