Fremantle will be hoping youthful exuberance gets them over the line against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday after confirming Stephen Hill and Nic Suban will make their AFL debuts.

Hill, a surprise selection by Fremantle with pick No.3 at last year's national draft, sparkled during the pre-season campaign, his speedy runs off half-back and smarts around goal a highlight of his play.

Suban, a strong-bodied midfielder taken with pick No.24, has also impressed.

The inclusion of the pair is in stark contrast to last season, when coach Mark Harvey opted against playing star recruit Rhys Palmer in round one.

The Dockers lost that match against Collingwood and Palmer was selected the next week.

The 20-year-old went on to win the Rising Star award.

Fremantle left Daniel Gilmore, Marcus Drum and Scott Thornton out of the final 22, with Hill and Suban joining Andrew Browne and Kepler Bradley on the bench.

"I'm excited and really looking forward to it but I just want to play like I would in any other game and not get caught up in the hype," Hill said.

The Bulldogs included underdone pair Adam Cooney and Robert Murphy in their 22, with Tom Williams, Tim Callan and Jarrod Harbrow failing to make the final cut.

Harvey said he had been thrilled with the development of Hill and Suban.

"When we told the playing group that Stephen and Nic would be playing, the interaction with their teammates and the look on the faces of those two young men was just fantastic," Harvey said.

"The whole room lit up.

"Whenever you tell a young player he's going to play his first game it creates a great vibe and gives everyone a big lift.

"It's terrific that both Stephen and Nic have earned the right to play in round one, particularly as we had not placed any expectation on them to be selected so soon."

Harvey said he would not overburden the two 18-year-olds with instructions.

"You want to make them understand how worthy they are within the team structure and that they have earned their spot," he said.

"You don't want to complicate things too much, so you leave them alone and let them prepare.

"You want them to take it all in and enjoy it but not be overawed by the situation."

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