Dockers' Ibbotson fractures wrist

Fremantle's injury crisis has worsened, with defender Garrick Ibbotson set to spend up to a month on the sidelines because of a broken wrist.

Ibbotson fractured his left wrist during Saturday's 34-point AFL loss to St Kilda.

Although the 28-year-old won't need surgery, he'll spend between two to four weeks on the sidelines.

"He seemed to play out the game ok, but after the flight, the next morning in medical review it had swelled up and was quite painful," Fremantle sports science manager Jason Weber said.

"It was reviewed and he has a small fracture in his wrist, so it's going to be a couple of weeks to get it right."

Ibbotson joins Nat Fyfe (broken leg), Aaron Sandilands (ribs), Michael Johnson (knee/hamstring), Alex Pearce (broken leg), and Harley Bennell (calf) as other key players on the sidelines.

Skipper David Mundy (calf) is a chance to return for Saturday night's clash with Essendon, while Clancee Pearce (concussion) will also be assessed.

The Dockers sit dead last on the table following their 0-10 start to the season, but they'll start as warm favourites against Essendon, who are 1-9 after losing 12 players to doping bans.