Top trio back for Dockers against Blues

Fremantle will welcome back a trio of key players as they set about salvaging their top-two aspirations against Carlton at Patersons Stadium on Thursday night.

Coach Ross Lyon declared Aaron Sandilands, Stephen Hill and Hayden Ballantyne as certainties to return to the line-up that was humbled by bottom side St Kilda at Etihad Stadium nine days’ ago.

And he said Anthony Morabito and Colin Sylvia would both be under pressure to retain their spots despite refusing to single out any villains from the club’s shock 58-point defeat to the Saints.

Sandilands (back) and Hill (calf) both missed the horror loss through injury, while Ballantyne was serving his second suspension for the year.

“We’ve really had our review and moved on,” Lyon said.

“We’ve analysed the game and reviewed and took some learnings out of it.

“There’s so many things. It was all areas really, but it was predicated on work rate. The big lesson is it’s about preparation, preparing thoroughly and bringing great effort and then that underpins your performance.

“Certainly St Kilda outworked us, had higher levels of intensity for longer periods. That’s been addressed.”

Lyon said McPharlin would play against Carlton despite sitting on the interchange bench for most of the final term against St Kilda.

But he put a line through Michael Walters, saying the forward was not ready to return and was still likely a fortnight away from resuming.

Last year’s club leading goal kicker has not played since hurting his ankle against the Hawks in round three and needing surgery.

“He’s training well, he’s progressing, but he’s got probably a couple of weeks,” Lyon said.