Dockers blow as Walters needs surgery
Fremantle forward Michael Walters is likely to miss the rest of the season after the club today confirmed he would need surgery on his injured left ankle.
Walters, 23, flew to Melbourne today where he is set to undergo surgery on a dislocated tendon in the ankle.
The goalsneak suffered the injury in the Dockers’ big loss to Hawthorn in round three but was forced to wait more than a week for the swelling to go down before a final call could be made on treatment.
“There was a slight possibility that the injury would heal itself and Michael would not require surgery,” Dockers football manager Chris Bond said.
“Unfortunately, for Michael that is not the case and he will now undergo surgery later in the week.
“In the past he has shown great strength of character and great resilience, so we believe that with the appropriate recovery period and rehabilitation program, Michael will return to full training.
“At this stage an assessment of how many weeks Michael could miss will be carried out after his surgery and recovery phase are completed.”
Walters was Fremantle’s leading scorer in 2013 with 46 goals and is set to leave a significant hole in the club’s forward line.
He joins a number of key Dockers sidelined through injury.
Chris Mayne (ankle) and Garrick Ibbotson (shoulder) are both a chance to return to the side against Sydney at the SCG this Saturday, with David Mundy also likely despite being concussed at the weekend.
Michael Barlow (knee) remains four weeks away, with offseason recruit Scott Gumbleton (hamstring) unlikely to return for at least eight weeks.
