DESPITE two more injuries out of Saturday night's loss to Richmond, Fremantle defender Antoni Grover says his club still has a lot to smile about.
Des Headland (calf) and Michael Johnson (ankle) have both been ruled out for at least two weeks, while Stephen Hill (hip) and Luke McPharlin (hip) face fitness tests ahead of this week's clash with Port Adelaide.
Grover said with Fremantle's injury list growing by the week, the players' collective sense of humour would get them through.
"If you're involved with a football club, the guys lift each other up," Grover said from Fremantle Oval on Tuesday.
"There's plenty of banter that goes around and there's plenty to laugh about.
"When these guys are injured the other guys will put a smile on their face and joke around a bit."
Fremantle carried a wad of casualties through the game against the Tigers, with Grover himself struggling through with an injured shoulder.
Paul Hasleby (calf) and Byron Schammer (groin) were also walking wounded in the three-point loss, but have been cleared to play this week.
Grover recounted a moment from the game when there were four players in Fremantle's rooms getting treated and no-one on the bench.
He said it bought back memories of the side's one-point loss to Geelong in round six last year.
"I remember last year when we played Geelong there was me, Steven Dodd and Roger Hayden sitting on the bench at the same time injured," Grover said.
"So that sort of makes things a bit difficult to get an interchange.
"But every club is having their injury problems at the moment. It just opens up doors for other guys."
Fremantle's debutants this season include Hill, Greg Broughton, Nic Suban, Matt de Boer and Luke Pratt.
Forward Hayden Ballantyne has been declared available for this week's trip to AAMI Stadium while rookie Clancee Pearce performed well in the WAFL at the weekend and is a chance to be elevated.
The club has until noon on Thursday to submit the necessary paperwork to upgrade a rookie.
"We've got a lot of young players that we want to develop and we can fast-track them hopefully," Grover said.
"There are still guys in the wings that want to perform and want to put their names up week in, week out.
"Whether it's injury or form that [helps them] get their opportunities, they always want to perform on the day."
Former leader Josh Carr's return to Port Adelaide has also opened doors for young players and Grover said he was looking forward to seeing his old teammate on the field on Saturday night.
"Obviously a lot of the guys got along with him really well and we were disappointed to see him leave, but we wished him all the best," Grover said.
"We would have loved for him to stay here."