Docker McPharlin no certainty to return

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he’s yet to decide whether to recall star AFL defender Luke McPharlin for Saturday’s qualifying final against Geelong at Simonds Stadium.

McPharlin has missed the past eight weeks with a calf injury, and was on light duties at training on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old is one of Fremantle’s most important players, and the Dockers are desperate to have him on deck against a star-studded Geelong line-up.

Lyon will wait until later in the week before making a final call on his availability.

“He trained on the weekend. If he gets through Thursday, we’ll name him and he’ll play,” Lyon said.

“He’s got a couple of sessions to work through yet.

“The reward is he plays and plays well. The risk is he either gets hurt, or he plays and doesn’t play well.”

Rebounding defenders Clancee Pearce and Garrick Ibbotson have already been ruled out with achilles tendon issues, but Nick Suban (hamstring), Michael Walters (knee) and Stephen Hill (hamstring) are all pushing for recalls.

Fremantle will also welcome back Chris Mayne, Hayden Ballantyne, Zac Clarke, David Mundy, Nat Fyfe, Lee Spurr, Michael Johnson and Zac Dawson from a week’s rest.

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