Star Fremantle veteran Stephen Hill has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Essendon at Etihad Stadium, while ruckman Aaron Sandilands has fallen short of making a return this weekend.

Hill has battled quad and calf issues this season, and felt quad tightness at training this week.

Sandilands has missed the past three games with a calf injury, and will need at least another week on the sidelines.

The Dockers are hopeful young ruckman Sean Darcy will be able to recover from a groin injury and play against the Bombers.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said Hill’s setback was only minor, but they wouldn’t risk playing him this weekend.

“I think one of his last kicks today (at training) he just felt it, we thought he’d be OK, like Sean Darcy,” Lyon said.

“We just don’t want to push him through.

“It’s certainly not a repeat. It’s at (a point where he) almost could play but in that area you risk a significant injury.

“They can be quite tricky, so I was like ‘let’s just be a bit careful with Stephen, he’s a pretty special player to us’.

“He was super last week. It’s a big loss but, again, next man up and move on.”