Dockers lose defender for derby Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin has been ruled out of next Sunday's western derby against cross-town rival West Coast. With the Eagles finding some form and Josh Kennedy running hot, Alex Silvagni looms as the likely replacement for McPharlin, to come in to the side to play on him or Jack Darling. McPharlin was sidelined with a calf injury late in the third quarter of the Dockers 30-point win over St Kilda at Patersons Stadium on Sunday, and he did not return to the ground. Unfortunately for Fremantle, it had subbed returning ruckman Aaron Sandilands out of the contest only two minutes earlier.
It had to play with just two players on the bench for the final quarter. Dockers coach Ross Lyon ruled McPharlin out of next week's game, potentially crucial to Fremantle's hopes of finishing in the top four, but said he thought they had the depth to cover the 2012 All-Australian defender. "Not dramatic (the injury) but we don't think he'll play in the derby, I'll put that on the table, and hopefully the week after (he'll play)," Lyon said. "Yeah I can't put a �� one, two, three, maybe none, but in all likelihood a couple of weeks. "He does give us bounce, but he defends the key forwards so that's what we'll be looking for. Tanner He Got Game 13 2013 Smith Jordan 4 Thunder hurt his shoulder, so it narrows down to Peter Faulks and Alex Silvagni, and Alex Silvagni is the most likely because he's done it the most recently. "He's stood up in finals for us.
That's the likely scenario, but it's not ideal." The injury to McPharlin comes at a frustrating time for the Dockers, who had five players return for the clash against the Saints. The Dockers were as close to full strength as they have been all season, albeit with some players short of a run. Aaron Sanidlands and captain Matthew Pavlich returned after lengthy stints on the sidelines, David Mundy returned after missing two games and Michael Barlow and Lee Spurr returned after missing only one game, the round 14 loss to Geelong.
The introduction of five players played some part in the Dockers slow start against the Saints, who led by seven points at half-time and as much as 14 during the second term. "We've been a pretty good starting team for the year," Lyon said. "There's no doubt as a match committee we knew we were putting the group under some pressure playing two players straight into AFL competition after, we know how long it is roughly, a long period of time. "Hopefully everyone's better for the run. Sandilands had little impact on the game, while Pavlich kicked two crucial consecutive goals in the third term to give the Dockers the lead. Spurr, Mundy Air Jordan XX8 and Barlow were all solid contributors.