HIGH-PROFILE Fremantle recruit Rory Lobb has been ruled out for an extended period of time with a stress fracture in his right foot.
It is a devastating blow for the Dockers, who lost star key defender Alex Pearce for the season to a fractured left ankle earlier this week.
Matt Taberner is dealing with a left foot stress fracture, Aaron Sandilands has been sidelined for the entire campaign with a sore calf and Shane Kersten is managing a foot issue.
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As a result, the club will review its "training and medical assessment protocols", football manager Peter Bell said.
Following Freo's stirring victory over powerhouse Collingwood last week, Lobb experienced soreness in his foot that was eventually attributed to a stress fracture in his fourth metatarsal.
The 26-year-old had lined up in every game this season and impressed in the ruck after five seasons at Greater Western Sydney.
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There's no timeline yet for when Lobb will return to action.
Bell expressed to fremantlefc.com.au his disappointment at losing Lobb.
"The club is extremely disappointed for Rory," Bell said.
"Since returning to Fremantle, Rory has impressed everyone with his application and talent.
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"Rory had been in excellent form in the ruck and in the past two weeks has produced outstanding games competing against Stefan Martin and Brodie Grundy.
"The club will support Rory through this challenge and we know that Rory will rehabilitate his injury with the utmost professionalism.
"Given the recent lower leg and foot injuries to key talls, an assessment of training and medical assessment protocols will be conducted to ensure we are operating at best practice."
Fremantle has a 6-5 record and sits in ninth spot.
