Please enlighten us.
In 2013, Freo kept him out for the last 8 games of the home and away season to try to give him every chance of getting fit before returning for the finals.
In 2015, by Round 18 he had only missed 2 games, played his best game in R18, then got injured and missed R20, came back for 2 rounds, had another great game in R22, then injured again and missed the rest of the season.
Calf injuries often take a long time to really heal (eg. Bennell). I thought Freo managed McPharlin quite well.
If you have suggestions what they should have done, then please do tell.
I listened to the most recent Barlow podcast which included McPharlin. Without him sounding at all arrogant, I got the sense, that he desperately hoped Freo were going to sneak through the Prelim, into the GF in 2015 and he would have played. That is, I think, Freo gambled resting him the extra week to give him every chance of playing, if they made the GF ... unfortunately, the Hawks knocked us out in the Prelim and McPharlin had to do his lap of honour a week earlier than he hoped to.