FREMANTLE star Matthew Pavlich is no certainty to play against Collingwood on Friday night despite a commanding four-goal performance against Port Adelaide, according to Dockers coach Ross Lyon.
Pavlich missed the Dockers' trip to the Gabba last week due to a groin niggle.
He returned against Port Adelaide and delivered a vintage display, kicking four vital goals and hauling down seven marks including three contested grabs.
Five talking points: Fremantle v Port Adelaide
The veteran looked in good spirits after the match.
He has often required ice packs immediately post-match in recent seasons, but he did not need any on Saturday and was going through an extensive stretching process without any apparent discomfort.
But Lyon said the 34-year-old was no certainty to travel to Melbourne next week.
"He should be fresh, we got him right," Lyon said.
"We'll assess it. Will he travel to Melbourne? That's no certainty. We'll see how he pulls up and see how he is.
Pavlich has already missed two interstate trips this season. He did not travel to Launceston to face Hawthorn in round eight after playing the first seven games of the season.
He has kicked 18 goals in 11 appearances after contemplating retirement at the end of last year.
Pavlich is just four games shy of becoming the 15th player in AFL/VFL history to play 350 career matches. He also needs 13 goals to kick 700 career goals. Kevin Bartlett (403 games and 778 goals) and Bernie Quinlan (366 and 817) are the only players to complete the remarkable double.
The Dockers only have nine more matches this season for Pavlich to achieve the milestones. Lyon said he is still playing well but there are things he could still improve on.
WATCH Ross Lyon's full media conference
"Pav reaffirmed he’s still playing some decent footy," Lyon said.
"It was far from the perfect game. He's got plenty of improvement and he would acknowledge that.
"But I thought in the last quarter when the challenge was thrown, I thought our senior players - Pavlich, Mundy, Hill, Spurr, Suban - stood up and led the younger players, and Ballantyne stood up."
Young key position utility Tanner Smith is set to miss next week's clash after suffering a hamstring injury in the third term. The 22-year-old was playing just his fourth game in his fourth season on the Dockers' list.
"He was pretty upset because he’s worked hard for an opportunity," Lyon said.
"I thought he was competing really strongly again. He won't face Collingwood next week."
Jon Griffin is still at least two weeks away with a hamstring injury. Lyon said that ruckman Jack Hannath would be withdrawn from Peel Thunder's side for Sunday's WAFL encounter with South Fremantle to ensure he would be available to face the Magpies.
