FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon is confident big man Michael Apeness will overcome an injury-ravaged start to his career and fulfill his potential once he recovers from his latest knee setback.

Apeness, 22, is set for a PCL reconstruction next week and has been ruled out for the rest of the season after hurting his right knee during his WAFL comeback from a left knee problem on Saturday.

The 200cm tall has endured a horror run since he was drafted with pick No.17 in 2013 as a long-term replacement for Matthew Pavlich in attack.

Issues with both knees and a broken collarbone have played a part in restricting Apeness to just seven of a possible 63 games since his debut three years ago.

"It's disappointing for Michael, it's disappointing for us," Lyon said of Apeness' latest setback. 

"It puts some pressure on your list, there's no doubt about it as a first-round pick from four years ago.

"You really want those guys to come through, so he'll get there in the end.

"It's just going to take some time."

Apeness is facing a long road back to force his way into Freo's new-look forward line, which has been remodeled since Pavlich's retirement.

Recruits Cam McCarthy and Shane Kersten have settled into attack, while forward-ruck Matt Taberner grabbed his opportunity taking seven contested marks and booting four goals in his first game for 2017 against Essendon on Sunday.

Small forward Hayden Ballantyne is still missing after hamstring tendon surgery but could return as early as next weekend, while sidekick Michael Walters was pushed into midfield with success in the comeback win over the Bombers.

Walters gave Freo a spark, picking up 26 touches and winning six clearances in Stephen Hill's (hamstring) absence.

"He had a lot of ground balls, he kept it simple. I thought his pressure was back to its very best," Lyon said.

"Even though he didn't kick goals, he certainly set up a lot of goals and played quite well."

Lyon hinted the Dockers, who have climbed off the canvas to sit in ninth spot on the ladder with a 4-3 record, could take an unchanged line-up into Sunday's trip to face Richmond at the MCG.

Fremantle has won four of the last five at the home of football, including a two-point thriller over Melbourne in round four, and the venue holds no fears for the men in purple.

"It could be on the moon – I don't really care. We've been to Geelong and played a final, when there hadn't been one played there in a hundred years," Lyon said.

"It's not something we dwell on, or focus on."

Lyon wouldn't reveal his plans for Dustin Martin. Tagger Connor Blakely could lock onto the Tigers star, or Nat Fyfe or David Mundy might go head-to-head with Martin.

"Dustin's unique, he's explosive and powerful and spends a fair bit of time out of the goalsquare," Lyon said.

"Can anyone go with Dusty? I don't know. Has anybody stopped him yet? Maybe you need to work off him."