Star Fremantle forward Jesse Hogan will be out of full AFL training until after Christmas as he recovers from his serious foot injury.
Hogan needed screws inserted in his right foot after he suffered a recurrence of a navicular bone injury in the round 14 match against his old club Melbourne.
Navicular injuries are notoriously difficult and while Fremantle are pleased with Hogan’s recovery, they will take no chances.
“I wouldn’t put an exact timeframe on it, but we wouldn’t see him in full football before Christmas,” Dockers football boss Peter Bell told 6PR.
“He is up running on the AlterG (treadmill), which allows you to take some body weight off, so he’s in front of schedule at the moment.
“But again, we’re in no great rush to get him back.
“It’s important we rehabilitate him conservatively and if that means we take our time, so be it.”
Fremantle hope that Hogan will be ready for round one of the regular season.
The Dockers started pre-season training on Monday, with Alex Pearce (ankle) also sidelined and Matt Taberner (foot) making solid progress.
Andrew Brayshaw was among the group of first-to four-year players who started training on Monday under new coach Justin Longmuir.
The first-time senior coach said there would be an emphasis on skills training this summer and Brayshaw welcomed the plan.
“Definitely – for us to execute our game plan, we have to be hitting our skills and with what Justin’s bringing, we should be able to do that,” Brayshaw said.