Latest news with #AlexPearce
West Australian
13 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce and veteran Nat Fyfe both in line to return from injury against Carlton
Nat Fyfe is a chance to return to AFL action this weekend, with the two-time Brownlow medallist a test to face Carlton along with sidelined skipper Alex Pearce. Fyfe has not played since suffering a calf strain while warming up as the sub during their round 16 clash against St Kilda. Given his injury struggles restricting him to just four games this year, there were fears his season, and possibly career, could be over. Pearce has endured a similarly frustrating run with shin soreness restricting him to just one game since May. However, both veterans are a chance to return this weekend, provided they pull up well from mid-week training. 'They are going well and as planned,' high performance manager Phil Merriman said. 'They did a good session in the rain on Sunday and got through that. 'They'll train on Wednesday, and, all going to plan, they'll be available for selection.' The club also revealed a timeline for midfielder Matthew Johnson after he went down with an ankle injury during their win over Collingwood with the 22-year-old a chance to return before finals. 'He's building nicely. He's managed to get the swelling down really well and the pain is under control,' Merriman said. 'The plan will be to get him on the AlterG — hopefully at the end of this week — and have him available in a few weeks' time.' The news was not as good for young forward Sam Sturt, with the club pulling the plug on his 2025 season and sending him for surgery, having battled with knee issues. 'It's been a frustrating one for Sam this year,' Merriman said. 'He's just been struggling to deal with the soreness post-games, so we've gone and seen some specialists. 'He will be going in for an arthroscopic procedure, which will rule him out for the rest of the season.' Utility Corey Wagner (heel) and defender James Aish (back) are also in the mix with both listed as tests for the weekend. James Aish (back) test Nat Fyfe (calf) test Alex Pearce (shin) test Corey Wagner (heel) test Matthew Johnson (ankle) 3 weeks Sam Sturt (knee) season Aiden Riddle (foot) season Odin Jones (back) season
Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Pearce, Fyfe chance to overcome injury blues to face Carlton
Nat Fyfe is a chance to return to AFL action this weekend, with the two-time Brownlow medallist a test to face Carlton along with sidelined skipper Alex Pearce. Fyfe has not played since suffering a calf strain while warming up as the sub during their round 16 clash against St Kilda. Given his injury struggles restricting him to just four games this year, there were fears his season, and possibly career, could be over. Pearce has endured a similarly frustrating run with shin soreness restricting him to just one game since May. However, both veterans are a chance to return this weekend, provided they pull up well from mid-week training. 'They are going well and as planned,' high performance manager Phil Merriman said. 'They did a good session in the rain on Sunday and got through that. Captain Alex Pearce is a test to return this weekend. Credit: Danella Bevis / The West Australian 'They'll train on Wednesday, and, all going to plan, they'll be available for selection.' The club also revealed a timeline for midfielder Matthew Johnson after he went down with an ankle injury during their win over Collingwood with the 22-year-old a chance to return before finals. 'He's building nicely. He's managed to get the swelling down really well and the pain is under control,' Merriman said. 'The plan will be to get him on the AlterG — hopefully at the end of this week — and have him available in a few weeks' time.' The news was not as good for young forward Sam Sturt, with the club pulling the plug on his 2025 season and sending him for surgery, having battled with knee issues. 'It's been a frustrating one for Sam this year,' Merriman said. 'He's just been struggling to deal with the soreness post-games, so we've gone and seen some specialists. 'He will be going in for an arthroscopic procedure, which will rule him out for the rest of the season.' Utility Corey Wagner (heel) and defender James Aish (back) are also in the mix with both listed as tests for the weekend. James Aish (back) test Nat Fyfe (calf) test Alex Pearce (shin) test Corey Wagner (heel) test Matthew Johnson (ankle) 3 weeks Sam Sturt (knee) season Aiden Riddle (foot) season Odin Jones (back) season
West Australian
6 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Western derby 61: Fremantle at the shortest ever to beat West Coast in predicted one-sided affair
Fremantle are certainties to beat West Coast in western derby 61. At least that is according to the bookies who have the Dockers at the shortest odds ever to beat their cross-town rivals the Eagles when they meet at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon. TABTouch has Fremantle at nearly an unbackable $1.03 to get the four points against West Coast, who are paying a whopping $12 to upset the finals-bound Dockers. The line is also at 50.5 — making this the shortest odds of any team to win a western derby in history, with the line at 42.5 for the second derby in 2022 with the Dockers also favourites. On that day it was a 24-point win to Fremantle. The two teams could not be more polar opposites when it comes to form. Fremantle — led by coach Justin Longmuir — have won eight of their past nine games, including away wins over premiership fancies Collingwood, as well as defeating Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney. It has the Dockers on track to return to finals for the first time since 2022 and a genuine contender for a top-four finish, something they have not accomplished since they won the minor premiership in 2015. Even the absence of injured skipper Alex Pearce isn't hurting their chances, with midfielders and vice-captains Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw leading the way, with the likes of Jordon Clark, Luke Jackson and Josh Treacy in career-best form. Meanwhile, the Eagles appeared to have hit rockbottom. They are on track for a one-win season for the first time in club history, with their only victory this season coming against St Kilda in round 10. It means coach Andrew McQualter is likely to end his first year with a wooden spoon — a situation the Eagles have only found themselves in twice (2023 and 2010) before in their history. And while midfield sensation Harley Reid is lighting it up, there are too many senior players sidelined for them to be competitive week-in, week-out. Co-captain Oscar Allen is out with a knee and calf injury, while last year's All-Australians Jake Waterman (shoulder) and Jeremy McGovern (retired) as well as star midfielder Elliot Yeo (ankle) are also unavailable. It has led McQualter to lean on a very young team that lost to 17th placed Richmond last weekend by 49 points. And it means the derby is likely to be a one-sided affair.
West Australian
22-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers to give star pair Nat Fyfe and Alex Pearce another week to recover from injuries
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce and dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe will be given another week to recover from injuries instead of being rushed back to play in Saturday's western derby, as the Dockers received promising news surrounding midfielder Matthew Johnson. Fyfe travelled to Victoria to be with the team last weekend and trained strongly after the club's Captain's Run, but won't be considered to play at any level until next week. The Dockers have taken the same approach with Pearce who has played only one match in the second half of the season due to leg soreness. Johnson is expected to miss only a small number of games after injuring his ankle against Collingwood on Sunday, as the club breathed a sigh of relief that he'd avoided major damage. Fremantle have worked hard to carefully re-introduce senior players to the team while winning eight of their last nine games. Hayden Young was influential as the sub against Collingwood in his first match back since injuring his hamstring on May 2. Forward Sam Switkowski said Young's impact was huge as he prepares to move into the starting 22 against West Coast. 'It was really good to see him back,' Switkowski said. 'He was in the tempo of the game, which is pleasing after having such a stint out. I know first-hand how hard it can be when you've been out for a little while and the coaches put a lot of trust in you to come back in and be able to perform. 'I think he did a great job. It's a good stepping stone for him. He'll get a few more minutes coming up this week.' Fremantle selected their most experienced team of the year against Collingwood. They had 2177 combined games on the field, which was significantly more than the 1727 games they selected against the Magpies earlier in the season. Jaeger O'Meara had 23 possessions against the Pies in his third game back from injury. Switkowski had six score involvements after being best on ground with three goals when returning from injury against Hawthorn last week. Switkowski said it was no coincidence that the team was playing well when the experienced players were available. 'Personnel is important,' he said. 'We'd love to have our best 22 out there every week. Every team would. Clearly experience is a really important part of the game. 'The guys with experience often are the ones who hold up under pressure, can lift in big games and keep everyone composed like we saw on the weekend. It's been great to have some of those guys back.'
Perth Now
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Pearce could miss another fortnight as leg injury lingers
The retired AFL superstars will return to the field for blockbuster clash Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has suffered another blow in his quest to be fit for the team's run home, with the star defender ruled out for up to two weeks due to his leg injury. Pearce has played only one game since reporting leg pain following the club's round 11 win over Port Adelaide. He missed victories over Gold Coast, Essendon, North Melbourne and St Kilda, and also had a week off due to Fremantle's bye before returning to face Sydney in round 17. But the experienced big man again pulled up sore and sat out last weekend's win over Hawthorn. Now he won't play against Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday and is in doubt for the Western Derby the following week. That could leave him with only four games to build fitness at the end of the season while the club is fighting for a finals spot. 'Moose is still dealing with a little bit of awareness down in that area, so he's going to be around one to two weeks away,' Fremantle High Performance Manager Phil Merriman said. Alex Pearce won't play this week. Credit: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images But in positive news, midfielder Hayden Young only has to get through training to be declared available to play for the first time since round eight. Fremantle must decide whether he is ready to play a full game, play as the sub or build match fitness through the WAFL. But forward Michael Frederick said the team was eagerly anticipating the impact his kicking would have on the group. 'You get a lot of confidence from it,' Frederick said. 'I'm sure the big boys like Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss love it. We always want the ball in his hands because he can create so much for us. For him to hopefully come back this week would be nice and add to what we're trying to strive for. 'He's done a mountain of work, and I know he's not far. Knowing what he can add to the team - he hasn't played too many games this year, and it'd be nice to see him in the midfield with Andy and Shai, and Caleb. It adds another strength to us. Hayden Young. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian 'He's been someone that's been able to play in multiple positions well. I'm certainly excited, and I'm sure he is to. He'd be itching for it.' The Dockers' injury list is rapidly shrinking. Will Brodie is on track to play in the WAFL after recovering from concussion, while Nat Fyfe (calf) and Cooper Simpson (AC joint) are now listed as only one week away. When Pearce, Fyfe and Simpson return, the Dockers will only have rookie Aiden Riddle (foot) and inactive youngster Odin Jones (back) unavailable.
