Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is confident Zac Clarke will be fit for round one of the AFL season, but wingman Anthony Morabito will start the year in the WAFL.
Clarke was initially set to miss at least eight weeks of pre-season training after injuring the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while attending a music festival in Victoria on New Year’s Eve.
But Lyon said the 23-year-old was on track to play against Collingwood in the season opener on March 14 after scans revealed the injury wasn’t as bad as first thought.
“It’s at the lesser end, and I expect him to be playing round one,” Lyon said on Friday.
“It (the injury) is not ideal. But we want them to have healthy, active lives outside (of the club) if it’s their break.
“It’s a really good period for them to freshen up, work hard, and unfortunately sometimes people are going to get hurt.
“We are in the business of healthy bodies, but we all live and we learn.
“It’s a good lesson to try to look after yourself.”
Morabito is still building up to full fitness after undergoing a third reconstruction of his left knee early last year.
The 22-year-old hasn’t played an AFL match since his debut season of 2010, and Lyon said Morabito needed to find his feet while playing for Peel Thunder in the WAFL before thinking of making his Dockers return.
“He’s missed three years of AFL football. I think it would be a natural progression for him,” Lyon said.
“We’re still controlling some of his drills just to look after him.
“There’s no definitive time (on when he’ll return).”
Ruckman Kepler Bradley, who underwent a knee reconstruction last April, is almost back in full training, while Jon Griffin is about a month behind him.
Midfielder Stephen Hill will be placed on light duties for the next week after suffering tightness in his quad.
Fremantle are among the favourites to win this year’s premiership after reaching the grand final for the first time last season.