Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says Nat Fyfe is only a 50-50 chance to return for Sunday’s AFL clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
Fyfe missed Sunday’s 21-point win over GWS with a groin injury, and Lyon says the Brownlow medal favourite may need another week on the sidelines.
“He trained a little bit (on Sunday). He would still be 50-50 I reckon for the Saints game,” Lyon said.
Defender Zac Dawson is also likely to miss the Saints game after striking GWS forward Jeremy Cameron on the nose with a stray elbow.
Cameron bled profusely after receiving the hit, and angrily remonstrated with Dawson once he returned to the field.
Although Dawson wasn’t facing Cameron when he swung his right elbow back, the incident looked ugly enough to warrant a suspension.
In better news for the Dockers, defender Michael Johnson is back in full training and could be an outside chance to return for the August 16 western derby against West Coast.
Johnson has been sidelined since tearing his hamstring in the round-10 loss to Richmond, and his looming return would be a huge boost to the Dockers’ flag chances.
“He’s in pretty good nick,” Lyon said.
The Saints are set to recall gun forward Nick Riewoldt, who missed Sunday’s 63-point loss to Port Adelaide because of a calf injury.
Fremantle’s win over GWS lifted them three wins clear of third spot, all but guaranteeing them a top-two finish.
But Lyon admits his team have been lacking clear polish in recent times.
Defender Alex Pearce played as a key forward against the Giants, and the 20-year-old showed some promise.
Although Pearce only finished with one goal from 12 disposals before being subbed out, he had two other shots on goal that failed to make the distance.
Lyon used Pearce up forward to fill the gap left by Matt Taberner, who was dropped following a lean run of form.
“I really liked what I saw,” Lyon said of Pearce.
“(He had) speed, movement, and took some good marks.
“He kicked one, should’ve kicked three really.
“He gives us that flexibility to go down back. It’s good.
“And it puts pressure on Taberner. He’s got to compete a bit more fiercely for his spot, so it’s a win-win.”
