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Fremantle recall forward Pat Voss as Western Bulldogs make mass changes for Friday night clash

Jake Santa MariaThe West Australian
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VideoSt Kilda has decided to delay Max King's AFL comeback for another week, with the star forward to play VFL instead after battling knee and calf injuries since June 2024.

Fremantle forward Pat Voss is straight back in to face a revamped Western Bulldogs line-up, with a Dockers recruit missing out due to illness.

Voss was a late withdrawal against Carlton after failing a fitness test before the bounce, with Jeremy Sharp brought in to play his first game of the season.

However, Sharp will retain his place despite Voss’ return, as Judd McVee will miss the clash due to illness.

He did not travel with the team on Wednesday but was expected to fly out on Thursday before being ruled out.

The former Demon had played every game this season and was arguably coming off his best performance with 22 touches and seven marks against the Blues, but will not take part in Friday night’s clash.

Fremantle are chasing a seventh straight victory, something they have not achieved since 2015, but the injury-ravaged Bulldogs have called on a swathe of reinforcements.

The Game NRL 2026

After Aaron Naughton was cleared to play following his scary fall against Sydney, former All-Australian ruck Tim English will play his first game since round four, in a massive boost to their ruck stocks that had already lost Sam Darcy to a season-ending ACL injury.

Arthur Jones of the Bulldogs in action
Camera IconArthur Jones of the Bulldogs in action Credit: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Speedy forward Arthur Jones will also return, but veteran Adam Treloar is out with the Bulldogs managing his comeback from his latest hamstring injury.

Forward Oskar Baker has been dropped, along with key defender Ryan Gardner, while Cooper Hynes and Lachie Jacques also miss out.

Laitham Vandameer and Lachlan McNiel will join Jones in a revamped forward line, while Harvey Gallagher has been brought in to cover Treloar.

Former St Kilda defender Nick Coffield is also in for his first game of the season to try and curtail Fremantle’s imposing forward trio.

Fremantle won both their games against the Bulldogs last season, including their final round thriller, to seal their finals berth and are heavy favourites at Marvel.

The Bulldogs have been hammered in recent weeks, losing their past three games by 40-plus points to tumble down to 10th on the ladder, while also losing several key players to injuries.

However, they will hope the return of English can provide a steadying presence around the stoppage as Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir admitted their changes make them unpredictable.

“We expect the Dogs to be at their best, they’ve still got a lot of weapons in that team and one of the best midfields in the comp,” he told Seven earlier this week.

WESTERN BULLDOGS V FREMANTLE

Friday, Marvel Stadium, 5.30pm

BULLDOGS

B: M Sellwood B Khamis N Coffield

HB: H Gallagher J Busslinger B Dale

C: A Jones M Bontempelli B Williams

HF: R Sanders W Lewis L Vandermeer

F: J Freijah A Naughton R West

FOLL: T English M Kennedy E Richards

I/C: L Emmett J Dolan L Bramble L McNiel S Davidson

EMG: O Baker L Jacques C Hynes

IN: N Coffield H Gallagher A Jones L Vandermeer T English L McNeil

OUT: R Gardner (Omitted) L Jaques (Omitted) L Smith (Omitted) O Baker (Omitted) A Treloar (Managed) C Hynes (Omitted)

DOCKERS

B: B Cox A Pearce H Chapman

HB: J Clark L Ryan K Worner

C: M Frederick A Brayshaw M Johnson

HF: S Bolton M Reid S Switkowski

F: P Voss J Treacy J Amiss

FOLL: L Jackson H Young C Serong

I/C: M Cox J Sharp I Dudley C Wagner N Erasmus

EMG: N O’Driscoll C Scerri O McDonald

IN: P Voss

OUT: J McVee (illness)

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