Docker playing for new contract

FREMANTLE forward Hayden Ballantyne faces a makeor-break period as he bids to save his AFL career.

Ballantyne is set to make his first AFL appearance of the season in Sunday’s clash with Geelong at Simonds Stadium.

The 29-year-old missed the start of the season after hamstring surgery in March.

And his AFL return was delayed when he re-injured his left hamstring in his sole WAFL appearance last month.

Ballantyne comes out of contract at the end of the season, and another setback could spell the end of his career.

The 141-game veteran was an All-Australian in 2014, but has struggled to recapture that form.

Fremantle are in the first season of a four-year rebuild, and veterans such as Zac Dawson, Jon Griffin, Danyle Pearce, Zac Clarke, Garrick Ibbotson and Nick Suban face a fight to be retained.

If Ballantyne can contribute in the second half of the season, Fremantle is likely to offer the feisty goalsneak a one-year deal. But another injury or a drop in form could see the Dockers cut him loose.

Coach Ross Lyon hinted Ballantyne’s future would be decided at the end of the season.

“He is really important. We value him. He loves the club,” Lyon said. “But it’s a profession, he needs to come to commercial terms.”

Ballantyne still needs to get through training before he is given the final green light to return against Geelong.

Lyon is also hopeful Aaron Sandilands will return following a four-week stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Captain Nat Fyfe has been cleared to play against Geelong despite nursing some heavy bruises around his chest in recent games.