Sturt midfielder Aidan Riley sidelined for eight weeks due to broken wrist

STURT has been dealt a huge blow with tough onballer Aidan Riley to have his wrist in a cast for six weeks after breaking the scaphoid bone playing for the SANFL against WAFL.

Aidan Riley will miss eight weeks of action because of a broken wrist. Picture: Sarah Reed

TOUGH Sturt onballer Aidan Riley has been dealt another setback after breaking his wrist in the state game loss to the WAFL at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Riley will have his wrist in a cast for six weeks to protect the fractured scaphoid and will miss up to eight weeks, starting with the contest against Central District at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.

It is the second time he has missed football because of the same reason, having fractured his scaphoid bone in 2016. The fearless midfielder also missed the first three weeks this season due to a hamstring issue.

“Aidan is not sure when the injury happened in the state game, but he played through with it,” Double Blues football manager Chris Trapp said.

Premiership player Ben Hansen will make just his second appearance for the season when he fronts in the reserves for the Double Blues.

Hansen missed much of the pre-season because of a back issue then had the start to his season delayed by a thigh injury. He played three quarters of the reserves against Woodville-West Torrens before last weekend’s bye and the club was impressed with his efforts.