Fremantle are hopeful Lachie Schultz can return against Carlton for Saturday’s Len Hall Tribute Game, while young forward Joel Western has sustained a significant hamstring injury representing Peel in the WAFL.

Schultz sat out Fremantle’s round five clash against Essendon as he entered the AFL’s Health and Safety Protocols but the small forward is no guarantee to run out against the Blues.

Executive General Manager of Football Peter Bell said Schultz would need to prove his fitness on the track this week.

“Lachie is doing a flush run now (on Tuesday afternoon) and we’ll see how he comes through that and how he comes through main training and everything else,” Bell said.

“We want to see how much impact the Health and Safety Protocols have had on him until we make a decision on his availability.”

Western was one of 11 Fremantle players in action for Peel on Friday against East Fremantle, collecting 19 disposals and kicking a goal before sustaining the injury.

“It looks to be a significant hamstring injury for Joel, who was playing really well in that game. It’s disappointing,” Bell said.

“Joel has a surgical consultation in the next couple of days where we’ll make a decision on whether surgery is required, or if the hamstring can be reconditioned non operatively.”

First-year midfielder Matthew Johnson has a timeframe on his return to football as he recovers from an ankle injury.

“Matthew’s had a couple of really good on-field training sessions over the past few days,” Bell said.

“We’ve put a timeframe somewhere between three and four weeks for Matty to be back out there playing, which we’re all looking forward to.”

Bell added that medium forward Sam Sturt was “expected to be available” for selection at WAFL or AFL level this weekend, while captain Nat Fyfe has continued his recovery from a back injury with “a really good week” in reconditioning.

INJURY LIST – ROUND 6
Lachie Schultz (Health and Safety Protocols) – Test
Sam Sturt (knee) – Test
Matthew Johnson (ankle) – 3-4 weeks
Nat Fyfe (back) – TBA
Joel Western (hamstring) - TBA

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