JUST days after having his three-match ban overturned at the Tribunal, Fremantle skipper Alex Pearce has been cut down by an untimely leg injury.
And the Dockers look set to back in their two-ruck strategy in Saturday’s match against Gold Coast, with fit-again big man Sean Darcy boarding the flight from Perth on Thursday.
Interestingly, veteran Nat Fyfe was also on the flight, despite having no match practice under his belt since injuring his hamstring in the WAFL in mid-April.
Pearce is set to miss the crunch match against the Suns at People First Stadium, joining goalsneak Isaiah Dudley (personal reasons) and defender Cooper Simpson (shoulder) as outs from last week’s 49-point win over Port Adelaide.
Nat Fyfe looks dejected after a loss during round 24, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos
The loss of Pearce is a bitter blow to Fremantle’s hopes of posting a third win on the trot.
Pearce would have been the likely match-up for star Suns spearhead Ben King, who has kicked 31 goals this season to sit second on the Coleman Medal tally.
It is believed Pearce has a hot spot in his leg, similar to what Shai Bolton battled earlier this season.
He is set to be replaced by Josh Draper.
Darcy has missed the past two matches due to a knee injury, with Luke Jackson thriving in his absence.
“We probably fully expect those guys both to play, which is going to provide a set of circumstances we don’t see often,” Suns coach Damien Hardwick said of Darcy and Jackson.
“We’re going to have our challenges with that.”
Fyfe was expected to return to playing duties via the WAFL this week, but boarded Fremantle’s flight to the Gold Coast on Thursday.
