Docker Apeness out for 10 weeks
Fremantle’s playing depth has taken another hit with the news that young key position player Michael Apeness will miss the next ten weeks after tearing his posterior cruciate ligament.
Apeness, who made his AFL debut last year against Melbourne in Darwin and is regarded as a long term replacement for Matthew Pavlich by the Dockers, tore the PCL playing for Peel against Swan Districts last Saturday.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon said the injury was significant but not career threatening and expected Apeness to play again before the end of the season.
“Naturally he is disappointed,” he said. “As always we will wrap all of the resources around him. He will rehabilitate and he will play football again this year.”
“It is not great. We don’t like to lose anyone and particularly not young, tall players. It is a significant injury and we are really disappointed for him and us.”
With Alex Silvagni also out for an extended time after hamstring surgery, the Dockers are now likely to tread carefully with experienced defender Zac Dawson who is nearing a return from a groin injury which has delayed his start to the season.
“I think they are saying he is ready to go but in view of events and losing a couple I am leaning towards giving him another week or two training which would give him a month of full training,” Lyon said.
“That is exciting for us – the availability of a key defender. Losing Alex (Silvagni) it becomes paramount that he gets through unscathed for us.”
Meanwhile Lyon is cautiously optimistic about the availability of forwards Pavlich and Michael Walters for Saturday night’s clash with Essendon – although he declared risks wouldn’t be taken with either if they had symptoms from their concussions persisting later in the week.
“They have cleared all of their tests but it is going to be up to the individual how they feel and if they are symptom free,” he said.
Matthew Pavlich, likely to play this weekend. Picture: Danella Bevis / The West Australian
“There is a test and it is done but there are still grey areas so it is really about how they feel. They will train. Matthew will partially train, Michael is further advanced. We are optimistic on both but no guarantee.”
Lyon said it was a decision for the players and club doctors, not him.
“I don’t get involved. Our doctors make all of the calls on all of the injuries. As long as they are symptom free they are available to play. If there is any concern whatsoever it wouldn’t even be a discussion.”
“We have got at all times our players best interests at heart even though we are a hard nosed professional football club.”
Pavlich trained away from the main group with Stephen Hill, David Mundy and Aaron Sandilands. Luke McPharlin also did a series of running drills away from the main group.
