Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has backed Nat Fyfe to fight his way back from his latest hamstring injury as the veteran faces an indefinite stint on the sidelines.
Scans on Monday confirmed Fyfe suffered a “moderate grade” hamstring strain while playing for WAFL affiliate Peel Thunder on the weekend.
The 33-year-old lasted less than one quarter of the match, pulling up sore after attempting to lay a tackle.
He will not require surgery, but will be monitored over the next fortnight before the Dockers finalise his return-to-play timeline.
Nat Fyfe. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Fyfe had arthroscopic knee surgery in January and battled ongoing soreness before his WAFL return was cut short.
“It’s really disappointing for Nat. He’s worked so hard to get back,” Pearce told AAP.
“Our whole club’s right behind him and we hope it’s nothing major and we’ll get him back soon.”
Fyfe’s latest setback raised fears the dual Brownlow medallist could be set to announce an early retirement.
The 240-game veteran is out of contract at the end of this season.
But Pearce joined Dockers coach Justin Longmuir in dismissing those suggestions.
Pearce backed Fyfe to return and have an impact as Fremantle press for a finals berth.
“Absolutely he can. If he sets his mind to it, he’ll get it done.,” Pearce said.
“If there’s a chance that his body allows him to, then he’ll do it. That’s the type of bloke he is.”
The Dockers (3-2) are riding a three-match winning streak into a clash with Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday.
Voss cops three-game ban
Fremantle will be without Patrick Voss for three games after the energetic ruck-forward was suspended for striking Richmond’s Nick Vlastuin.
Voss attempted to lay a tackle on Vlastuin during the Dockers’ 61-point win on Sunday but caught his opponent across the face with a swinging right arm.
Vlastuin suffered a nasty cut on his nose and was sent from the field under the blood rule.
The incident was graded as severe impact, high contact, and careless conduct by match review officer Michael Christian, who slapped a three-game ban on Voss.
Tigers midfielder Tim Taranto remonstrated with Voss and Vlastuin made a swinging arm motion when he described the incident to medical staff as he was helped from the field.
He was later spotted chatting amicably with Voss after the fulltime siren.
Richmond coach Adem Yze didn’t feel there was much malice in the incident.
“His nose is a bit crooked but that’s the game,” Yze said of Vlastuin post-match.
“He’s a tough player and puts his head in places that he probably shouldn’t.
“He passed all of that (concussion test) so it was just a blood rule. He’s got a bit of a shiner on his beak but he’ll be OK.”
Vlastuin’s teammate Taranto ($3125) and Freo’s Jaeger O’Meara ($1500) were fined for accidental contact with umpires.
Meanwhile, six Port Adelaide and Hawthorn players have been fined for melees during Sunday night’s grudge game.
Port’s Kane Farrell, Ollie Wines, Ollie Lord and Mitch Georgiades were hit with fines between $1500 and $3125 and Hawk duo Blake Hardwick and Changkuoth Jiath received $1500 fines.
Swans star sidelined
Star goalkicker Joel Amartey has been ruled out of Sydney’s clash against an in-form Port Adelaide, as the Swans mull rolling the dice on an underdone Logan McDonald.
Amartey will miss at least Sunday’s match at the SCG as the club waits for scans to determine the extent of his hamstring injury.
The injury-prone key forward had strained his hamstring in the second quarter of their 31-point Gather Round loss to Collingwood.
Amartey is likely to miss more than just one week of AFL action given his previous battles with soft-tissue injuries, something star Swans midfielder Isaac Heeney is well aware of.
“I know it’s a hamstring so he’ll definitely miss this week, but physios and the coaches will assess how bad it is,” Heeney said.
“Hopefully not too long because he’s obviously got a history of them.”
Sydney will at least be able to recall Justin McInerney after the winger served his three-match ban for a bump on Brisbane’s Brandon Starcevich.
Joel Amartey celebrates a goal. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Defensive duo Lewis Melican (adductor) and Harry Cunningham (foot) are also possibilities for selection.
Heeney said his side will have to be on the front foot when they return to the SCG after watching Port hand early premiership favourites Hawthorn their first loss of the season on Sunday night.
Ken Hinkley’s men had burst from the blocks at Adelaide Oval to build a 71-point lead in the second quarter on their way to a 30-point upset.
Port had similarly ravaged the Swans in round 21 last year, producing a 112-point demolition job on the then competition leaders.
But Sydney returned the favour when it mattered, with a 36-point preliminary final triumph to make last season’s grand final.
“I don’t watch much footy but I did watch that one (Port Adelaide-Hawthorn) and their first half was pretty scary to be honest,” Heeney said.
“It always is a battle of the midfield when it comes to Port Adelaide and they tore it up on the weekend.
“The spanking they gave us was one of those games that we were obviously off completely.
“We bounced back and in the final produced a pretty good performance against them so we’ll take confidence from that.”
with AAP
