Fremantle might be going through a ruck crisis due to injury, but it didn’t take away from a special moment at the club as ruck coach Aaron Sandilands told young ruck Mim Strom she would make her debut on Sunday.

The teenager will be the team’s first choice ruck in their clash against Geelong at Fremantle Oval this weekend, with Sandilands handing Strom her no.21 guernsey at training last night.

Strom is set to be one of a number of debuts for the Dockers, who lost nine players to the West Coast Eagles last year.

Sandilands, who played 271 games for the Dockers, has been working with all the rucks at Fremantle as a part-time coach since retiring last year.

Strom said she could not ask for a better way to find out about her debut than from Sandilands.

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“I was presented with my playing jumper for round one by Aaron Sandilands. I don’t think you could ask for a better legend of the game to present your jumper,” Strom said.

“It’s pretty crazy. Obviously I was hoping to play, but once I heard the news I couldn’t stop smiling. I’m so excited to get out there. I’m obviously nervous too, but that’s good.”

Camera Icon New Fremantle Dockers players Jenelle Cutherson, Bianca Webb, Ann McMahon, Mim Strom, Roxy Roux, Sarah Garstone and Emma O'Driscoll after being drafted late last year. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian

Strom selected at no.21 in the 2019 AFL Women’s draft as a long-term prospect for Freo, but after to the season-ending knee injury to Irish import Aine Tighe, Strom became the club’s first choice in the ruck.

Sandilands said Strom had done everything to earn her spot for round one.

“To be able to debut in round one this year is huge for her and also huge for Freo,” Sandilands told the club website.

“Her willingness to learn and work ethic is outstanding. I just love the way she goes about it and there’s no doubt she’ll fit in well in the team this Sunday.

“She’s so young and there’s so much potential for Mim a couple of years down the track. The more games we get into her, the better she’ll become.

“She’s going to compete, she’ll have a crack, and seeing some of the vision from the past couple of weeks, she doesn’t mind backing back into the pack. She has plenty of courage and, hopefully, she can give our mids first use.”

It was not the only good news at Fremantle this week, with midfielder Kiara Bowers revealing she and partner Adele are expecting a baby boy mid-year.