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Fremantle Dockers set to wait on Alex Pearce as Sam Switkowski, Adam Cerra eye Essendon clash

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Mark DuffieldThe West Australian
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Fremantle defender Alex Pearce looks to have overcome an ankle injury but is set to miss Sunday’s clash agaisnt Essendon.
Camera IconFremantle defender Alex Pearce looks to have overcome an ankle injury but is set to miss Sunday’s clash agaisnt Essendon. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

Fremantle will resist the temptation to rush Alex Pearce back into their team to face Essendon on Sunday but look likely to welcome Adam Cerra and Sam Switkowski back.

But All-Australian defender Luke Ryan is still a week away with his calf problem.

And another experienced defender Joel Hamling could still be a month away with his problematic ankle issue, while the club is still waiting on medical advice for Michael Frederick – who has an ankle syndesmosis.

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Fremantle midfielder Adam Cerra looks set to return this weekend after sustaining an ankle injury against Adelaide last month.
Camera IconFremantle midfielder Adam Cerra looks set to return this weekend after sustaining an ankle injury against Adelaide last month. Credit: James Elsby/AFL Photos
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Fremantle’s head of football Peter Bell said the club’s main training session on Thursday would determine the availability of Cerra and Switkowski but was confident they will prove their fitness. The Dockers are due to fly to Melbourne on Friday to face the Bombers.

Pearce injured his knee after landing awkwardly in a marking contest against Melbourne in round one with skipper Nat Fyfe landing on top of him.

The club is almost certain to have him play a game of WAFL before he plays in the AFL which will put his return to AFL football back a fortnight because there is no WAFL football this weekend because of an interstate game.

Switkowski suffered a finger injury in round three against Carlton while Cerra suffered a minor ankle syndesmosis in round five against Adelaide.

“All of those three have been really diligent with their reconditioning programs,” Bell said. “They have got a training session to get through this Thursday. We are expecting that they are in a really good place to get through that and then we will make a decision on their availability on the weekend.”

Cerra will be an automatic inclusion if passed fit while Switkowski’s pace and pressure would be considered important in a forward line that has struggled to hold the ball inside attacking fifty in recent weeks.

Bell said Ryan, who suffered a calf injury in the week between the win over North Melbourne and the Western Derby loss to West Coast, was “at least a week away”.

Frederick had returned to WA for evaluation.

“We will be in a position to update a bit more later in the week,” Bell said.

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