Presenting all you need to know about the Dockers ahead of the big Sunday afternoon clash at the MCG

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Fremantle started the season well, winning two of its first three games, but the Dockers have won just two of their next seven matches, leaving them 4-6 and in 13th place on the ladder going into Sunday's game. Ross Lyon's men have struggled to score in recent weeks. They managed only 7.10 (52) in their 59-point loss to the Sydney Swans in round nine and they were held to 8.10 (58) in their 28-point loss to North Melbourne last weekend.

Injury news
AFL.com.au published this story about Aaron Sandilands on Tuesday:

Fremantle's challenge of taking on in-form Collingwood just got tougher after Ross Lyon ruled veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands out of the MCG clash. 

Despite the Dockers listing Sandilands as a test on Tuesday afternoon, when they also revealed a fresh soft-tissue injury for Stephen Hill, Lyon later declared the influential 211cm big man was unfit to take on the Pies.

Sandilands suffered concussion after a heavy head clash with North Melbourne youngster Sam Durdin in Sunday's 28-point loss.

It is unclear how long the 35-year-old will be sidelined but the Dockers have been keen to give him a rest after playing every game so far in 2018.

"He's not in great shape. He's a bit sore and sorry for himself today, so he definitely won't play this week," Lyon told 6PR radio.

"And then he's been such a great warrior for us that we'll be conservative with him and give him every chance to come back healthy."

Team news
The big question is who will replace Aaron Sandilands? AFL.com.au reported the following on Tuesday:

Sandilands' withdrawal opens the door for injury-ravaged Michael Apeness to possibly play his eighth senior game after being drafted with pick 17 in 2013.

Apeness has been riddled with knee issues at the Dockers and also battled a broken collarbone, but has strung together the past four WAFL games as Peel's lead ruckman.

The 23-year-old is averaging 30 hit-outs, 12 disposals and a goal over the past month and shapes as the likely inclusion ahead of untried teammates for the big job on Pies tall Brodie Grundy. 

"We're fortunate, in a sense, that Michael Apeness, Luke Strnadica and Jonesy (Scott Jones) and Lloyd Meek are all available," Lyon said. 

"Michael Apeness has had a horrific run with injury over the last four years but he's starting to get a little bit of continuity and the other boys are whacking away. 

"We'll have to do it through match committee, but there's probably a few line-ball decisions there."

Player to watch
Who else but Nat Fyfe? The superstar midfielder has enjoyed a sensational season to date, averaging 31 disposals and 112 AFL Fantasy points per game. Fyfe leads the AFL Coaches' Association Champion Player of the Year award and is among the favourites to take home the Brownlow Medal. The 26-year-old was a shining light for Freo in its loss to North Melbourne last weekend, finishing with 31 disposals and a goal.

Nat Fyfe and Adam Treloar enjoyed an entertaining battle when Collingwood defeated Fremantle in round 11 last season (AFL Photos)

Last time: Round 11, 2017 at Subiaco Oval
Match report excerpt: Collingwood has defied a host of mid-game injuries to breathe life into its finals ambitions with a gutsy 20-point victory over Fremantle at Domain Stadium. 

Despite dominating large swathes of Sunday's clash, the Magpies needed to stave off another determined fightback by the never-say-die Dockers to clinch their third-straight victory, 15.15 (105) to 12.13 (85). 

The Magpies' fifth win for the season lifts Nathan Buckley's outfit to 10th on the ladder, but the gritty road triumph has come at a cost for two injury-plagued stars. 

Big-name recruit Daniel Wells suffered another calf injury during the third term, and is set for a stint on the sidelines.

Gun forward Jamie Elliott was carried from the field in the final quarter after hurting his ankle, while Tyson Goldsack suffered a shoulder injury in the second term, but courageously played out the match. 

FREMANTLE           2.1     5.5     10.6    12.13 (85)                  
COLLINGWOOD      3.5    7.9     11.13   15.15 (105)           

GOALS

Fremantle: Langdon 2, Grey 2, Neale, Fyfe, B.Hill, McCarthy, Mundy, Taberner, Kersten, Crozier
Collingwood: Elliott 3, De Goey 2, Moore 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Phillips, Pendlebury, Greenwood, Treloar, Crocker, Howe 

BEST 
Fremantle: Walters, Blakely, Weller, Fyfe, B.Hill, Johnson
Collingwood: Treloar, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Adams, Smith, Howe 

INJURIES 

Fremantle: Nil
Collingwood: Wells (calf), Elliott (ankle), Goldsack (shoulder), Greenwood (quad)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Dalgleish, Ryan, Mollison

Official crowd: 34,259 at Domain Stadium