Glenelg premiership star Liam McBean to have surgery after playing in grand final on one leg
Glenelg forward line star Liam McBean has revealed he probably shouldn’t have featured in Sunday’s drought-breaking grand final win and has spent post-game celebrations in a moon boot.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Download your exclusive souvenir Tigers premiership poster
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Ken Farmer Medallist Liam McBean has been celebrating Glenelg's long-awaited premiership in a moon boot and is expected to have surgery this week to repair a plantar fascia injury that should have kept him out of the grand final.
As the Tiger players celebrated their first flag in 33 years at the Bay oval on Sunday night and at various venues on Monday, McBean hobbled around in a moon boot after suffering the injury — to his right foot — in the first half of the preliminary final against the Crows.
Stream over 50 sports live and on demand with KAYO SPORTS. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
“The foot’s not good, I probably shouldn’t have played in the grand final, but I was never going to miss that game,’’ McBean said after Glenelg beat arch rival Port Adelaide by 28 points.
“It’s been really sore since the prelim but I had a lot of treatment and the medical staff did a great job in getting me over the line and I’m just so happy to have been able to play and contribute to a great win.’’
McBean, who won the Farmer medal as leading goalkicker in the minor round with 46 — one ahead of teammate Luke Reynolds — was in doubt for the preliminary final after hurting his left hamstring in the second semi-final loss to Port.
He then injured his foot against the Crows and needed painkillers to negotiate the injury at training and in the last two games.
McBean, who bagged four goals against Adelaide in the come-from-behind win, went goalless against the Magpies but still had 19 disposals — the equal-third most of any Tiger — and took five marks.
While coach Mark Stone’s future is clouded as he considers AFL possibilities, the Tigers are expected to lose several key players next season.
Premiership captain Chris Curran, 28, has announced he won’t be at Brighton Road after moving to the Riverland on medical placement.
He has agreed to play for Renmark.
“We talked about maybe flying him back (for games) but I think the best thing for Chris to do is to do his work and not have to worry too much about flying back and forth for footy,’’ Stone said.
“He goes out at the moment on a good note and hopefully we get him back in 12 or 24 months time.’’
Curran said he would consider returning to Glenelg when his country stint has finished.
Magarey Medallist Luke Partington, who has been on West Coast's list, is likely to be thrown an AFL lifeline after his stunning season while teenage key defender Will Gould will be drafted in the top 20 and should go in the first 10.
Smart forward Brad Close, who sported a massive black eye in the grand final, also is likely to find an AFL home.
“The team will change, that’s inevitable,’’ Stone said.
“To how much extent, we don’t know yet.
“But we are a pretty young team, there’s a lot of guys who are under 23 and now they’ve got this experience they’ll be the next group to come through and lead.
“And there will be another group that comes through from our 18s and juniors, so we’re in pretty good shape at the moment.
“Hopefully we’ll get some financial benefit out of this and we can set ourselves up for a long period to come.’’