Fremantle Dockers forward Michael Walters to miss another month of football, Shai Bolton no certainty

Fremantle’s forward stocks have copped a blow with veteran Michael Walter’s return to football delayed for at least another month, with bone bruising in his knee worse than first thought.

It comes as the Dockers confirmed star off-season recruit Shai Bolton is still in the mix to face Sydney on Sunday after missing the Dockers’ ill-fated trip to Geelong.

However, pressure forward Sam Switkowski is expected to be sidelined for at least the next two weeks after coming off the ground against the Cats with an adductor injury.

Walters received a knock to the knee during Fremantles’ AAMI Community Series game against Melbourne and, after reassessment, could spend the next four weeks watching on.

“He has a little bit of bone bruising there,” High Performance Manager Phil Merriman said.

“We are going to de-load him for a week or two and then build him back up.”

It’s just the latest hurdle for the 34-year-old, who underwent surgery in the off-season alongside dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe, who is set to spend at least one more game on the side lines with Dockers coach Justin Longmuir stating he needed another game to be ready for the rigours of AFL.

Bolton is no certainty to make his club debut against the Swans at Optus Stadium on Sunday either, needing to prove he’s over a leg complaint at training on Thursday.

“Shai is going to be up for a test at main training; we’re just settling down a fibula, so if he gets through training, he will be available for selection,” Merriman said.

However, Longmuir was upbeat about the premiership forward’s chances of featuring against the Swans for a purple debut in front of the Dockers faithful at Optus Stadium.

“It’s looking promising,” he told 7NEWS on Tuesday.

“Clearly, he has to get through main training and do a fair volume there. He made a step forward today, in what he did in rehab, so fingers crossed he makes his debut this week.”

Bolton, who played 153 games and booted 165 goals at Richmond, would be a handy addition to the forward and midfield groups who copped a pounding at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong on Saturday.

Bolton was expected to help elevate Fremantles’ list into premiership contention, but a training mishap during match simulation in January saw the 26-year-old injure a calf.

He then pulled up sore from the Dockers’ pre-season contest with Melbourne and has been battling a lower leg stress issue since.

Cooper Simpson, who injured his ankle playing a WAFL practice match for Peel Thunder over the weekend, is also listed as a test, a lucky break after what appeared to be a painful moment for the youngster.

Forward Sam Sturt has not been so lucky, out indefinitely after a recurring knee injury flared up.

“Sam picked up a little adductor injury that will unfortunately leave him out for the next two to three weeks,” Merriman said.

“Sturty has got a long-standing knee issue that has flared up. He will be working to get back into the footy program in the next couple of weeks.”

The news was more positive for Hayden Young and Sean Darcy, whose rehab remains on track.