Fremantle’s injury woes have gone from bad to worse, with star AFL forward Michael Walters facing the prospect of surgery on his injured ankle.
Walters dislocated the tendon in his left ankle during last week’s 58-point loss to Hawthorn, and will find out next week whether he needs to go under the knife.
The 23-year-old’s ankle is still so swollen that he needs to wait another seven to 10 days before undergoing more scans to determine the full extent of the injury.
Defender Garrick Ibbotson is set to miss between two and four weeks after dislocating his shoulder, while star midfielder Michael Barlow will miss another month due to a knee injury.
Nat Fyfe still has one week to serve on his suspension, but defender Zac Dawson will return in Sunday’s clash with Essendon at Patersons Stadium.
Walters played a key role in Fremantle’s surge to the grand final last season, and his absence in attack will place further pressure on fellow goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne.
Fremantle’s injury blows are set to open the door for former Demon Colin Sylvia to make his Dockers debut.
Sylvia endured a topsy-turvy pre-season after arriving at the Dockers via free agency, but the 28-year-old thrust himself into the selection mix with 23 possessions and two goals in the WAFL last week.
Ruckman Zac Clarke and Clancee Pearce are also set for call-ups, while Chris Mayne faces a fitness test on the ankle he injured against the Hawks.
Fremantle’s premiership odds took a dive following their big loss to the Hawks.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon said the club’s heavy injury toll shouldn’t be used as an excuse.
“We’re about fighting and growing,” Lyon told Perth radio station 6PR.
“We’ve got a lot of belief in ourselves and our systems. We still expect to perform at a high level.”
Veteran Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher could miss Sunday’s clash after pulling up sore from last week’s 81-point demolition of Carlton.
And premiership forward Paul Chapman is also in doubt due to an ankle injury.
Ruckman Paddy Ryder is a chance to return from his own ankle injury, but the Bombers are weighing up whether to give him one more week to recover.
