The Fremantle Dockers have already shifted their attention and have accepted the challenge of playing despite injuries to key players.
While the injuries to Aaron Sandilands, Michael Johnson, and Nat Fyfe within the space of two weeks have been disappointing, senior coach Ross Lyon said there were silver linings to the current situation.
“It creates opportunity for the players who’ve been queuing up,” Lyon said.
“Your mind shifts to determination, work ethic and accepting the challenge.
“Out of adversity comes opportunity.”
HBF Injury Update: Fyfe surgery
Lyon said the injuries weren’t an excuse for Freo’s 0-5 start to 2016 but admitted that the team did feel the consequences of losing key players in the second half against Carlton on Sunday.
“Up until that point (against Carlton), we’ve had no excuse with injury, it’s more been our system, form and consistency of effort,” he said.
“There’s some disappointment, I don’t like to see my players get hurt.
“They give so much, and particularly people who are so vested in what we do and are great players for us like Sandilands, Fyfe and Johnson.”
Nat Fyfe underwent successful surgery on a fractured left fibula on Tuesday, and Lyon said Freo would take all the necessary measures to ensure a successful return.
“I spoke to Nat pre-surgery, he’s a very resilient person,” he said.
“We’ll take a contingency approach with him.
“We never bring players back underprepared.
“He loves his club, he wants to build the club, so when we get him back we want him to be in the best shape, so he can play great footy.”
Lyon didn’t give a return date for Fyfe but anticipated seeing Michael Johnson play later in 2016, after having surgery on his knee/hamstring.
“We should see him play some football this year, and he’s really important to us.”
In positive news on the injury front, Lyon confirmed that Freo skipper David Mundy should return against Adelaide on Saturday, after missing three games due to a calf injury.
