Star Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe is raring to return from injury, but tagger Ryan Crowley faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the AFL season.
Fyfe tweaked his hamstring at training last month, but will return in Sunday’s NAB Challenge clash with Sydney at Drummoyne Oval.
Crowley is yet to play this pre-season due to a mystery injury, and was restricted to running laps this week.
Fremantle’s season opener against Port Adelaide is just over three weeks away, leaving Crowley with little time to prove his fitness.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon has already formulated a Plan B should Crowley’s injury troubles continue, with veteran Matt de Boer groomed to take over the tagging role.
“I think Ross has said Crowls isn’t going to be here forever,” defender Garrick Ibbotson said on Thursday.
“So it’s always good while he’s here to be able to talk someone like Matty de Boer through that role if it happens to work out that way.
“He’s pretty good on the lip, Matty de Boer, and he’s a really strong competitor.”
Fyfe, who won last year’s AFLPA’s most valuable player award, is keen to elevate his game to an even higher level this year.
“He’s put on a bit of weight and looks really strong,” Ibbotson said.
“I think he’s said he wants to be a more powerful athlete through the midfield, which is pretty hard to imagine because he’s pretty good already.
“He’s also looking to improve his forward work a little bit, improve his marking which is a strength of his already.”
Other big names to return for Sunday’s game include ruckman Aaron Sandilands and Ibbotson, but Paul Duffield (rib) and Michael Barlow (ankle) couldn’t be considered for selection.
Sydney welcomes back Lance Franklin, Adam Goodes, Ted Richards, and Heath Grundy.
Ibbotson twice popped his shoulder out of its socket last year, and he has sought out the advice of Fyfe in order to avoid any further setbacks.
“It was good to have a guy who’s been through it before and hasn’t had any issues since,” Ibbotson said.
“I spent a bit of time with him going through a few strength exercises, but mostly it’s the strength and conditioning guys helping me through.”
