Fremantle have their fingers crossed Joel Hamling will be given the green light to face North Melbourne's daunting forward line in Sunday's AFL clash at Optus Stadium.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hamling was concussed in last week's 59-point loss to Sydney after copping a stray elbow to the head from Lance Franklin.
The Dockers desperately need the premiership defender to play this week against a powerful North attack featuring Ben Brown, Jarrad Waite, and Mason Wood.
The star trio combined for 11 goals in last week's shock 43-point win over GWS.
Dockers defender Luke Ryan is hopeful Hamling will be fit to face North Melbourne.
"I'm sure that he'll be fine for this week," Ryan said.
"We've got other players playing WAFL and we've got a few that can stand up and take Joel's spot, but our priority is to get Joel up and ready for this week."
Michael Johnson and Alex Pearce will also form an important part of Fremantle's defence on the weekend.
North Melbourne were widely tipped to finish near the bottom of the ladder this year, but they've defied those gloomy predictions to sit in seventh spot with a 5-4 record.
Fremantle have won four of their five games at Optus Stadium, with their only loss coming against cross-town rivals West Coast in round six.
But their form on the road has been horrendous, losing to Port Adelaide (50 points), GWS (31 points), Richmond (77 points), and Sydney (59 points).
Ryan said the group were doing their best to address the poor away form.
Australian Associated Press
