Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin in serious doubt for Hawthorn match

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AFL. Fremantle Dockers v Westcoast Eagles in the Derby at Pattersons Stadium in Perth. pictured - Docker Luke McPharlin

FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon has cast serious doubts on star defender Luke McPharlin being fit to play in Sunday’s blockbuster against Hawthorn in Perth.

But the Dockers boss effectively declared that star playmaker Nat Fyfe is expected to recover from shoulder soreness and will play against the powerhouse Hawks midfield division.

McPharlin is in serious doubt.

The champion defender had scans on an injured calf on Monday and faces a race against time to take on the Hawks.

Lyon will consider a recall for forward Michael Walters to bolster scoring power in support of veterans Matthew Pavlich and Hayden Ballatyne, who is also battling a nagging thigh and hip complaint.

McPharlin, 32, suffered another calf injury in last Saturday’s gut-wrenching two-point loss to Geelong that leaves Fremantle desperately clinging to fourth spot ahead of a defining clash with the reigning premiers.

McPharlin has played just one full game in the past six weeks as he battled knee and calf complaints in his left leg.

He managed to run out a full engagement in the nailbiting home win over Carlton when he spent most of the night chasing around Jarrad Waite, but McPharlin failed to finish in the Round 18 shock loss to St Kilda and then was pulled out just after half-time against the Cats.

The champion backliner missed the last two months of home-and-away appointments last season with his left calf troubles and resumed in time to play through the Dockers historic finals that culminated in the Grand Final loss to the Hawks.

“Fyfe is no worries, McPharlin has had a positive scan in a negative sense,” Lyon said.

“It’s not ideal obviously, but it’s nothing dramatic either.

“We were hoping for a clear scan and he’ll just need to do the work and get going and build some confidence in his body.”

Lyon bluntly pointed to back-up key defender Alex Silvagni or first-year recruit Alex Pearce being rushed in to replace McPharlin against the Hawks likely to be without star scoring avenues Jarryd Roughead through injury and Jack Gunston who is expected to miss with a knee strain.

“At the end of the day another one steps up. We’re a no excuse footy club.”

Lyon also took a swipe at a lopsided free-kick count in his side’s heartbreaking two-point defeat to modern day nemesis Geelong.

The Dockers suffered a horrendously unbalanced free-kick tally at 31-14.

At one stage approaching half-time the Cats had won 25 frees to the Dockers seven as the home side led by four goals.

The Cats booted three first-half goals from free kicks.

“I don’t have that as a highlight, but I was aware of it,” Lyon said.

“Probably the biggest frustration is the swing after half-time.

“It was 10-25 and I’m not sure what was said at half-time but we know that the umpire’s adviser Hayden Kennedy was down there and then it’s revised to 4-6, so philosophically the two teams didn’t play any differently but interpretations must have changed.

“It’s hard as coaches and players to keep up with the shifts over the season in interpretation and spirit of the game let alone within games.

“We just seem to be coming out on the rough end of the stick a fair bit.

“We’ll do an investigation and we’ve got to take some responsibility and we’re trying to work our way through the maze that has been created.”

Originally published as Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin in serious doubt for Hawthorn match