Dockers forward Matt Taberner is set for a stint on the sidelines after sustaining a foot injury during his side's 54-point thrashing of the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
The 199cm Taberner suffered a suspected fractured metatarsal during the first quarter and was not able to play out the rest of the game.
Coach Ross Lyon lamented the loss of his breakout forward, who wasย battling a plantar fascia issue during the week.
"It's very disappointing, but he'll come back. He'll apply himself. AFL football is full of challenges and one of the difficult things is being available," Lyon told reporters post-match.
"We'll support him. He's such a hard worker that he'll come back. He was just starting to blossom in his career.
"I thought he was impacting really strongly, so we were disappointed to lose him.
"I'm out of my depth (how long he will be sidelined for), but I think fractures take a while."
Taberner started this game on fire, clunking three contested marks and booting a goal from just one quarter.
The injury could not have come at a worse time for Fremantle or Taberner. The 24-year old was finally producing consistently in attack and the Dockers was beginning to look dangerous in their forward half.
The injury soured an otherwise bright night for Fremantle, who are now 3-2 on the season and undefeated at Optus Stadium.
