Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands is set to miss the next 10 weeks of the AFL season after being struck down again by a turf toe injury.
Sandilands was out for 10 games last year due to the same injury but, this time, it has occurred on the big toe of his right foot.
The three-times All-Australian will visit a specialist this week to determine whether surgery is required.
Sandilands suffered the injury when his foot twisted awkwardly in the turf during Saturday’s 12-point win over Richmond, causing damage to the soft tissue around his big toe joint.
And in a further blow to the Dockers, defender Zac Dawson will be sidelined for up to a fortnight after straining the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
The morale-boosting victory could become even more expensive on the injury front, with midfielder Stephen Hill booked in to undergo a test on his strained left ankle.
But it’s the loss of Sandilands that presents the biggest blow to Fremantle’s finals’ chances.
Although the Dockers’ midfield group have regularly failed to capitalise on Sandilands’ ruck dominance this season, the 29-year-old remains one of Fremantle’s most important players.
In his absence, former Crow Jonathon Griffin will take on the lead ruck role, with likely support from athletic big man Zac Clarke, who was dropped last week.
The Dockers sit 10th on the table with a 6-5 record, and face tough games against Essendon (home) and Collingwood (MCG) after this week’s bye.