Haiden Schloithe injury update

REIGNING South Fremantle fairest and best winner Haiden Schloithe is expected to miss approximately a month after injuring his ankle during the Good Friday victory over Claremont at Fremantle Oval.

Schloithe injured his ankle late in the 38-point win on Good Friday that leaves the Bulldogs on top of the WAFL ladder as the only unbeaten team left in the competition after three rounds.

Scans this week have shown that there is some ligament damage to the ankle, but no structural damage and no fracture.

That will mean that Schloithe is expected to miss around four matches of the season with his return expected either just before, or just after the WAFL’s State match against South Australia at Lathlain Park on May 23.

Schloithe had another strong game on Friday with 24 possessions against Claremont as he continued on to start the 2015 season where he left off in 2014 as one of the most damaging midfielders in the WAFL and going on to win his first WJ Hughes Medal as South Fremantle’s fairest and best.

However, there are plenty of players waiting in the wings at the Bulldogs who can play a similar role with Jacob Martinez set to return after just pulling up sore in the lead up to last Friday’s clash with Claremont.

Toby Bairstow had another 30 possessions in the reserves last Friday against the Tigers as well with Anthony Collica picking up 27 disposals and Adam Carter 17 while Ben Sokol had 18 touches, nine marks and three goals.

All will come into calculations to take on Swan Districts this Saturday at Steel Blue Oval.

Meanwhile, key forward Josh Pullman remains a chance to return after being a late withdrawal against Claremont with an ankle complaint while defender Nick Borovac made his first appearance of 2015 in the reserves last week, and will look to ramp up to 100 per cent game time this Saturday.