FREMANTLE ruckman Zac Clarke has suffered a major injury setback.

Clarke has had surgery to repair the medial ligaments in his right knee and is unlikely to be back into full training until early next year.

Clarke could even miss early games next season in a blow that ruled out any chance of Fremantle trading back-up big man Jonathon Griffin despite interest from rival clubs.

It has emerged that the athletic Clarke played much of last season under duress with his nagging knee troubles before heading for surgery after the finals.

Clarke, 24, also bravely carried fractured ribs and a punctured lung into the Dockers’ home semi-final loss to Port Adelaide after copping a heavy knock against Sydney a week earlier.

His rate of recovery in an extensive rehabilitation program over summer will determine whether Clarke is sidelined for the opening rounds of next year’s home-and-away campaign.

He originally damaged his knee in a controversial off-season incident at a music festival on New Year’s Eve last December when on leave in his home state of Victoria.

Clarke’s summer training program was heavily compromised but the athletic big man, who is considered an integral part of Dockers’ long-term plans, still managed 21 games this season.

He has played 74 games since he headed to the Dockers as a third-round choice and 37th overall at the 2008 national draft. He was widely criticised for an inconsistent 2014 season in a supporting role to Aaron Sandilands.

Clarke averaged 12 disposals and a dozen hitouts a game.

Clarke’s setback explains why Fremantle was reluctant to move out a big man during this month’s AFL trade period.

Griffin and developing ruck-forward Jack Hannath are understood to have attracted interest from rival clubs but Dockers list managers refused to budge.

Griffin, 28, shapes as the likely back-up early into next season as Clarke completes his recovery.

The veteran had been willing to move with initial interest from Port Adelaide and Adelaide as support to either Port’s Matthew Lobbe or Crow Sam Jacobs.

Originally published as Surgery for Clarke after season in agony