Fremantle ruck Sean Darcy has injured his calf, leaving his hopes of senior selection and finals in tatters.
The 28-year-old has had a tough season battling injuries and form.
Darcy has often been stuck behind off-season recruit Mason Cox for the second ruck position.
During Saturday's WAFL clash between Fremantle-affiliated side Peel Thunder and West Coast, Darcy injured his calf early in the match.
While the seriousness of the injury is not yet known, with one home-and-away round remaining before finals and Cox in reasonable form, Darcy faces a tough battle to return to the AFL side this year.
The injury could mean he has played his last game for Fremantle. There is no belief that Darcy will seek a trade at the end of the year.
The 203cm ruck is contracted to the club until 2030, but if he is to make the most of his career, he may have to look elsewhere to earn game time, given he will always sit behind superstar ruck Luke Jackson and now Cox.
Darcy registered only three disposals and 14 hit-outs before leaving the game due to the injury.
He had been in strong form recently and was pushing his case for a recall into Fremantle's minor premiership-winning side.
Against Perth, he had 19 disposals, 56 hit-outs, and a goal.
The week prior against Swan Districts, he had 26 disposals and 41 hit-outs, and before that, he produced 23 disposals and 39 hit-outs against Subiaco.
