Fremantle’s medical room became more crowded in the wake of Sunday night’s loss to the Western Bulldogs.
The Dockers were beaten by 28 points at Optus Stadium, adding further insult to the increasing injury list.
At the top of the bill is captain Nathan Fyfe, who sustained a dislocated shoulder, and will learn more about the extent of the damage at some stage on Tuesday.
Fremantle football boss Peter Bell joined Sportsday WA to help take stock of the carnage that adds to an injured group already consisting of Bailey Banfield, Brett Bewley, Heath Chapman, Michael Frederick, Joel Hamling, Stephen Hill, Ethan Hughes, Sam Sturt, Sam Switkowski, Hayden Young and Matt Taberner, who was a late withdrawal for the Dogs game.
“With Nathan, he dislocated his shoulder going back with the flight,” Bell said of the skipper.
“It went back in reasonably easily and quickly. He’s a seriously tough footballer and I don’t say that lightly because the word tough gets thrown around a lot.
“Everyone sees Nathan for the brilliant contested ball-winner that he is and the aerialist that he is, but I don’t think I’ve really come across a guy who is as tough as him where he puts his body regularly.
“We’ll wait and see what it means for him and how much footy he’s going to miss.
“They (the medical team) said he was lacking quite a bit of power, which is not unusual. I think he pulled up reasonably well in the circumstances so we’ve just got to assess the damage now and see how he progresses over the next few days.”
Defender Griffin Logue suffered a concussion and was subsequently subbed out after he went back into the hole in front of Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton.
He will be forced out of this weekend’s meeting with the Suns before the Dockers and Justin Longmuir open their arms to the bye.
“You never know, but he will miss this week against the Gold Coast as part of the concussion protocols,” Bell said of Logue.
“He was a little bit groggy which is not unusual in the circumstances, but he said he’s never been concussed before so this was all new to him.
“We’re hopeful that it will be just the game against Gold Coast that he misses. After that we’ve got a bye as well so that helps in his recovery.
“It’s just how Griffin recovers but we’re quite positive that he’ll be available for the game after Gold Coast which will be Collingwood.”
Another key back, Brennan Cox, suffered a “high-grade” hamstring injury and is set to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“When you’re lying on the ground afterwards and you’re struggling to walk you suggest that’s more high-grade,” said Bell.
“It was a mechanism where we think it might be hamstring tendon damage which is nasty.
“I don’t want to jump the gun there and we’re hoping for the best, but given the way he walked off the ground and needed assistance, we’re not optimistic with Brennan.
“He’s likely to miss a bit of footy.”
Sean Darcy appeared to punch the bench after he came off with a hamstring injury and Bell explained why the ruckman was so upset.
“He is quite demonstrative at times because he loves being out there, he loves competing hard,” Bell added.
“I think everyone would recognise that he’s had a brilliant year and he was having a really good game as well.
“Stefan Martin had been subbed out for the Bulldogs and Sean was really asserting his competitiveness on the contest.
“So really disappointed that he was out for the last bit of the game and that’s why he would have been reacting that way.”
The extent of his issue is still to be confirmed.
Mitch Crowden was also in the wars, copping a shoulder knock in the final quarter.
“(Just a) stinger at this stage,” Bell offered for Crowden.
“He took the mark and kicked the goal, but just landed on the ground awkwardly and was a bit sore afterwards.”
Just as some respite was coming in the form of Alex Pearce, who sustained another lower leg injury in March, the defender hurt himself playing in the WAFL with Peel Thunder.
He will undergo scans on his wrist, but is in the mix to play at AFL level if all is clear.
“Alex played really well at Peel. He landed awkwardly on his wrist in a contest late in the game, so we’ve sent him off for precautionary scans,” the Freo footy boss said further.
“We’re quietly optimistic.
“Alex has been going really well and with the injuries we have had that he would have been right in the frame, but we just have to wait and see.”
Bell also commented on the one-game suspension handed to Nathan Wilson for striking Cody Weightman.
“I don’t think he intended to strike Cody where he got him, but you leave yourself in a bit of a risky situation if you start throwing your arms around in that situation,” he added.
“It might come down to was it intentional or was it careless? We’ll get the legal advice and talk to Nathan about what he would like to do.
“I’m really confident in saying that wasn’t his intent to strike Cody Weightman in the groin area.”
There was also some friendly fire between Lachie Schultz and Michael Walters late in the game which looked ugly for the latter, but Bell says the veteran forward/midfielder is fine.
The ravaged Dockers, who sit 11th with a 5-7 record, host the Suns at Optus on Saturday afternoon.