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<\/p>\nFremantle have had some badly needed good news in the wake of its AFL grand final disaster, confirming captain Alex Pearce will not need surgery.<\/p>\n
The Dockers are confident the key defender will return to training in the pre-season.<\/p>\n
As the post-mortem continues following Saturday’s devastating loss to Brisbane, Fremantle said Pearce suffered a partially ruptured Achilles tendon, as well as a calf strain.<\/p>\n
Pearce was giving chase early in the third quarter of the grand final when he suddenly fell to the ground.<\/p>\n
Two trainers helped him from the field, with one of the most shattering images of the loss being Pearce hobbling past the premiership cup on crutches at the post-game presentations.<\/p>\n
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan and several of his players offered their best wishes to Pearce soon after the final siren.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Alex Pearce went down with his injury during the third quarter of the grand final. (ABC News: Lucy Murray)<\/p>\n
Coach Justin Longmuir said losing the Dockers’ defensive general cost them, especially during Brisbane’s last-gasp comeback.<\/p>\n
“Thankfully Alex has not had a complete rupture of his Achilles tendon and he will not require surgery,” Fremantle football boss Joe Brierty said on Tuesday in a club statement.<\/p>\n
“Scans have revealed a partial tear of his Achilles tendon and also a significant calf strain.<\/p>\n
“As it stands, we expect Alex to return to training in pre-season.”<\/p>\n
Also on Tuesday, chief executive Simon Garlick was the latest key Docker to defend Wharfie Time and dismiss its activation as a factor in their heartbreaking loss.<\/p>\n
Lions coach Chris Fagan and several of his players have said since that they had a plan if Wharfie Time was sounded, vowing they would try to use it to their own advantage.<\/p>\n
But Garlick followed Longmuir and Brierty in denying Wharfie Time had torpedoed the Dockers.<\/p>\n
“We know teams, including ours, have scenario plans for being a few goals down or up with a few minutes to go,” Garlick told SEN.<\/p>\n
“Brisbane executed that plan exceptionally well on Saturday, clearly. It’s clearly a plan they would’ve had regardless of Wharfie Time.”<\/p>\n
It remains unclear whether Wharfie Time is now sunk.<\/p>\n
“Our fans love Wharfie Time. We’ve just lost a grand final in the most heartbreaking way,” Garlick said.<\/p>\n
“We’re not about to throw out things that make us who we are.<\/p>\n
“We’ll work through that.”<\/p>\n
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