Option to rest McPharlin disappeared, Lyon admits
The West Australian
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon last night conceded that the club’s hand had been forced in the management of Luke McPharlin this season, amid a fresh injury concern for the key defender.
McPharlin was substituted out of the Dockers’ 37-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday before having his left calf iced.
The 33-year-old surprised some with his decision to play on in 2015 after struggling to overcome soft-tissue injuries in the latter part of the past two seasons.
But McPharlin has been a mainstay this season, missing only rounds six and seven with calf soreness as fellow key backs Michael Johnson, Zac Dawson and Alex Silvagni have spent extended periods on the sidelines.
Lyon said McPharlin’s calf was corked and he was unsure whether he would be fit to face West Coast in Sunday’s huge western derby.
Nat Fyfe expected to be fit to play in Dockers’ derby clash against West Coast
PerthNow
FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon expects champion on-baller Nat Fyfe to be fit to play in Sunday’s potentially epic derby against arch rival West Coast.
Lyon will fitness test the brilliant Fyfe later in the week, before the star playmaker is declared ready to resume after a two-week absence.
But West Coast coach Adam Simpson has conceded star defender Jeremy McGovern will not play and the Eagles boss remains unsure of just when star ruck force Nic Naitanui will resume following the death of his mother late last week.
Nat Fyfe and Michael Johnson set for Derby return for Fremantle Dockers
PerthNow
FREMANTLE’S chances of winning next Sunday’s Western Derby will be boosted with the anticipated returns of gun midfielder Nat Fyfe and defender Michael Johnson.
But Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui remains doubtful following the death of his mother.
The prized big man is believed to have travelled to Fiji with no immediate indication of when he will return.
Fyfe is racing time to fully recover from a groin strain that has sidelined the runaway Brownlow Medal favourite for the past two weeks.
Johnson is tipped to resume after a three-month absence with a serious hamstring injury.
Derby just another game: Ibbotson
Clear at the top, but no love for Freo to win the flag
The Age
There have been a lot of strange goings-on in season 2015, but perhaps one of the most remarkable is that a side 10 points clear on top of the ladder with just four games to play is not the flag favourite.
Fremantle took over top spot, a game clear of all rivals, back in round four. The Dockers have stayed there ever since, their win-loss record now a formidable 16-2. For most of that time, however, it's been Hawthorn who have enjoyed the shortest premiership price.
Why do the Dockers remain, in flag terms, comparatively unloved? There are several factors at play
One, obviously, is Hawthorn, who since a sluggish 4-4 start to the season have hit their stride in a big way, winning nine of their last 10 games, among the high points a 72-point demolition of Fremantle in round 15.
Another is the continued popular reservations about Ross Lyon-coached sides scoring sufficiently in September, Lyon's finals winning percentage of 47 miles behind his regular season 70 per cent, and the Dockers having lost their past three finals, in which they've kicked tallies of just eight, 10 and 11 goals.
