Key Fremantle forward Jesse Hogan has been ruled out for the rest of the AFL season due to a lingering foot injury as surgery looms.
Hogan learned he would play no further part for the struggling Dockers after consulting a specialist in Melbourne on Friday.
Fremantle’s general manager of football Peter Bell said Hogan would undergo surgery after suffering a recurrence of an injury to the navicular bone in his right foot.
Hogan first had issues with the foot last year.
“He will undergo surgery and then undertake a recovery and rehabilitation program with an estimated time frame, at this stage, of 16 weeks,” Bell said.
“It was initially believed Jesse had suffered an unrelated sprain in his right foot in our round 14 game against Melbourne, but subsequent scans and further examination by a specialist confirmed a recurrence of the injury to the navicular bone.”
Bell summed up the disappointment associated with losing an integral member of the playing group.
“Jesse was important for our forward structure early in the season and he was really starting to hit his straps and gel with our restructured forward line.
“It is very disappointing for him and the club but we are confident Jesse should be available in round one of the 2020 season.”