Freo to make captain's call as Pearce a test to face Saints
Pearce has been sidelined for 32 days with a stress-related shin injury, but appeared comfortable when he was put through his paces by coaching staff yesterday at the first of two main sessions for the week.
The tall defender will face a fitness test on Thursday when the club will weigh up the pros and cons of playing him against a relatively small forward line or giving him another week of rest.
Pearce last played in the club's round 11 win over Port Adelaide when he copped a three-match on a rough conduct charge before having it overturned.
He took a big step towards a return yesterday, running laps, short sprints, lateral movement exercises and kicking practice.
'He's progressed really well over the last week,' high performance manager Phil Merriman said of Pearce, who recently turned 30.
'We just need to see a little bit more later in the week. Pictured is Alex Pearce at Fremantle Dockers training, Victor George Kailis Oval, Cockburn Perth. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian
'He will be a test to play.'
The Dockers will be desperate to exact revenge for the 61-point humiliation they copped from the Saints the last time they played in round eight.
The Saints are without full-forward Max King, who was this week sent for a third bout of knee surgery and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Cooper Sharman (three goals) and Mitch Owens (three) were the chief destroyers in that game but neither presents a realistic match-up for Pearce.
Midfielder Will Brodie, who is yet to play in the AFL this season, will be unavailable with concussion, following a head collision in the opening minutes of Peel Thunder's WAFL fixture against South Fremantle at the weekend.
'He (Brodie) got a head knock, so he's entered into concussion protocols,' Merriman said.
'He's in good spirits around the club and we expect him to be available next week.'
Gun midfielder Hayden Young made a return to the main group yesterday and is tracking well for a return in the lead up to the finals after recovering from hamstring surgery. He has been listed as three to four weeks from a return.
Small forward Sam Switkowski is one to two weeks away from a return from a hamstring strain.
Forward Sam Sturt is also working his way back to a return from a knee injury that has kept him out of action so far in 2025.
'He's (Sturt) progressing really well,' Merriman said.
'He's had a good week or two on the track, so he'll do a controlled football session this week, with the plan to play next week.' Sam Sturt at Fremantle training. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian
Ruck/forward Aiden Riddle is set for a stint on the sidelines with a foot injury.
Selected in last year's Rookie Draft, Riddle made his WAFL League debut for Peel Thunder in Round 1, kicking seven goals in eight appearances.
'Unfortunately, he's (Riddle) picked up a little bit of a stress reaction in his foot,' Merriman confirmed.
'He's off legs for the next few weeks and will then go through a reloading period.
'Hopefully, we'll see him back towards the end of the year.'
Sunday's match will be Fremantle's annual Starlight Purple Haze Game in which the club raises money for the Starlight Children's Foundation.
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