The 211-centimetre Sandlands was a substitution from the match, with Fremantle’s senior coach Ross Lyon suggesting he would miss next Saturday’s Round 22 match with Port Adelaide in Perth.
“Aaron’s copped a knock to the head really early in a marking contest and has gone to hospital and had a scan,” said Lyon.
“It doesn’t look great, I can’t tell you exactly what it is, but it looks like a cheekbone.”
Hartlett, Hitchcock injury update
However Lyon remains quietly confident Sandilands could play depending on the severity of the injury, alluding to recent cases of St Kilda’s Stephen Milne and the Dockers’ own Michael Barlow playing through cheekbone fractures the week after suffering them.
But he is also open to the prospect of losing Sandilands for Round 22.
“We know you can play with them (cheekbone fractures), but potentially he could miss one, two (weeks),” said Lyon.
“But he’ll certainly be available when the whips are cracking.”
In a separate incident, small Docker forward Hayden Ballantyne left the field during the match with a “wrenched” shoulder.
However Lyon suggested he’d be opening to resting a player with an injury concern in time for finals, with the Dockers sitting pretty having locked in a top four position on the premiership table.
“We’re really positive and optimistic, but again, will he play this week because of the position we’re in? You’re really able to look after him and get him ready for when the whips are cracking.
“That’s basically where it sits.”
portadelaidefc.com.au will have a comprehensive update on the Power’s injury situation on Monday, as well as a preview of possible ins and outs on Wednesday with In The Mix.
