Fremantle veteran Des Headland denies his days as an AFL midfielder are over and insists he can play on for at least another two seasons despite his horrendous run of injuries.

Headland has played just 10 games since the start of the 2008 season, with knee, calf, foot and hamstring complaints restricting his ability to train and push for selection.

The 28-year-old has featured in just four games this year and is at least another two weeks away from resuming after injuring his hamstring in the club's round 14 loss to Carlton.

But the 156-game veteran said his time on the sidelines may actually end up extending his career.

"I missed a couple of years so hopefully I can add a couple more on, that's the plan anyway," Headland said on Tuesday.

"(It's) definitely frustrating (being injured) but that's footy.

"You've got to ride the waves and hopefully I can get back out there and be better for it and finish out the year.

"I pulled up sore after the Carlton game.

"It probably happens when you miss a lot of footy really, you play a game and get sore and miss a couple, so I've just got to get my body right and I've just got to finish off the year playing more games than not."

Headland said his body was still up to the rigours of playing in the midfield despite the increased pace of the game.

"Hopefully Spider (Aaron Sandilands) can still tap it down to me in the middle," he said.

"You've got to keep fit these days.

"AFL footy is quicker and stronger and faster and you have to be fitter than ever, if you're not up to it then you can't play really."

A Fremantle official barred the media from asking Headland questions about Saturday's embarrassing 117-point loss to Adelaide, where the Dockers registered a meagre 1.7 (13).

Fremantle fielded seven first-year players in that match due to the club's crippling injury list.

Michael Johnson, Ryan Crowley, Rhys Palmer and Roger Hayden are all nursing long-term injuries, but Matthew Pavlich (calf) and Sandilands (hamstring) are a chance to return for Saturday night's clash with Brisbane at Subiaco Oval.

"The good thing about a couple of the older boys being out is a lot of young kids are getting games and it's great experience for them and I just want to be out there sharing that experience on the field with them as well," Headland said.

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