Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has played down rumours ruckman Sean Darcy is seeking a move to Geelong, saying the talk won't distract the player group.
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And Longmuir revealed defender Hayden Young is set to miss up to three months after scans revealed a serious hamstring injury that could require surgery.
Former Fremantle assistant coach Peter Sumich sent the rumour mill into a spin earlier this week when he said Darcy, who is contracted to Fremantle until the end of 2022, would be keen on a move to the Cats.
Sumich said the Dockers should try to snare Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English as a replacement.
Darcy played for the Geelong Falcons in the Under-18s competition, but Longmuir isn't reading much into the rumours.
"No, he's contracted here for another two years and everything I've had to do with him has been really positive," Longmuir said.
"So no I don't imagine any players would've taken notice of that."
Young is one of Fremantle's brightest young stars, but the No.7 pick from the 2019 national draft won't return until later this year and is likely to need hamstring surgery.
"It's devastating for him and it's bad news for the footy club, but we'll just have to cover for him," Longmuir said.
"Youngy's pretty upset by it, as we all are. But we just need him to do the right thing now and get it right and get back later in the season.
"We haven't ticked that box at this stage, but it looks like it's going to require surgery."
Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe is a strong chance to return for Sunday's clash with Hawthorn at Optus Stadium provided he can get through the club's main training session without any symptoms.
Fyfe was heavily concussed in the round-two win over GWS, but has recovered well over the past fortnight.
"We'll have to see if he gets through main training. That will probably be the last box he has to tick," Longmuir said.
"He's been feeling really good within himself. He's had no symptoms since he had it, he's ticked every box the doctors have asked and he just needs to get through training and tick that final one.
"In conversations with me, he's feeling really confident."
Longmuir is likely to overlook forwards Josh Treacy and Sam Sturt, who booted five goals in the WAFL last week.
Instead, Longmuir is keen to stick to his two ruckman policy of Lloyd Meek and Darcy.
Defender Griffin Logue is set to play some minutes in the WAFL this weekend after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Australian Associated Press
