Barlow back for Dockers

Updated July 13, 2011 15:07:37

Fremantle will be bolstered by the return of gun midfielder Michael Barlow for Sunday's match with Sydney at the SCG, while veteran Adam McPhee and defender Nick Suban could also return for the crunch encounter.

Barlow has not played since pulling up sore from his return in the round 13 loss to Melbourne, but Dockers coach Mark Harvey says the 23-year-old is now ready to resume after training strongly on Monday.

"We did some aggressive training on Monday and he was fighting the fire," he said.

"I'd like to think he'd be a lot better in the second half (of the season) ... in (terms of his) preparation."

Harvey is also seriously considering handing recalls to one or both of McPhee and Suban, despite neither having a WAFL match under their belt since suffering their injuries.

"I remember doing the same thing with Tendai (Mzungu) after missing 10 weeks. (Garrick) Ibbotson was the same," Harvey said.

"Both those guys are really professional in the way they have done their preparation in regards to rehab.

"It will only be probably touch and maybe a little bit of match fitness as to whether we play them or not."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, fremantle-6160

First posted July 13, 2011 14:10:34

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Barlow back for Dockers

Updated June 15, 2011 13:43:00

Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow will make his AFL return in Sunday's encounter with Melbourne at the MCG.

Barlow, who broke his leg in sickening fashion in round 14 last year, has made it through two hit-outs in the WAFL and Dockers coach Mark Harvey says the 23-year-old is ready to rejoin the senior squad.

"I told him yesterday to brace himself and get ready for playing at the MCG," Harvey said.

"All the hard work's paid off.

"It's an opportunity for his family to go to the MCG.

"He's just excited to be back in the team. Hopefully he can take off from where he left it.

"I announced it to the players this morning and the applause was deafening."

Barlow's return offsets the loss of David Mundy (leg), but the Dockers will also be without goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne (hamstring).

The Dockers are scheduled to fly to Melbourne on Friday morning.

But with the ash cloud from a Chilean volcano still threatening flights into and out of Melbourne, Harvey says the club is keeping in close contact with the AFL about the situation.

"(We are) concerned about when we are going over and, as important, is when we get back," Harvey said.

"So it's two-fold at this stage.

"But I know the club and the AFL are liaising at the moment to try to work through that situation.

"We've got some plans put in place if we can't get a plane - submarine, camel train, hitchhiking.

"So we've got a few options."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, fremantle-6160

First posted June 15, 2011 13:21:00

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Barlow tipped to return next week

Posted May 25, 2011 16:32:00

Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow is on track to make his playing return from a broken leg within a fortnight.

Barlow, who broke his left leg in sickening fashion against Port Adelaide in round 14 last year, has resumed full training and could line up for WAFL side Peel Thunder against Perth on June 4.

"He will train, probably fully tonight," Dockers coach Mark Harvey said.

"I would expect that, nothing going wrong over the next week and a half, that he plays down there at Peel Thunder.

"I'd like to think he's playing Saturday week.

"We've been talking about that (whether to play him in the league side or reserves) within the coaching group and the fitness group so we'll just see how he comes up after a week and a half of full training.

"We'll just ease him in though.

"He's going to need at least three or four or five weeks (before he can push for an AFL recall) and we'll be able to tell by the way he's playing as to how long that either takes for him to get back in the team, or whether we need to play him longer at WAFL level."

Barlow's impending return comes as welcome relief for Fremantle, which lost another one of its key players this week when ruckman Aaron Sandilands was ruled out for four weeks with a toe injury.

The Dockers (5-3) take on St Kilda at Subiaco on Saturday and Harvey backed former Adelaide ruckman Jonathon Griffin to fill the void left by Sandilands.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, wa, fremantle-6160

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Barlow suffers slight setback

Updated April 14, 2011 13:58:00

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey remains confident Michael Barlow will return this season despite the star midfielder experiencing soreness in the leg he broke last year.

Barlow resumed running duties earlier this year but his playing return will be delayed after feeling recent tenderness in his left leg.

He broke his leg against Port Adelaide in round 14 at Subiaco Oval last season.

The setback is only minor but Harvey says the club's medical staff wants to take a cautious approach to ensure no further damage will be done.

"There's a little bit of tenderness in and around the area, but not the direct area," Harvey said.

"We've just got to monitor it.

"I'd like to be able to say he'll be out on the track next week, but there's just a delay with him at the moment.

"I'd like to give you a date to be honest, but it's just unreasonable at the moment."

Despite Barlow's setback, Harvey says the 23-year-old is still on track to feature this season.

"Michael's determined more than any other player I've seen just to get back and hopefully resemble what he did prior to the injury," Harvey said.

"He's got skinny legs and we just need to keep building up in that area.

"When you have a major injury to a lower leg then there are complications around that coming back."

Harvey says midfielder Garrick Ibbotson is a chance to return from an ankle injury for Sunday's twilight fixture with North Melbourne at Subiaco Oval.

But defender Alex Silvagni is set to spend at least two more weeks on the sidelines as he battles to overcome the effects of a recent stomach illness.

Ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who suffered eye damage last week following an accidental poke from Adelaide's Richard Tambling, is also set to be right to take on the Kangaroos.

- AAP

First posted April 14, 2011 13:37:00

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