BFL: Drysdale set to lose Ross Celano to ankle injury, while Ben Fennell suffered minor knee injury

Drysdale was left to count the cost of a spirited comeback against Anglesea, with one of the Hawks’ best players set to manage a knee injury for the rest of the season and a gun recruit out for at least two months.

Mens senior Football BFL: Anglesea v Drysdale. Drysdale coach Benjamin Carmichael Picture: Mark Wilson

Drysdale is counting the cost of its comeback draw against Anglesea, with a series of injuries to some of the Hawks’ most valuable players.

New recruit Ross Celano is set to miss at least two months of football with a fractured ankle, while star Ben Fennell missed “about an hour” of the game with a knee injury.

While Fennell is not expected to miss any games, co-coach Ben Carmichael said Celano hoped to return to the field in the second half of the season.

“His leg just got caught in a tackle, so he’ll have surgery this week and he’ll miss eight to 10 weeks,” he said.

Mens senior Football BFL: Anglesea v Drysdale.Drysdale 18 Ross Celano kicks a goalPicture: Mark Wilson

“It is disappointing for him, he’s had a pretty rough run getting on the park with injuries and things like that, he had a really good pre-season and he was up and going and exciting to get back into it.

“We still expect to see him in the second half of the year, and he’s pretty keen to come back after he recovers.”

Celano managed to kick his first goal for the club before the injury, while Fennell was one of Drysdale’s best players despite missing a chunk of the contest.

Ross Celano celebrates his first goal with Drysdale. Picture: Mark Wilson

Carmichael said he should be fine to play in round 3 against Queenscliff.

“He sat out about a quarter and a bit with a bit of swelling and soreness to his knee, and to his credit he came back out under a fair bit of duress,” he said.

“Ben was probably one of our best players to finish the game, he gave us a bit of spark in that last quarter.

“I think he’ll be fine, it’ll just be something he has to managed throughout the season and take a bit of rest during the week when he can.

Ben Fennell suffered a minor knee injury against Anglesea on the weekend.

“We’ll have to recover well to set us up for a big game at Queenscliff, they’re always tough to beat down there, last year it took us to the last kick of the day to get it done.

“Once they get their tails up they can be a dangerous side, so we’ll need to be switched on for that one.”

Originally published as BFL: Drysdale set to lose Ross Celano to ankle injury, while Ben Fennell suffered minor knee injury