Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow remains a slim chance to take on Geelong at Simonds Stadium this Saturday despite undergoing surgery on his jaw.
Barlow was taken to hospital on Sunday after copping an accidental punch to the face from North Melbourne’s Scott Thompson in a marking contest.
Fremantle football operations manager Chris Bond said the club wouldn’t discount the possibility of Barlow playing this week, although it seems unlikely the Dockers would risk such a key player so soon after injury.
“Michael is really upbeat and positive about getting back out and playing,” Bond said.
“He will be at home recovering later today and, at this stage, we are not discounting the possibility of Michael being available to play this week or next week.”
Barlow has been in hot form this season, averaging 27 possessions across 12 games.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon is optimistic star Dockers midfielder David Mundy, who missed Sunday’s 38-point win over North Melbourne due to a minor calf injury, will be fit to take on Geelong.
Skipper Matthew Pavlich (plantaris) has returned to full training and is an outside chance to take on the Cats, while ruckman Aaron Sandilands (hamstring) is another who is set to come into the selection mix over the coming weeks.
A weekend of upsets have left Fremantle in the box seat to secure a top-four AFL berth, but Lyon says it’s too early to be jumping for joy.
Sydney’s shock loss to Port Adelaide and Geelong’s inexplicable final-quarter fadeout to Brisbane were dream results for Fremantle, who will surge into second spot if they can beat the Cats at Simonds Stadium on Saturday night.
Seven of Fremantle’s remaining 10 games are against teams currently sitting outside of the top-eight, leaving the Dockers well placed to secure either a top-four or top-two berth.
“If it was the last round and it meant we won and we went to third, I would be over the moon,” Lyon said.
“But what we know is there’s an enormous amount of hurdles to jump.
“We know it’s transitional – one week in, one week out.
“But it is nice to keep winning.”
Fremantle stunned Geelong in last year’s elimination final at the MCG, opening up a 51-3 lead midway through the second quarter before holding on for a famous 16-point victory.
Lyon predicted the Cats would be gunning for revenge.
The Cats enter the match desperate to get back on the winners’ list after coughing up a 52-point lead in their five-point loss to Brisbane on Sunday.