Surgery to sideline Ballantyne

Fremantle forward Hayden Ballantyne will miss the rest of the home and away season after being sent for surgery.

Ballantyne ruptured his pectoralis major tendon in the Dockers' 42-point win over Carlton, but coach Ross Lyon says he is set to return for the finals. The 2014 All Australian will have surgery later this week after being hurt while laying a tackle on Marc Murphy in the first quarter.

He had his right shoulder strapped and returned to action in the second term but was clearly struggling and needed to be subbed out at half-time.

Lyon said: "It's about a seven-week full recovery; he'll be running so he'll be fit but it puts him and us under some pressure."

Ballantyne, who was the Dockers' leading goalkicker last year with 49, has only managed 11 majors in his 13 majors so far this season.

Fremantle are 5.00 to win the Grand Final.

Meanwhile, key defender Zac Dawson came through his return match in the WAFL unscathed at the weekend. Dawson has already had two injury setbacks this year, being sidelined with a groin injury in pre-season and then breaking his thumb playing for Peel Thunder in his first game of the year in April.

He returned for his first match in three months with Peel in their 22-point win over Claremont and said he had come through well.

Dawson, who had 10 disposals and four marks, added: "I'm still a little bit sore from the procedure and the week, but fitness wise and groin wise I did really well. I've been able to do a lot of training over the last month, so my fitness is good and my hand will get better day by day."

Fremantle are 2.00 to win their next game against Richmond, who are 1.82.