Ballantyne needs surgery before Freo semi

Fremantle star Hayden Ballantyne will need surgery for a broken jaw after a collision during Saturday’s AFL qualifying final loss to Sydney.

It is another injury blow to the Dockers, who now face a knockout semi-final on Saturday at home against Port Adelaide.

And the Power are brimming with confidence after smashing Richmond on Sunday in their elimination final.

But the Dockers have not ruled out Ballantyne for Saturday’s game.

They said in a statement on Sunday night that he suffered the injury in an accidental clash with a Swans player.

“It was a typically courageous performance by Hayden to play out the game with the injury,” said Dockers football manager Chris Bond.

“Hayden hasn’t been ruled out of Saturday’s game at this stage and will have to satisfy our medical staff about his fitness before he can be considered for selection.”

Ballantyne is an All-Australian nominee, but he only had seven disposals and did not kick a goal in Saturday’s loss.

It was only the third match this season that the small forward had failed to kick a goal.

Coach Ross Lyon strongly defended Ballantyne, while fellow small forward Michael Walters also only managed one goal.

Lyon said Ballantyne was a great player who was starved of supply and added Fremantle’s midfield was more to blame.

Fremantle have lost Michael Johnson (back) for these finals and fellow key defender Luke McPharlin remains sidelined with a calf muscle injury.