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Fremantle Dockers midfielder Darcy Tucker to see surgeon after hand injury in the WAFL

Headshot of Jordan McArdle
Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
Darcy Tucker is set for a stint on the sidelines.
Camera IconDarcy Tucker is set for a stint on the sidelines. Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Fremantle midfielder Darcy Tucker could be sidelined for a month after injuring a hand in the WAFL.

The 105-game AFL player hurt his right hand during an incident late in the first half of Peel Thunder’s narrow loss to East Fremantle at the WACA Ground on Saturday.

Tucker bravely played out the match in pain with his hand strapped but struggled to have an impact, adding one disposal to his half-time tally of eight and three goals after being one of the best players on the ground before the setback.

The West Australian understands the 25-year-old, who has played 11 times for the Dockers this season, will see a surgeon on Tuesday to nut out a rehabilitation path after scans revealed a finger fracture.

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But early indications are that he’ll miss three to four weeks.

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The versatile Tucker was considered unlucky to lose his spot after having an impact as medical substitute in the round 11 win over Hawthorn at Optus Stadium.

He was one of several players considered to replace the hamstrung Blake Acres against Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday before the selection committee went with speedster Liam Henry.

Fremantle footy boss Peter Bell confirmed that Tucker would require surgery.

“He’s been a bit unlucky, Darcy, he’s sustained a finger fracture that will require surgery,” Bell told club website.

“He’ll get that done and a timeframe will be advised post-surgery.”

Thunder coach Geoff Valentine praised Tucker for playing out the second half and giving the team an extra rotation.

“Tucker had a hand problem which made it hard to compete in the second half,” Valentine told The West Australian on Sunday.

“It happened at the end of the second quarter. We tried to wrap it up and give it a bit of support but it did impact his ability to compete with tackling and those sort of things.

“He gave us a rotation but we weren’t able to get much drive out of those wings in the third quarter and in the end we put him into the half-back line.”

Fellow midfielder Acres won’t face Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Sunday but could return the following round against his former team St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on July 9.

Coach Justin Longmuir was hopeful veteran forward Michael Walters (calf) and second-year defender Heath Chapman (hamstring) could be fit to face the Power in a massive boost.

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