STAR Fremantle forward Michael Walters faces an anxious wait to discover his fate after losing his cool and being reported for headbutting Adelaide backman Tom Doedee in the tense dying stages of the Dockers' three-point win on Sunday.

Walters is also likely to be in hot water with the Match Review Officer for a strike to Jake Kelly's stomach in the moments leading up to the report.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon was tight-lipped about the headbutt during his post-match press conference.

DOCKERS HOLD ON Full match coverage and stats

"I always let the authorities work through that process and they'll deem what they deem," he said.

But Lyon was concerned by Walters' actions, pulling him from the field immediately.

"You've got to make a decision. It wasn't the action we wanted, Michael would have known that, we had Lachie Neale with five minutes on the bench … so it was opportune to do that," Lyon said.

"Michael knows he just didn't regulate himself as well as he should have at that moment, but for the most part he does.

"We like them to be a bit fiery, but at the right time be fiery."

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The Dockers will be nervous about losing Walters – their leading goalkicker with 14 majors – for a winnable trip to face bottom-placed Carlton at Etihad Stadium.

Freo will certainly be without star defender Alex Pearce, who broke his thumb during the second term of Sunday's pulsating win.

However, superstar skipper Nat Fyfe will return against the Blues following his one-week striking ban and ruckman Aaron Sandilands could also be back after missing the past two matches due to concussion.

After Carlton, the Dockers face 17th-placed Brisbane at home following the bye and could still hold slim finals hopes after improving their record to 5-7 on Sunday.