Ballantyne doubt to face Geelong
Fremantle could be robbed of much-needed strike power in Matthew Pavlich's 300th game, with the club sweating on the availability of livewire forward Hayden Ballantyne for Saturday night's clash with premiership contenders Geelong at Patersons Stadium.
It is understood Ballantyne went for scans on his jaw in Subiaco yesterday after being hurt in a heavy collision with Port Adelaide defender Jarman Impey during the final term of the Dockers' 18-point loss at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
The goalsneak left the field clutching his face after the incident.
Fremantle will announce the extent of the injury today, with the likelihood Ballantyne will miss several weeks if the worst-case scenario of a broken jaw is confirmed.
His loss would be a massive blow to the team's hopes of stabilising its 2014 campaign in what looms as one of the biggest games in the club's history. Pavlich also needs just two majors to reach the 600-goal mark.
The Dockers lost their only other game without Ballantyne this year, the round-six fixture against North Melbourne when he was suspended.
The injury shock came as Fremantle's fortunes with the AFL match review panel finally turned, experienced defender Paul Duffield free to take on the Cats despite being found guilty of rough conduct.
Duffield can accept a reprimand for his heavy bump on Chad Wingard on Saturday.
The bump that collected Wingard to the head was classed as negligent conduct, low impact and high contact.
Duffield's six-year good record limits the damage to just 70.31 carryover points with an early guilty plea.
His skills by foot coming out of defence will be crucial against the slick Cats given the form of several of the team's rebounding defenders so far this year.
Leadership group member Lee Spurr was well beaten by Wingard and is battling after last year's breakout season, while young defender Cameron Sutcliffe has cost the side at times with critical turnovers.
Fremantle still have doubts over the make-up of their back six to face Geelong, although it is likely Luke McPharlin (quad) and Zac Dawson (ankle) will be declared fit to play.
If so, McPharlin looms as the likely match-up for Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins, who is approaching his best form after back problems curtailed his 2013 season.
Stephen Hill is believed to be a 50-50 chance to recover in time from a minor knee injury sustained against Port.
The club has not needed to send the Fremantle speedster for scans, with Hill's availability to hinge on a fitness test later this week.
Geelong will be without one of their most prolific ball winners, Mathew Stokes, who must serve a one-match suspension.
Western Bulldogs forward Liam Jones and Hawthorn star Jarryd Roughead were off- ered two-game and one-game bans respectively by the match review panel for head-high bumps in round eight.
Essendon's Paul Chapman was suspended for one match for elbowing Brisbane's Tom Rockliff, and Lion Matt Maguire was given one week for tripping.
Andrew Raines, Josh Hunt and Luke Parker were all cleared over separate collisions.
