Projected round one teams for Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles - version 1

With just over a month until their season openers, how are the Dockers and Eagles shaping up for round one? With the help of The West Australian’s reporters from what they’ve seen at training across the summer, here’s our best projection at what each club’s 23-man line-up will look like for the season openers. PROJECTED FREMANTLE ROUND 1 TEAM To play St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, March 19 B: Brandon Walker, Alex Pearce, Luke Ryan HB: Jordan Clark, Brennan Cox, Hayden Young C: James Aish, Caleb Serong, Nathan O’Driscoll HF: Sam Switkowski, Luke Jackson, Michael Frederick F: Lachie Schultz, Matt Taberner, Nat Fyfe R: Sean Darcy, Andrew Brayshaw, Jaeger O’Meara IC: Will Brodie, Michael Walters, Heath Chapman, Jye Amiss SUB: Bailey Banfield WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE COMMENTS BELOW It’s a formidable line-up for the club that ever-so narrowly missed a top-four berth last year. Recruits Jackson and O’Meara are of course among the first picked, while Fyfe bolsters the forward line in his new role after sitting out last year’s finals series. Cox is expected to be fit despite his skateboarding injury, as revealed by coach Justin Longmuir on Tuesday, with O’Driscoll also set to be available as he works to overcome a hot spot in his foot. There’s a serious selection squeeze for the last couple of spots. Amiss showed signs during last September that he’s not afraid of the big stage is expected to rise to a new level in 2023, and can help provide some forward depth given Fyfe and Taberner’s struggles in running out games across the past couple of seasons. Liam Henry, Ethan Hughes, Neil Erasmus and Matt Johnson are among those leading the charge to push for spots, but Banfield could again be given first crack at the sub’s role he made his own last season. PROJECTED WEST COAST ROUND 1 TEAM To play North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, March 18 B: Shannon Hurn, Tom Barrass, Liam Duggan HB: Luke Shuey, Jeremy McGovern, Jamaine Jones C: Jayden Hunt, Tim Kelly, Andrew Gaff HF: Jamie Cripps, Jack Darling, Jake Waterman F: Liam Ryan, Oscar Allen, Callum Jamieson R: Nic Naitanui, Elliot Yeo, Dom Sheed IC: Reuben Ginbey, Tom Cole, Jai Culley, Elijah Hewett SUB: Brady Hough WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE COMMENTS BELOW The Eagles are sweating on Darling’s fitness, with the star forward racing the clock to get right for the clash with the Kangaroos. If cleared, he’ll form a tandem with the returning Allen to help fill the void left by Josh Kennedy, with fellow premiership players Ryan and Cripps first-choice starters in the forward set-up. Shuey has spent plenty of time running out of defence across the summer and is set to start across half-back, while Yeo could be set for a split between midfield and the back line. Signs across the summer indicate Jamieson appears to be in front of Bailey Williams - who played 17 games last year - in the hunt for the secondary ruck berth to back up Naitanui. First-round draft pair Ginbey and Hewett are expected to be given a first-up taste of senior footy from the get-go, with Ginbey in particular setting tongues wagging with his progress and AFL-ready frame. Noah Long has also impressed and is among those set to press his case, while highly-touted 2021 draftee Campbell Chesser is likely to debut later in the season as he works toward full fitness. Adam Simpson has praised the versatility of half-back Jones, flagging that he could be pushed forward to help fill the void left by the departed Junior Rioli and injured Jack Petruccelle. The above side still boasts 11 premiership players as they look to utilise improved fitness and put a horror 2022 campaign behind them.