Fremantle forward Matt Taberner and ruckman Sean Darcy are set for more than a month on the sidelines after sustaining injuries at the weekend, according to high performance manager Jason Weber.

Taberner is set to miss eight weeks with a foot injury while Darcy is expected to miss four to six weeks with an ankle injury.

Weber said that Taberner’s injury was not directly related to the injury he sustained on the same foot in 2018.

“Unfortunately, Matt’s got a stress reaction in his foot. It’s probably built over the past couple of weeks but it really only reared its head over the game at Marvel Stadium over the weekend,” Weber said.

“It’s the first time we’ve become aware of it, he’s had an MRI and it’s been diagnosed and it’s going to be quite a number of weeks at this point.

“It is the same foot (as his injury in 2018) and while it’s not specifically related to that incident, it’s undeniable that a mixture of his particular mechanics in running and the nature of the job he does and where he does it, have combined to produce another stress reaction.”

Darcy sustained his ankle injury in the first quarter of Peel’s clash with Claremont on Saturday at Claremont Oval.

The 20-year-old came off the ground and took no further part in the game.

“Sean was pushed while he was jumping in the air, it was general contact and not anything unseemly, but he landed very awkwardly, so he has a nasty ankle injury…he’s going to be at least four to six weeks,” Weber said.

Weber said Harley Bennell was a chance to make a return from a calf injury via the WAFL this weekend.

“As long as he gets through all of training this week (he can play),” Weber said.

“Harley trained really strongly on the weekend so he’s doing a great over the past couple of months so we’re hoping to see him back and on the field.”

Weber said that both Hill (quad) and Ballantyne (hamstring) are advancing in their recoveries.

“Stephen progressed really well at the weekend. He’s worked towards some game-type work. We look forward to trying to get him into football this week and progressing from there,” Weber said.

“Hayden’s doing a fantastic job, he’s moving really hard. Probably the toughest thing is keeping him within his speed brackets at the moment, he’s really up and about and ready to go so he’s only a couple of weeks away.”

Weber said that young forward Sam Sturt is making good progress while he is out with concussion.

“Sam’s going really well, obviously he had a couple of concussive incidents within a short period of time,” Weber said.

“It was due diligence for us to look after him and make sure his well being is optimised.

“In that period, he’s taken the opportunity to really work on his strength and his speed so when he gets back to football in about three weeks, we look forward to a progressed athlete.”

Player Injury Estimated duration Harley Bennell Calf Test Hayden Ballantyne Hamstring 2 weeks Stephen Hill Quad 3 weeks Sam Sturt Concussion 3 weeks Sean Darcy Ankle 4-6 weeks Matt Taberner Foot 8 weeks Shane Kersten Foot TBA Aaron Sandilands Calf TBA



