Fremantle will be without defender turned midfielder Phil Seth for at least the first half of the NAB AFL Women’s season due to an ankle injury.

The hard-running 27-year-old was set to join Fremantle’s midfield in 2022 after three impressive seasons at half back.

She played an almost full game in the role in Fremantle’s scratch match against West Coast on 21 December before coming off in the final term with the injury.

Seth is ruled out for Saturday’s RAC Derby and is unlikely to play during the Club’s four-game interstate trip, taking on GWS, Richmond and Collingwood in Victoria and North Melbourne in Tasmania.

She will still travel with the team however, with the aim of returning to training late in Fremantle’s extended away trip.

Senior coach Trent Cooper is optimistic that Fremantle can fill the midfield void left by Seth, including a number of potential round one debutants.

“It’s disappointing to lose Phil Seth with a syndesmosis injury,” Cooper told The West Australian.

“She wasn’t our only one (looking to move into the midfield) and we think we’ve worked with a few others through the off-season to do that.

“A couple of our young players as well will put up their hand and we’ll see them through there in round one. It’s going to be exciting to see what the midfield can bring.”

Teams for Saturday’s clash with West Coast at Fremantle Oval will be named on Friday via fremantlefc.com.au.

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