Fremantle youngster Tim Ruffles could be set for a year on the sidelines after suffering a suspected ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the Dockers' five-point western derby win on Saturday.

Ruffles was stretchered off late in the match after his left knee buckled as he ran in to contest a centre square ball-up.

The injury occurred just moments after he kicked a miracle banana goal from the pocket, which all but secured the 10.11 (71) to 8.18 (66) win for the Dockers.

Amazingly, Ruffles is suspected to have initially suffered the injury sometime during the third quarter but played on after what was initially diagnosed as just a "tweak".

"What they (medical staff) are telling us is he tackled (Shannon) Hurn at the time and might have twisted the wrong way when he did it," Dockers coach Mark Harvey said.

"So I think it might have happened just before three-quarter time from memory.

"There was a tweak and then all of a sudden he was playing the last quarter and it just gave way.

"We are just trying to re-track where it happened.

"He went down for no reason."

Ruffles' injury took the gloss off Fremantle's victory, their fifth straight derby triumph.

The 18-year-old, who was taken with pick No.68 in last year's national draft, was playing just his third game.

Although Ruffles gathered only seven disposals against the Eagles, he booted two important goals and looked lively throughout the contest.

Should scans confirm Harvey's worst fears, Ruffles will become the second Docker to rupture his ACL this year after Rhys Palmer suffered the same injury earlier in the season.

Harvey said the club would rally around the talented forward.

"If the young fella can hang off what he did in this game that's the exciting part for him going forward, even though there might be disappointment tomorrow," Harvey said.

"We hope it's not what we are talking about at the moment, but it's heading that way."

Harvey said Luke McPharlin, who was a late withdrawal after injuring his calf at training during the week, was only a 50-50 chance to take on Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium next Saturday.

Des Headland (hamstring) and Byron Schammer (calf) are a strong chance to return to the side, while young forward Chris Mayne could earn a recall after returning to WAFL ranks in recent weeks.

But the Dockers will be sweating on the match review panel's findings after Dean Solomon was reported for charging Andrew Embley in the first quarter.

West Coast coach John Worsfold said ruckman Dean Cox and rover Daniel Kerr were unlikely to return for next week's clash with Essendon at Subiaco Oval.

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