FREMANTLE forward Michael Walters is hopeful he can play again this season, but admits he faces a fight to keep out the mental demons.
Walters is racing the clock to be fit for the finals after undergoing surgery in April to repair a dislocated tendon in his left ankle.
The 23-year-old was able to finally ditch his crutches last week, but he could be sidelined for another three months as he slowly builds towards full fitness.
Walters hasn't given up on playing again this year, but it's not just a physical battle he's confronted with.
"I'm fluctuating between negative thoughts and the positive ones," Walters told the Fremantle website.
"But I'm really hoping I can get back as soon as I can and I'm going to do everything I can so I do come back soon.
"I'm doing a bit of boxing and a bit of upper-body weights to try and build myself up and make myself a little bit stronger while I can and make myself fitter, especially in the cardio area.
"I'm just hoping that once I'm back, I'm fit enough."
Swimming has also been part of Walters' rehab program, but it's definitely not one of his strong points.
"I wouldn't call it swimming, I'd call it drowning more than anything," he joked.
Walters booted 46 goals to help the Dockers reach last year's Grand Final, and his possible return later this season would be a major boost to Fremantle's bid for premiership success.
Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin (quad) faces a race to be fit for Sunday's clash with the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
McPharlin has missed the past two games with the injury, and the Dockers are likely to take a conservative approach with the 32-year-old.
Fremantle sits in seventh spot with a 5-4 record, but the club's next nine games are against sides who sit ninth or lower on the ladder.
