FREMANTLE has confirmed that defender Luke McPharlin will miss three weeks with a calf injury he sustained in Saturday night's loss to Geelong.
Coach Ross Lyon said on Monday night that scans had revealed damage to McPharlin's calf and the Dockers will now be without their 2012 All Australian defender until the first week of the finals.
It is a major concern for the 32-year-old as he will now have missed a total nine matches since round seven because of three separate injuries. He has injured a quad, strained a medial ligament in his knee and has now been struck down by a calf problem for the second time in four weeks.
However, Lyon was positive about McPharlin's recuperative powers and with just cause. The veteran missed eight matches with a torn calf in the lead-up to the 2013 finals campaign and played all three finals.
Conversely, he played 21 of 23 home and away matches in his 2012 All Australian year but missed both finals with a hamstring injury.
In better news for the Dockers they may regain some experience for this week's critical clash with Hawthorn. Tendai Mzungu could be available to return from the hamstring injury he suffered against Carlton a fortnight ago. Garrick Ibbotson missed last week's loss with a back complaint but may be available to return if he can pass a fitness test.
Clancee Pearce is also available after missing several weeks with a hip issue but it is unlikely he will be drafted straight back into the seniors.
Michael Walters is raring to go following a successful return to WAFL football last weekend.
His last AFL game was against Hawthorn in round three when he dislocated a tendon in his ankle.
But Lyon could not guarantee Walters' inclusion against the Hawks this week because of the performances of small forwards Hayden Crozier and Max Duffy last Saturday night against Geelong. The pair combined for five of Fremantle's 11 goals in the two-point loss.
