Fremantle’s top draft pick last year, Neil Erasmus, will make his AFL debut in Sunday’s Western Derby.
Covxjmtzywid-impacted Dockers coach Justin Longmuir broke the news on Thursday afternoon to the No.10 selection, a 190cm midfielder-forward from Subiaco.
Erasmus will become Fremantle’s second debutant in as many weeks behind Nathan O’Driscoll.
Neither Western Australian club has to submit its squad until Saturday afternoon because of the coronavirus situation in the state, which has particularly ravaged the Eagles in the past fortnight.
Willie Rioli and captain Luke Shuey are the latest West Coast players to enter the AFL’s health and safety protocols after Adam Simpson’s side made 14 changes from round 1 to last week.
The Dockers confirmed a day early that Erasmus would play his first senior game after being a travelling emergency in the club’s season-opening win over Adelaide.
“It is exciting – I wouldn’t have imagined playing the biggest game over here in WA,” Erasmus said.
“It is going to be two strong teams put out on the park and it is always a great rivalry, so I can’t wait for that to be my first game in front of a big crowd this week with less restrictions.”
Longmuir, who is a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case, told Erasmus he had “earned” and deserved his AFL opportunity.
“You have just kept on banging the door down, like I have said to you many times, I just love your toughness and competitiveness and your work rate,” he said.
“The thing that has really impressed me over the last three to four weeks is that drive to constantly improve … I’m really excited for you.”
