Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has revealed that Nat Fyfe has broken his leg and will require surgery.

Speaking on Melbourne radio station Triple M, Lyon said no return date had been set for the reigning Brownlow Medal winner.

“He has a fracture in his leg. He’s flying to Melbourne and he’ll be operated on,” Lyon said.

It’s understood the operation will be carried out by the same doctor who operated on Fyfe’s leg last year.

Lyon also confirmed that defender Michael Johnson had injured his hamstring and medial ligament.

Speaking at the press conference after yesterday’s loss to Carlton at Subiaco Oval, Lyon said his team was playing terrible football and he would have to go back to the drawing board before next weekend’s game against Adelaide.

Fremantle was without injured ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who suffered a rib injury in the club’s loss to West Coast, and star recruit Harley Bennell for the match against Carlton. Injuries to Fyfe, Johnson and Hayden Ballantyne during the match put the Dockers under further pressure.

“The Dockers are playing really poor football and aren’t winning any games so that’s what it means,” Lyon said.

“If we continue that trend it is just a horrible season. Quite simply, we are playing straight-line uncomposed football. High handball, high turnover and the consequence of that is we are getting beaten and giving ourselves no chance to win.”

Fremantle has lost the first five games of the season and now faces tough matches against Adelaide (away), GWS (home) and Hawthorn (away) before returning to Subiaco Oval for the game against Richmond.

Skipper David Mundy looks set to return for the match against Adelaide after missing three matches with a calf injury.