Mixed injury update for Dockers veterans
Fremantle's resurgence as a finals contender has received another timely boost, with the news veteran pair Michael Walters and Jaeger O'Meara could be available after this week's bye.
But the prognosis on Alex Pearce isn't as clear, with the Dockers skipper remaining under a cloud after missing last week's win over Gold Coast.
Fremantle high performance manager Phil Merriman said Walters and O'Meara were in the frame to potentially be available for the club's round 14 clash with North Melbourne at Optus Stadium.
'It's exciting for those two to be back after a long stint on the sidelines,' Merriman said.
'Both are training fully this week with the bye and then we'll hopefully have them as a test to play the following week.'
O'Meara has been battling hamstring and foot injuries and last appeared for the Dockers in Gather Round six weeks ago, while Walters is yet to play this season off knee surgery.
Walters looks likely to come back through the WAFL, with spots at a premium in the Dockers' forward line.
The prospect of Pearce returning after the bye from shin soreness is less certain.
'He's got a hotspot in his shin and we're just assessing that as we go,' Merriman said.
The only casualty from Saturday's grinding win over Gold Coast at Carrara was Karl Worner with hamstring tightness.
'Karl just experienced some hamstring tightness during the game (on Saturday), we took a no-risk approach to that one,' Merriman said.
'He's just going to have a slow week this week at training and then we may look to test him to play the following week.'
Off-season recruit Quinton Narkle is only one week away, while Sam Sturt had also turned the corner on knee injuries.
'Quinton's progressed really quickly over the last two weeks, so much like the other two we're hoping he'll be a test and be available to play in round 14,' Merriman said.
'He's (Sturt) been up and down a bit in this reconditioning program, but Sam is starting to look good.
'Hopefully all going to plan in the next two to three weeks we'll see Sam back out there.'
Defender Brandon Walker is listed as three to four weeks away with a shoulder injury, with midfielder Hayden Young is listed as six to seven weeks off a return from a hamstring complaint.
Both Fremantle and Peel Thunder have a bye this week, giving the players a chance to recover over four days coming out of the Gold Coast game.
'We'll get them in at the back of this week and then give them the weekend off and then it's into a normal training week next week preparing for North Melbourne,' Merriman said.
Fremantle's round 14 clash with North Melbourne will be an away game, which means that tickets or premium hospitality are not included in any membership or premium season packages.
The Dockers sit inside the eight heading into the bye and have an opportunity to consolidate their finals chances with games against the Roos, Essendon and St Kilda, all in Perth, before they take on struggling Sydney in the Harbour City.
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