Joel Hamling will miss the start of Fremantle’s AFL season after the defender suffered a serious ankle injury at training.
Fremantle will start the AFL season without their best two defenders with Joel Hamling the latest star to be struck by injury.
Hamling is set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after suffering serious ligament damage in his left ankle at training on Monday.
No exact timeline has been set for the 26-year-old’s return but the Dockers have already ruled him out for the start of the home-and-away campaign.
“Joel landed heavily on his left ankle after contesting a mark at training on Monday and was sent for scans, which confirmed the nature of the injury,” Fremantle football operations manager Peter Bell said.
“He will be further assessed by a specialist, after which we will have a more accurate estimate of the recovery time Joel’s injury will require.”
Fellow key backman Alex Pearce will also miss the start of the season after undergoing more surgery in December on the left ankle he fractured in round 11 last season.
The loss of Hamling and Pearce is a huge blow to the Dockers under new coach Justin Longmuir.
Star forward Jesse Hogan also appears set to miss the start of the season while he continues his recovery from a serious navicular foot injury that required surgery.
Hogan is currently on indefinite leave so he can focus on his mental health and he faces an uphill battle to prove he is both physically and mentally ready for round one.
It’s also unclear when midfielder David Mundy will return.
Mundy suffered a fibular fracture above his left ankle in a freak accident while riding an exercise bike with his children.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
...he just bumped into another player. Bruises need ice. Freo has that stuff.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Darcy isn't injured.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Apart from the fact he's wrong.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Well...no!
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Have you had any Rain Macca ?
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
You have been made to look silly AGAIN Don. Caught out with your poky pies Again.
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
Wow I hope Darcys injury isn't serious.... more for the rhetoric on here than anything else.
1DER
Guest
Darcy played weekending 18/5/19. He only missed two weeks, rounds 10 and 11 only injured and probably would not have been selected anyway if available. Freo had the bye round 12.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
What do you think happened between rounds 6 and 13?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You don't rank English or Grundy?
1DER
Guest
Injured his ankle not quad and played rounds 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the WAFL. Returned in the round 13 game against Port replacing the injured Lobb. https://www.standard.net.au/story/6219559/dockers-ruckman-delivers-in-return-match/ https://www.wafl.com.au/player/sean-darcy
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Another silly biased comment.........
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
You attack Curnow but when A Freo player does the same it is OK ? Strange to say the least, hope fully he doesn't turn out like Harley. I doubt it though all players make mistakes most learn from it.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
My goodness. Darcy was terrific. He was never beaten in the ruck when he came back. You might be looking at Dave Darcy in the 60s (Luke's dad). You certainly are unaware of what happened to Sean last season. If you look at him this season, he is an outstanding physical specimen. He will be challenging Grundy this year, along with Tim English as the best ruckman in the AFL.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You are funny in the way you will criticize anything to do with Freo. I wonder how you think you are making any point at all. Are you happy that a kid made an error?
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
You are a strong critic of Curnow......A Freo player was charged with Drink Driving yesterday. Should not throw stones Don !
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Your wrong again Don, 1DER is right Darcy was Dropped! He has not set the world on fire. He shows a bit of promise, but he is not what you have been describing.
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
Was just alluding to the differing views on last season’s injury lists etc and that this coming season all that won’t really matter. The season beckons… Oh and that our back Line will be very inexperienced come round 1.
Macca
Roar Rookie
It was more the hearsay part rather than the conjecture part.
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
Thanks for pointing this out Macca. I should of said speculation and hear say. My bad.