Docker Nat Fyfe undergoes shoulder surgery

Nat Fyfe's AFL season is officially over after the Fremantle skipper underwent shoulder surgery in Melbourne, while goalsneak Michael Walters is highly unlikely to play again this year.

Fyfe dislocated his right shoulder in the round-12 loss to the Western Bulldogs on June 6, but was keen to delay surgery until after the season in a bid to be part of his team's finals push.

However, those surgery plans were brought forward to this week after Fyfe's right shoulder dislocated again during Sunday's 40-point loss to Sydney.

The two-time Brownlow medallist posted a post-operation picture on Instagram on Tuesday to announce the procedure had gone well.

'Nat's pulled up well and the surgeon is reporting that everything went to plan,' Fremantle's general manager of football Peter Bell said.

'It was the same surgeon who had operated previously on Nathan and he's spending a few days recovering in Melbourne currently.'

Walters has been ruled out for between four to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

It means unless Fremantle reach the finals, he won't play again in 2021.

Key defender Alex Pearce will miss Sunday's clash with Richmond at Optus Stadium with concussion.

Forward Josh Treacy is expected to return from illness, but the AFL career of Stephen Hill appears over after it was deemed he would need three to four weeks to recover from his latest hamstring injury.

Hill is out of contract at season's end and the 31-year-old last played at AFL level in round 18 last year.

The 218-game veteran has been plagued by hamstring issues all year and suffered his latest setback in the WAFL last week.

The loss of both Fyfe and Walters is a huge blow to Fremantle's finals hopes.

The 11th-placed Dockers (8-10) are still just half a win adrift of eighth spot despite suffering disappointing losses to Geelong and Sydney in the past fortnight.