Fremantle coach Ross Lyon concedes the club erred in bringing back emerging midfielder Ed Langdon for Sunday's 20-point loss to Collingwood at Domain Stadium.
Langdon missed the 100-point loss to Adelaide in round 10 with a knee issue, but was brought straight back in against the Magpies.
However, the move backfired, with Langdon struggling to run out the match after feeling pain in his knee.
The 21-year-old finished with two goals from nine disposals, and Lyon said in hindsight the club probably should have given him another week on the sidelines.
"Could we have put in a more rigorous fitness test? Maybe," Lyon said.
"We put some heat on him to try to finish the game strongly, but he was a bit distressed at the end.
"We'll support him. Clearly it (the knee) has been going up and down. We haven't handled it quite right in the end.
"We need to look after him, because you don't want to grind your good young players into the ground.
"He'll need some looking after I would think. He was a bit frustrated, and it puts pressure on the team too."
Dockers ruckman Aaron Sandilands was a late withdrawal against the Magpies with a hamstring injury, but the 211cm ruckman is on track to return in Saturday's clash with Brisbane at the Gabba.
Two losses of the trot has left Fremantle (6-5) clinging to eighth spot on the ladder.
Fremantle's midfield was smashed against Collingwood, with the Magpies winning the inside-50m count 59-41.
Lyon said turnovers coming out of defence were costly, and he rued yet another slow start from his team.
Share
