Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is confident his team won't fall to bits without Michael Johnson and Luke McPharlin, but he's yet to decide whether to hand wingman Anthony Morabito a dream AFL recall this week.
Johnson could miss up to six weeks after straining the medial ligament in his right knee, while McPharlin has been ruled out for three to four weeks with a similar injury.
Their absence has opened the door for Alex Silvagni to get an extended run in the team, while rebounding backman Garrick Ibbotson might be switched to a key defensive post.
Johnson and McPharlin are Fremantle's two most important defenders, but Lyon has backed his team to keep producing positive results without the All-Australian pair.
"We'll miss those guys but we're certainly confident that we can fill the breach and play some pretty good footy," Lyon said ahead of Saturday's clash with Richmond at the MCG.
Morabito is in the thick of the selection mix after tallying 28 disposals and three goals in the WAFL on Saturday.
The 22-year-old, who has endured three knee reconstructions since playing his last AFL game in 2010, has eight WAFL games under his belt this season.
But Lyon said Morabito was no certainty to return just yet.
"If romance was to purely come into it, he would play this week," Lyon said.
"But first and foremost, our obligation is to win games of football and pick the best possible team.
"So is Anthony going to help us, or not? And is he ready?
"We're going to work through all of that.
"But it is at the really exciting stage. I thought he jumped a level on the weekend.
"I'm sure if you ask Anthony, he'll go 'I'm ready, and I want to play this week'.
"But he's like the others; he goes through a selection process based on our objective of winning the game."
Fremantle (7-4) sit just one game adrift of second spot, while the 13th-placed Tigers are in crisis mode after losing eight of their 11 games this season.
Share
