A semi-final return for Matt Taberner appears on the cards after Fremantle flew to Melbourne without their spearhead ahead of Saturday’s clash with Collingwood.
The 22 players from last week’s final playoff victory over the Western Bulldogs boarded the Cockburn bus on Thursday morning, with skipper Nat Fyfe, sub-doctor Bailey Banfield and defender Ethan Hughes on board.
Taberner, who returned from injury during the WAFL last week, joined the Dockers contingent who will play for Peel this weekend at the oval before doing light drills with AFL assistant coach Jaymie Graham.
Graham returned to theaters shortly after, with Taberner continuing the session after 11:00
He was not seen as the traveling group left Cockburn at 11:30 am.
Teenager Jye Amiss was part of the group after scoring two goals in a first final appearance in his second AFL football match.
Swingman Griffin Logue, who has been installed in a forward role in recent months, made the trip despite joining Taberner on the rehab squad in training on Wednesday.
Young Nathan O’Driscoll was also on board despite suffering an ankle injury at the start of the win over the Dogs.
Fremantle will face the Magpies in what will be the second largest single match crowd in Dockers history, with the winner facing Sydney at the SCG in next week’s preliminary final.