GOLD Coast winger Pearce Hanley is facing surgery after re-injuring his right shoulder during the first half of the Suns' clash with Fremantle on Saturday.
FULL MATCH COVERAGE: Highlights, stats and more
It was Hanley’s first game of the season after dislocating the same shoulder in the pre-season. But he didn't even make it to half-time, doing the shoulder again during a relatively tame clash in the midfield in the second quarter at Optus Stadium.
Hanley didn't have surgery last time but the Suns may have to look at this option this time around.
"It doesn’t look good, obviously in the first game back," coach Stuart Dew said.
"We knew going into the game that it’s a chance, once they start coming out generally you do need to get them fixed (surgically) at some point.
WATCH: Shoulder blow for Hanley
"He could have made 10 games or got through the season. Given where his strength was pre-game, we were confident.
"We would never have put him out there thinking this is going to happen ... at training he got through all the parameters we put him through."
In an eventful game which the Dockers won by 28 points, Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands was reported early in the third term for rough conduct after a high bump on Jarryd Lyons.
