Freo trio cleared of serious injury
Injuries to key playmakers Paul Duffield, Michael Barlow and David Mundy soured Fremantle's hard-fought 18-point NAB Challenge win over Melbourne yesterday.
The Dockers kicked two goals to nil in the final term at Fremantle Oval to triumph 0.9.7 (61) to 0.6.7 (43) before a crowd of 5126.
However, the gloss was taken from the result by the injury concerns, most notably that of Duffield, who left the field with a rib injury midway through the final quarter and headed straight into the Dockers' change rooms.
Barlow and Mundy were also both substituted out of the match at three-quarter time with suspected ankle injuries.
Barlow limped from the ground late in the second quarter and though he returned for the start of the second half, he failed to see out the third term.
Mundy had his left ankle iced after the match.
But Duffield's injury appeared the most serious of the three and comes at a crucial time for the 30-year-old, who is facing pressure to maintain his spot in the back line.
Importantly for Fremantle, captain Matthew Pavlich reinforced his status as the club's spearhead in attack after booting an equal game-high three goals heading into his 16th season.
But it was the influence of rising stars Matt Taberner and Hayden Crozier as alternative goal-kicking options that would have most pleased coach Ross Lyon.
Taberner showed he had built on a promising 2014 season by booting three majors, including the first of the final quarter to steady his side.
The victory was set up by a dominant second quarter, Fremantle kicking all four goals before being pushed to the brink by an improved Demons outfit.
Pavlich was used in tandem with Taberner, Michael Apeness and resting ruck pair Jon Griffin and Zac Clarke as the Dockers trialled three talls in their forward line at various stages.
And in another positive for the club, veterans Michael Johnson and Luke McPharlin emerged unscathed from the hit-out.
Dual club champion Nat Fyfe did not play yesterday, but Lyon said he expected his best midfielder to return from a hamstring strain to play against Sydney at Drummoyne Oval on Sunday week.
The clubs will play for the inaugural "Pride Cup" in a fixture used by the AFL to tackle homophobia.
"He'll definitely go to Sydney, barring a mishap," Lyon said of Fyfe. "He'll train next week. It was only really minor. He should get the last two (NAB Challenge games) really."
WA young gun Jesse Hogan booted a goal and was a threat in attack in a promising sign for the Demons.
"He'll definitely go to Sydney, barring a mishap. He'll train next week. It was only really minor.""Fremantle coach *Ross Lyon *on Nat Fyfe
