FREMANTLE has copped a double injury blow ahead of the home-and-away season, with small forward Hayden Ballantyne and big man Michael Apeness set to be sidelined for about two months.
The Dockers have confirmed Ballantyne damaged his hamstring tendon in Friday night's win over Carlton and will be forced to undergo surgery.
"At this stage the medical advice is that Hayden will require a rehabilitation phase of eight-to-10 weeks," general manager of football operations Chris Bond said.
"Once the rehabilitation process is completed and given Hayden’s strong pre-season, we expect him to make a significant contribution on his return to football."
Meanwhile, Apeness suffered a torn posterior cruciate ligament playing in a WAFL practice match for Peel Thunder on Saturday and will be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks.
The 22-year-old doesn't require surgery but will wear a brace on his knee during his rehabilitation.
Ballantyne ripped his hamstring after kicking, stumbling and falling in the centre square during the third quarter of the 21-point win over the Blues.
The 29-year-old walked slowly from the ground and went straight to the rooms, telling club officials the injury felt like a normal hamstring strain – which has a usual recovery time of about three-to-four weeks.
Ballantyne's injury comes in the final year of his contract and as the star goalsneak was seeking to return to his 2014 All Australian form following two disappointing seasons.
The veteran posted a photo to Instagram on Tuesday morning, saying the surgery had gone "as well as it could".
Ballantyne won the club's goalkicking with 49 majors from 20 games in 2014, but only booted 41 from 35 matches in the past two campaigns.
The feisty forward was mooted for a trade to arch-rivals West Coast last October before staying put at the Dockers.
Ballantyne and Apeness join Harley Bennell (calf), Zac Clarke (knee) and Alex Pearce (fractured leg) in the Dockers' rehab group.
After missing all of last season due to his calf troubles, Bennell is scheduled to return to football within the opening six weeks of the season.
Clarke and Pearce are not expected to appear before the halfway point of the campaign after recently suffering setbacks with previous injuries.
Dockers defender Cam Sutcliffe is tipped to be available for round one after sitting out three quarters of the Blues clash with an ankle complaint.
