Fremantle's forward stocks have taken a huge hit on the eve of the AFL season, with goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne and spearhead Michael Apeness set for lengthy stints on the sidelines.
Scans revealed Ballantyne suffered tendon damage to his left hamstring during last week's 21-point pre-season win over Carlton.
The Dockers were initially hopeful Ballantyne would only need to spend three to four weeks on the sidelines.
But with surgery now necessary, Ballantyne will miss between eight to 10 weeks.
And in a further blow to the Dockers, Apeness has been ruled out of action for six to eight weeks after tearing the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a WAFL practice match.
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Ballantyne's manic pressure will be hard to replace, and his absence will place further heat on fellow small forward Michael Walters.
The retirement of Matthew Pavlich, and the departure of medium-sized forward Chris Yarran over the summer had already robbed the Dockers of some of their depth.
Yarran quit the club after being charged over two separate assault incidents.
But the arrival of former GWS forward Cam McCarthy and ex-Cat Shane Kersten has given the Dockers plenty of optimism heading into the AFL season.
McCarthy booted six goals against Carlton last week, while Kersten looked dangerous at times.
The Dockers start their season at home to Geelong on March 26.
