Fremantle coach Mark Harvey is holding out hope David Mundy will be able to return this season despite the star midfielder suffering a suspected fractured leg in Sunday's 34-point AFL win over Essendon.

Mundy was subbed off midway through the opening term and forced to use crutches after falling awkwardly on his right leg when bumped off a contest.

The 25-year-old's absence was noticeable in the second half as the Bombers, who trailed by 59 points midway through the third quarter, closed the gap to 22 early in a frantic final term.

Fremantle regained their composure to hold off Essendon's charge - eventually winning 15.8 (98) to 9.10 (64) - but the extended loss of Mundy threatens to halt the Dockers' finals charge.

Defender Nick Suban fractured his fibula in round four and is still five weeks away from resuming.

And although Mundy is yet to receive the results from scans, Harvey was hopeful the on-baller would be back again this year.

"I think with modern sports science we can bring him back quicker than ever. So I wouldn't have thought so (that he's out for the season)," Harvey said.

"I'm sure he'll be back.

"Scans will reveal further issues I guess. I think there's some concern with his fibula at this stage."

Harvey said he would consider recalling Michael Barlow for Sunday's clash with Melbourne at the MCG after the midfielder tallied 33 possessions for WAFL side Peel Thunder.

Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher was subbed off at half-time, but coach James Hird said the 36-year-old veteran had merely suffered a cork to his quad and would be right to go against North Melbourne on Saturday.

"They normally come up in five or six days and we'll be confident that he'll play," Hird said.

"It's disappointing when you get bad corks and you just can't move too well."

The Bombers are likely to remain in eighth spot by round's end.

But after consecutive losses to Richmond, Melbourne and now Fremantle, Essendon are struggling to show the scintillating form they displayed earlier in the year.

The Bombers were inept in the opening half, continually turning the ball over as Fremantle regained their harassing edge.

Although their late fightback added some respectability to the scoreboard, Hird said the early effort, especially in the first quarter, cost them any chance of victory.

"We really lost it in that first quarter and the psychology of football is that we have to work out why we started like that," Hird said.

"But I think Fremantle were better for more of the game than we were. We had a good patch in the last quarter, but it was a disappointing effort overall."

Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich returned to form with 22 possessions and three goals, while Hayden Ballantyne, Matt de Boer, Nat Fyfe, Ryan Crowley, Luke McPharlin, Garrick Ibbotson, Michael Johnson and Stephen Hill were also important.

Paddy Ryder kicked four goals for the Bombers after a quiet start, while hard-working speedster Leroy Jetta chipped in with two.

The Essendon party will be staying in Perth indefinitely following suspension of flights to and from Melbourne due to volcanic ash.

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