Fremantle's AFL finals chances have been dealt a huge injury blow, with ruckman Aaron Sandilands facing a long stint on the sidelines.

In his first game back from four weeks out with a toe injury the influential big man suffered a recurrence against Brisbane on Saturday night.

There is speculation it could be season-ending, although the Dockers, who now plan to submit Sandilands for surgery, are confident he will miss only another four games.

They also lost key defender Luke McPharlin with a groin injury, although he might miss only next round's home clash with Gold Coast, with the Dockers having the bye the following weekend.

Those injuries add to a long list, with important midfielder David Mundy (leg) still facing up to six more weeks out.

Michael Barlow also missed Saturday night's game with soreness, just one AFL game into his comeback from a severe leg break.

Coach Mark Harvey said the Dockers had to ensure they stayed in the finals hunt until Sandilands and his fellow injury absentees returned.

"I think what the team can do in the short term is make sure that we sustain or give ourselves an opportunity to play at the end of the year," Harvey said.

"That's what the team can do for him."

Hawthorn and Essendon have also suffered a heavy toll from Friday night's clash at the MCG.

Tough Hawks midfielder Brad Sewell (knee) and gun forward Cyril Rioli (hamstring) both face scans, with speculation Sewell strained a medial ligament and could be out for a month or more.

The Hawks were hopeful Rioli's injury was minor, although they expressed the same view when he injured a hamstring in round five, before missing three games.

The Bombers were hit even harder.

Midfielder Sam Lonergan is set to miss the rest of the season, with a medial ligament injury, while captain Jobe Watson and David Myers each face three-week absences with hamstring strains.

Sydney will lose midfield star Kieren Jack to a right ankle injury for the second time this season, stemming from Saturday night's loss to Collingwood at ANZ Stadium.

Jack, who earlier this season was sidelined for five weeks by an injury to the same ankle, will have scans, but is likely to face another lay-off of similar length.

Collingwood's Alan Didak will need to be assessed, after being subbed off in the third quarter with an ankle injury.

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