Eagle Lachlan McGregor catches a lucky break in time for SANFL finals
WOODVILLE-West Torrens is supremely confident dangerous small forward Lachlan McGregor will be back in the line-up to front Sturt in the second semi-final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
WOODVILLE-West Torrens is supremely confident dangerous small forward Lachlan McGregor will be back in the line-up to front Sturt in the second semi-final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
McGregor had surgery to repair a broken arm after being injured in the penultimate round win over Glenelg. The club initially feared he would miss the rest of the season.
But he trained fully last week and will have contact drills this week in preparation for the battle against the Double Blues, coming off a qualifying final win over South Adelaide on Saturday.
“He is in really good shape,” Eagles coach Michael Godden said. “He had a plate inserted in the arm and he has been able to train fully.
“As long as he trains fully this week and can take full contact, he will play.’’
The Eagles had a testing two hour training session on Saturday before the coaching staff watched the finals action.
Adelaide enhanced its claims for the title when it smashed Central District by 72 points in the elimination final before the Double Blues overcame the Panthers by 27 points. The Crows meet the Panthers in the first semi-final.
“Sturt can nullify teams and they did that well to South,” Godden said.
The Panthers must find a replacement for Tyson Brown after he damaged his hamstring just a few minutes into the qualifying final.
Bulldogs coach Roy Laird has been fined by the SANFL for his comments in the wake of the decision to allow Cam Ellis-Yolmen to play for the Crows in the elimination final.
The seven-time premiership coach, a passionate advocate of the state league who has given the competition years of dedicated service, was charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
Laird has yet to confirm his status for next season and there is no certainty he will stretch his tenure at the club into a 15th season.
Laird said the match committee would meet on Wednesday night and a decision on his future was likely then.
“I love my football club and have loved this competition,” he said. “But there is so much scepticism from the public where we are going and the negativity is disappointing.
“It would be very hard to walk away.
“I’m upset for the players to end the season the way we did.
“These lads work incredibly hard to play at this level, it is very demanding for them.’’