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THERE were two significant changes to the Fremantle list that were evident on the weekend in the club’s first NAB Cup games.
The first was the arrival of Danyle Pearce who made is debut for the Dockers after beginning his career at Port Adelaide. Pearce was a bright spark for the Dockers in both games and Fremantle will be hoping the former NAB Rising Star will be rejuvenated after a couple of stagnant years at the Power.
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The second significant change was the very obvious hole left in defense by the departure of Adam McPhee.
Luke McPharlin, Michael Johnson and Zac Dawson will be expected to pick up the slack, however this would be the ideal time for Fremantle to give Peter Faulks or Alex Silvangi an opportunity to fill the void. Both players are similar in stature to McPhee and play their best football in the backline. While they lack the speed that McPhee had carrying the ball from half back, the Dockers are in need to an extra big body in their back half.
Fremantle should expect big things from Michael Walters in 2013: his pace and execution could make him the most dangerous forward on the team.
Walters has been consistent under Ross Lyon and was in form during the clubs first hit out of 2013. Having Walters essentially play the role that Hayden Ballantyne occupied early in his career will now free Ballantyne up to spend more time up the ground in the midfield.
Also on Football Nation: The full 2013 NAB Cup Fixture
Key playmaker Stephen Hill showed some glimpses of the flash and class many have become accustomed to seeing. Hill, who struggled in parts last season is an important component of the Fremantle midfield. His explosive pace and ability to navigate effectively through traffic was on show on the weekend. The Dockers will be hoping that Hill has a breakout year and establishes himself as one of the elite midfielders in the competition.