The Roar
The Roar

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Broken leg adds to Freo's woes

Fremantle’s injury crisis has plunged to even greater depths after key defender Alex Pearce broke his leg and skipper David Mundy re-injured his calf.

Pearce will miss the rest of the AFL season after breaking his right tibia in Saturday’s 38-point loss to Richmond in Perth.

Mundy is in doubt for Saturday’s clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium after hurting his calf for the second time this season.

The pair join fellow stars Nat Fyfe (broken leg), Michael Johnson (knee/hamstring), Aaron Sandilands (ribs), and Harley Bennell (calf) on the sidelines, as well as several fringe players.

Pearce had been a rare shining light for the Dockers this season, regularly shutting down the opposition’s best forwards despite an influx of supply.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon said it was upsetting to see Pearce’s season ended by a broken leg.

“It’s really hard to find young tall defenders,” Lyon said.

“(He’s been) a third-year player playing on keys, really holding his own and beating them in a team that’s really been struggling, to be truthful. It’s hard enough when you play in a good team.

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“We’ll wrap all our support around him. He’ll have to work his way through it.”

When asked whether he can quite believe the team’s horror injury luck, Lyon replied: “Yeah look I can believe it. It’s just our annus horribilis isn’t it? A terrible year.”

Fremantle are in grave danger of collecting this season’s wooden spoon after losing their opening nine games of the season.

And although their draw over the next six weeks are all against sides not expected to feature in the top eight, Fremantle’s horrible form and huge injury toll will make wins hard to come by.

Defender Zac Dawson faces a nervous wait after being reported for collecting Steven Morris high in a marking contest.

In better news for the Dockers, winger Stephen Hill is on track to return against the Saints, while midfielder Michael Barlow is pushing hard for a recall after tallying 44 disposals and three goals in the WAFL.

Only 20,184 fans rocked up to see Fremantle’s clash with Richmond at Domain Stadium – the club’s lowest home crowd since 2001.

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Although the wild rain and heavy winds would have kept scores of people away, the team’s poor form has also been a major contributor in the smaller crowds.

Lyon remains steadfast in his belief the Dockers can become a force in the not-too-distant future.

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