BROWNLOW medallist Nat Fyfe has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to his fractured fibula.

Fyfe met with Fremantle football manager Chris Bond on Thursday to make a decision on whether he would play again this year.

The superstar midfielder had a plate inserted in his left leg following his second fibula fracture in eight months in the round five loss to Carlton.

The injury list: Your club's sidelined players

Based on medical advice the Dockers have opted to have the plate removed once the bone has healed. That will mean Fyfe will be unavailable to play again this year.

"Based on clear medical advice Nat will not be available to play again in 2016," Bond said.

"He is due to have the plate removed later in the year and will then undergo a carefully planned period of rehabilitation.

"Our medical advice is that if Nat completes the rehabilitation phase without any setbacks he will be fit and available to start the 2017 pre-season on schedule.

"It's disappointing for Nat and our members and supporters but we will always act in the best long-term interests of a player's health and well-being."

Fyfe's attention will now turn to preparing for the 2017 season.

Meanwhile coach Ross Lyon is hopeful veteran pair Aaron Sandilands and Michael Johnson will play again this season.

Sandilands has been recovering from the horrific rib and lung injury he suffered in round three against West Coast.

He was not at training on Thursday but has been slowly building his cardio and strength training over the last week after meeting with his surgeon.

Johnson walked laps at training on Thursday and no timeframe has been given to his return from knee surgery.

Key defender Alex Silvagni walked with Johnson after he was ruled out of the next three weeks with a calf injury.

Anthony Morabito did not train on Thursday and will miss the next two weeks after suffering a minor hamstring injury on Saturday in the WAFL.

New recruit Shane Yarran will also miss this week's WAFL fixture with a calf problem.

Meanwhile, draftee Harley Balic has been placed on the long-term injury list as he recovers from wrist surgery.

Balic, 19, was the Dockers' second pick (No.38) in last year's NAB AFL Draft, but he was plagued by a wrist injury last year and required further surgery this year after being unable to participate in any ball work over the pre-season.



The Dockers have chosen not to upgrade any rookies at this stage.