AFL finals: Michael Johnson in doubt for prelim final due to back injury

TOP Fremantle defender Michael Johnson is nursing back trouble and is in doubt for tonight’s preliminary final against Hawthorn.

SPORT - AFL, Fremantle Dockers vs Sydney Swans, Subiaco Oval, Perth. Photo by Daniel Wilkins. PICTURED - Fremantle's Michael Johnson gets a handball away under pressure from Sydney's Harry Cunningham

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TOP Fremantle defender Michael Johnson is nursing back trouble and is in doubt for tonight’s preliminary final against Hawthorn.

Johnnson has a history of nasty back and hamstring injuries and has had ongoing medical treatment for a flared disc injury this week.

The 204-game 30-year-old veteran received intense physiotherapy treatment to alleviate what is believed to have been vertebrae disc swelling in his lower back.

A decision on possibly the most important Dockers defender is not expected until late on Friday afternoon ahead of final team announcements at around 5pm Perth time.

Back-up key defender Alex Silvagni was named as an emergency in the Dockers’ provisional 25-man squad.

Silvagni has not played since the Round 20 derby against West Coast when he was hit with a four-game ban for an off-the-ball headhigh hit into Eagles forward Jamie Cripps.

Johnson, a 2014 all-Australian, missed last season’s two-match finals series when he was sent to end-of-season back surgery.

He suffered a bad hamstring strain just 10 minutes into the Dockers’ shock Round 10 loss to Richmond in Perth which was his 200th game and spent the next 10 weeks in recovery before returning late in the year against West Coast.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon revealed on Monday that the veteran backliner had suffered from a bout of flu heading into the narrow qualifying final win over Sydney.

Lyon ruled out any recurring hamstring strain for Johnson.

The Dockers are already without star key defender Luke McPharlin who was ruled out with his ongoing calf strain.

McPharlin, 33, is tipped to make a determined last ditch effort for a full recovery to play in next week’s Grand Final if the Dockers can beat the Hawks and advance.

Alex Silvagni has been named as an emergency for tonight‘s preliminary final and will come into the team if Johnson is ruled out.

Originally published as AFL finals: Michael Johnson in doubt for prelim final due to back injury