- Injury udpate: The latest on Fyfe and Lobb
- 'No plans' for Sandi to miss flights
- Match preview v Bulldogs
Senior coach Ross Lyon is hopeful Fremantle will be in a position to name three of their crucial tall players for Sunday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe was in full training with the team on Wednesday and Lyon was confident the star midfielder would return after a week on the sidelines due to an elbow infection.
Versatile forward/ruckman Rory Lobb is also looking to prove his fitness after injuring his shoulder late against Sydney last Saturday, while fellow ruck Aaron Sandilands looks set to travel for the first time in 2019.
“It’s just availability (for Fyfe). It was an infection, he was on top of it,” Lyon said.
“He’s bouncing around and you’ll see him out there today. For me, it’s pretty smooth sailing.”
Lobb trained away from the main group on Wednesday and Lyon paid tribute to the resilience of the 207cm big man.
“He is (tough), I think he played with fractured ribs at GWS, and in those conditions and at the end (against Sydney) he was fantastic,” Lyon said.
“You really admire players that can play with injury, it’s really difficult to do and not everyone can do it, but he can certainly do it.
“We never take any risk with the players that isn’t calculated, if it was to cause any further damage or risk (Lobb wouldn’t play).
“He’s in pretty good shape. He’s got full range. There’s a slight chance he won’t (play) but there was certainly no damage to the capsule, the big part of the shoulder.
“It did look sore though but he’s really good. He was in (on Tuesday), played around with his shoulder and he’s quite confident.”
Lyon said that Sandilands was eager to get on the plane and travel to face the Bulldogs.
“(Sandilands is) probably more than likely. He’s pretty keen and from his perspective, he’s 100 per cent in,” Lyon said.
“We’ll look at it. He hasn’t played much footy and he was a real presence (against Sydney) wasn’t he? Even at the end there.
“I love having him in the team but we’ll get to that. They’re a really quick running team the Bulldogs, but maybe it’s just about bringing our strengths to the table.”