Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has made good on his promise to double down on youth, swinging the axe on veterans Hayden Ballantyne, Danyle Pearce and Michael Johnson.
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The experienced trio are among six changes for Sunday's AFL clash with Collingwood at the MCG.
Aaron Sandilands (concussion) and Stephen Hill (quad) were forced out through injury, while former Sun Brandon Matera was axed.
First-year players Stefan Giro and Scott Jones will make their debuts, with Michael Apeness, Tommy Sheridan, Taylin Duman, and Shane Kersten the other inclusions.
Pearce will struggle to play again this year given the club's intense focus on youth.
Ballantyne and Johnson are seen to have more to offer, but also face a fight to win back their spot.
Lyon denied it was the end for the trio, but he couldn't give any guarantees they would return.
"I just stay in the near term, and that's all I can do," Lyon said.
"I'm not here to predict. I'm sure we'll see them appear for us again this year.
"When you get challenged, it's how you respond.
"And we're confident that those guys, particularly the experienced guys ... will be fine.
"And we'll work with them. They want the team to win.They won't be wearing out their shoes trying to stop the team."
Ballantyne has kicked only 10 goals this season, and he has laid just two tackles in his past three games.
The 30-year-old is keen to play on next season, and Lyon gave a hint that the 161-game veteran was still wanted.
"He's been a fierce warrior for us, and he's got plenty of good football in him," Lyon said.
"This is an opportunity just to gather himself and really come again hard."
Pearce, 32, has become a target among Fremantle fans given his high turnover rate, while 33-year-old Johnson also faces a fight to earn a new one-year deal if he decides to play on.
Sandilands' absence means 23-year-old Jones (203cm) and injury-prone Apeness (200cm) will go up against Collingwood duo Brodie Grundy (203cm) and Mason Cox (211cm).
Former Cat Kersten will play in defence after struggling to nail a spot in Fremantle's set-up as a forward.
Collingwood were dealt a triple blow when they lost Jeremy Howe (bone bruising), Ben Reid (leg), and Travis Varcoe (hamstring) to injury.
The Magpies will unleash mature-age rookie Brody Mihocek, while midfielder Daniel Wells returns after a week's rest.
Australian Associated Press
