Des Headland Biography

The figureheads behind the new Indigenous Past Player Group plan to have an indigenous players' association up and running in as few as three months.

The group, headlined by president Des Headland and 1993 Brownlow medallist Gavin Wanganeen, came together publicly for the first time to reveal their intentions.

"We believe we have a voice. We've been in our players' shoes in the past, we understand where they're coming from and the cultural barriers they face and we want to be a voice for those boys," Wanganeen said.

"We have a high representation of our indigenous boys in the game, let's face it. Our boys bring excitement to the game and we want to keep that going when we're long gone."

Fremantle midfielder Des Headland has quit AFL football after succumbing to a series of knee injuries.

"It's been frustrating not being able to get out on the park in the past three years," he said.

"Mentally, I just didn't want to do it again. If I went round another year and got injured again I don't think I would have coped very well."

Forgotten forward Des Headland is a chance to play his first match for Fremantle against the Hawks in an elimination final since a knee injury in round four.

"He's been back for probably four weeks and played quite well on the weekend, so we don't think it's a huge risk," Mitchell said.

"We think the risk is probably diminishing [but] it's something we have to take into account that he hasn't played for a while. "

Des Headland's horror AFL injury run has continued with the 29-year-old set to undergo more surgery on his knee that is expected to keep him out until round 15.

Fremantle's Des Headland believes he is on track for an injury-free season in 2010 after managing just 15 games in his last two seasons due to a string of knee, calf, quad and hamstring injuries.

"I've had a lot of setbacks the last few years and I just want to make sure I get through to Christmas," he said.

"There's only a week and a bit to go before we finish up. After Christmas, if I can get over January when the games start coming in, I believe I can get through the whole year."

Fremantle has admitted two of its players, Des Headland and Michael Walters, are being investigated by police following a Saturday night incident.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that an altercation between 10-20 people broke out at approximately 1am on Sunday near a taxi rank outside the Leederville Hotel.

Police and ambulance were called to the scene, with several people treated for minor cuts and bruises.

Injured Des Headland is hoping to make it back in time for Fremantle's round 17 clash with West Coast.

"I'm a couple more weeks away, so hopefully my body pulls up good and I play in hopefully the next two to three weeks," Headland said.

"I just pulled up sore after the Carlton game and that probably happens when you miss a lot of footy really - you play a game, you get sore and you miss a couple.

"I've just got to get my body right and hopefully finish off the year playing more games than not."

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey says if Des Headland trains well today he will be selected to play against North Melbourne.

"He got through the game and we were reasonably happy with his contributions for Subiaco; he just adds experience," Dockers coach Mark Harvey said.

"He's probably not 100 per cent match fit from an AFL point of view, but if you know how hard Des Headland has trained in the last six or seven months you'd say he's not too far away."

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey says Des Headland may still play against Hawthorn on Friday night after being kept out of the side with a calf injury.

Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands, Antoni Grover and Des Headland have been promoted to Fremantle's leadership group.