Four-time all-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern, after a punctuated pre-season build-up, is ready to resume and will play against Fremantle in Saturday’s Marsh Community Series match at Joondalup.

McGovern, who has worked his way through a heel issue, is an important inclusion in the last formal hit-out before the season proper.

He comes into the team with returning bushfire appeal match participants Andrew Gaff, Brad Sheppard and Elliot Yeo.

Unfortunately emerging defender Tom Cole is out with a thumb injury, while forward-ruckman Bailey Williams has hamstring tightness and has been left out and young forward Anthony Treacy will likely play in the curtain-raiser against Peel.

The inclusion of McGovern, Yeo, Gaff and Sheppard means that the Eagles are virtually at full strength, with the exception of forwards Jack Darling and Oscar Allen, who are edging closer to availability.

Both looked in good fettle at training earlier in the day at Mineral Resources Park.

Darling, elevated with Yeo to the senior leadership group earlier this week, is recovering from a cheekbone fracture, while Allen is making strong progress from an ankle problem.