Gold Coast midfielder Pearce Hanley appears set for another stint on the AFL sidelines after re-injuring his right shoulder in the Suns' 28-point loss to Fremantle.
Hanley clutched at his right shoulder after an innocuous tackle attempt in Saturday's second quarter of the 13.18 (96) to 10.8 (68) defeat in front of 33,388 fans at Optus Stadium.
It was the 29-year-old's first match back since dislocating the same shoulder during the pre-season, and he played no further part in the game.
Fremantle might also be left counting the cost after ruckman Aaron Sandilands' high and off-the-ball bump on Jarryd Lyons.
Sandilands' shoulder connected with Lyons' chin in a shepherd that caught the former Crow unaware.
The incident is set to be assessed by the AFL's match review officer.
Scores were level at halftime, but Fremantle big guns Michael Walters, Nat Fyfe, and Cam McCarthy starred when the game was on the line to help guide their side to victory.
Walters went off injured late in the match after his left hand was trodden on.
Fyfe finished with 38 disposals, 15 clearances and one goal in a best afield display.
The 2015 Brownlow medallist tallied 14 disposals in the opening term alone, as the Dockers dominated the inside-50m count early.
But Fremantle's 16-point lead at the first break failed to reflect their dominance, and they were left ruing missed opportunities, as Gold Coast shot out to an eight-point lead early in the third quarter.
Walters starred in the third term, booting a goal and setting up several other scoring opportunities as Fremantle regained control of the contest.
Saturday's match was Gold Coast's third game in a row on the road.
They beat the Kangaroos in round one in Cairns, before trumping Carlton last week in Melbourne.
The Suns sold their round-three hosting rights to Fremantle because their home venue - Metricon Stadium - is unavailable due to the Commonwealth Games.
The heavy travel schedule seemed to take its toll in the second half as Gold Coast's players tired.
Suns midfielder Aaron Hall endured a forgettable afternoon, tallying just five disposals against a tight tag from third-gamer Bailey Banfield.
He was also flattened off the ball by young Docker Mitchell Crowden in an incident that will be looked at by the match review officer.
Spearhead Tom Lynch, who booted eight goals last week, managed just one opposed to Alex Pearce.