FREMANTLE'S nightmare injury list now contains three of its four most important players, but the efforts of youngsters Greg Broughton and Alex Silvagni on Saturday night helped the club avoid a mid-season crisis.

Already missing clearance specialist David Mundy (ankle), Fremantle lost key defender Luke McPharlin (groin) half way through its clash with the Brisbane Lions, and ruckman Aaron Sandilands lasted a little more than two quarters before his 'turf toe' condition was re-aggravated. 

An upset was brewing at Patersons Stadium, with Fremantle down by 11 points at the main break and staring at its sixth loss in eight games. Enter Broughton and Silvagni.

Broughton pushed from defence into the midfield and won 20 of his 32 possessions in the second half, also kicking two crucial goals.

Meanwhile Silvagni, who was playing his first game for the season after being sidelined with a groin injury, took McPharlin's role on Lions skipper Jonathon Brown and held him goalless for the second half.

As valuable as Mundy and McPharlin are to Fremantle, this young pair proved adequate cover on Saturday night. Broughton said he was enjoying his time in the midfield.

"He (Mundy) was our number-one clearance player and contested-ball winner, so we have to find a few more guys that can go through there and step up in his absence," Broughton said on Saturday night. 

"If I have to go through the midfield I'll try my hardest and play my role. I'm enjoying it when I get the opportunity."

Fremantle shuffled its backline in the second half without McPharlin, with Michael Johnson, who has discovered some recent form as a forward, sent back.

Roger Hayden was subbed in for his first game back from a foot injury and Silvagni, who the club had planned pre-match to sub off, stepped up to the challenge of nullifying Brown.   

"He was amazing," Broughton said of Silvagni, who had a team-high nine marks and repeatedly beat Brown in the air. "It was great to see him back in the side."

In addition to Broughton and Silvagni's lead roles, young ruckman Zac Clarke played an important cameo. 

Already losing the clearances 17-26, and without Sandilands for the final quarter, Fremantle turned to the 21-year-old Clarke to carry the ruck.   

He stepped up to the challenge, winning eight hit-outs for the term and giving Fremantle a 13-4 edge in clearances for the quarter.

"I told Zac at three-quarter time, Aaron's obviously not coming back on the ground [so] he had to take the mantle and assume the No.1 ruck position," coach Mark Harvey said.

"I thought he did that, and sometimes it's just little roles like that; it means that they understand that it's so important to the team."

Recalled midfielder Rhys Palmer also played a significant role on Saturday night, running with senior Lions on-baller Luke Power and keeping him to just eight possessions.

Palmer, who won 22 possessions, didn't always use the ball well, but he clearly out-pointed his senior opponent.  

"He learned a really good lesson tonight," Harvey said. "Doing that type of role for the team is so important and I think it will be the making of Rhys as his career goes on, those sorts of jobs."

Nathan Schmook covers Fremantle news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_NSchmook