AFL injury news: Tom Stewart set for foot surgery, updates on Nick Blakey, Ben Cunnington

Geelong coach Chris Scott says not even ‘a higher power’ knows when Tom Stewart will return. But Dr Peter Larkins has seen this injury before. Here’s what he expects.

The Blues have thrown their arms around Sam Docherty after his shock diagnosis. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

All-Australian defender Tom Stewart will have surgery on Monday on a Lisfranc injury set to crush his hopes of playing a role in Geelong’s push for a premiership this year.

The Cats are holding out hope that Stewart might somehow make it back for the grand final if they make it all the way, but leading sports medico Doctor Peter Larkins believes the champion backman is finished for 2021.

Following his team’s 14-point come from behind win over St Kilda on the weekend, Geelong coach Chris Scott said Stewart – who suffered the mid-foot injury at training on Thursday – would undergo surgery on Monday, but added “I don’t think even a higher power knows if he will come back or not. What we have been told is it is possible, however slim that is”.

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But Larkins said if the Cats legitimately thought Stewart was a chance to return, the injury would have to be at the lowest level of severity.

“If the club is saying that, then it is not a serious, high-grade Lisfranc injury,” Dr Larkins said.

“Surgery is not considered for minor Lisfranc sprains. It generally requires surgery if it is a high-grade one. If it is a low-grade one you might go into a moon boot and rest the foot and not play sport for 6-8 weeks and get better.

“Then you have to train and run and get back to form, so six weeks from here gets you to the end of September as a minimum, but the serious ones you usually need to have plates and screws put in to hold all the ligaments and bones together. So (if he is having surgery) I am resigned to the fact Tom will not be in the finals.”

Tom Stewart is set to miss Geelong's finals campaign. Picture: Michael Klein

Former Geelong backman Matthew Egan had surgery for a Lisfranc injury in 2007 but after attempts to come back too early never played AFL football again.

Collingwood star Dane Swan also had his career ended by a Lisfranc injury.

But Larkins said if Stewart followed the right procedures he had a strong chance of returning to his full capabilities next year.

“In the general sense, people come back to full performance and are not restricted, but there is a small group who develop a lot of scar tissue or arthritis through the middle of the foot from the damage to the joint,” he said.

“So, I can’t say that 100 per cent of people come back, but I will say that if it is done well and treated well then you would expect Tom Stewart to come back and play to his capabilities if there are no complications.

“But we judge Lisfranc injuries at the six-month mark, not the six-week mark, so it really is a three-to-six month process if you have surgery and that takes you right through the summer.”

SWAN’S ANKLE INJURY ‘DOESN’T lOOK GREAT’

Sydney bracing for defender Nick Blakey to miss multiple weeks with a serious ankle injury as it sweats on Josh Kennedy’s finals availability.

The Swans took care of North Melbourne on Saturday night and could yet play GWS in an elimination final in a fortnight.

Blakey’s ankle buckled as he was stood on by North Melbourne first-gamer Charlie Comben, with the Swans expecting either a syndesmosis injury or a high-grade ligament sprain.

It means Blakey could miss the first week of finals after slotting into a running role as an aggressive half-back.

Kennedy limped off with a tight hamstring in the last few minutes of the victory.

But the Swans were assessing on Sunday whether he was just tired and tight after a gruelling encounter or might need scans to assess whether he has a low-grade hamstring sprain.

Sydney coach John Longmire said on Saturday night Callum Mills (achilles soreness) was no certainty to take on Gold Coast in Round 23.

The Swans rested Lance Franklin to ensure he was fit for finals with the AFL likely to march straight into the finals series without a pre-finals bye.

Nick Blakey in pain after hurting his ankle.

Longmire said the club was hopeful Blakey’s ankle pulled up well but realistic it could be a longer-term injury.

“He was very good. He’s only played about seven games in defence in his life, so he’s still learning what that’s about. I thought he was very important for a fair bit of the game until he got hurt,” he said.

“It’s disappointing he hurt his ankle, obviously it didn’t look great and we’ll have to see how the scans go.

“It was bad enough to sub him, we think it’s not just a roll. We’ve got our fingers crossed that hopefully it’s not too bad, but it swelled up pretty much straight away.”

ROOS’ POSITIVE NEWS ON CUNNINGTON

North Melbourne star Ben Cunnington is set to return at full capacity for the beginning of pre-season following surgery to remove a testicular tumour.

Coach David Noble expressed the club’s relief by his positive update and said while the two-time Syd Barker medallist may be eased into things, the outlook is bright for him re-joining the playing group when training resumes after the off-season break.

Noble said the 30-year-old is in a “terrific headspace” after the procedure, heading down to the club for training and mentoring assistance during main sessions.

Ben Cunnington expects to be back next season. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“We were greatly relieved for Ben and Belinda and the kids and extended family that they got some really good news.”

“We might need to go a bit slower when he returns but I think all things are pointing towards him starting pre-season in full capacity.

“He will still need to be vigilant going forward, no doubt.

“He should be in a position that when we get back to pre-season — we think he’ll be in a position that he has recovered from the surgery.

“Our thoughts are with Sam Docherty as well.”

Cunnington said he planned to spend more time on the family farm before resuming training ahead of the 2022 campaign.

The 30-year-old averaged a career-most 27 disposals and eight clearances in 15 games this year.

BLUES THROW SUPPORT BEHIND DOCHERTY

Carlton is wrapping its arms around Sam Docherty after the Blues co-captain revealed his testicular cancer had recurred in a tearful address to teammates on Monday.

Docherty had successful surgery to remove a malignant testicular tumour in November but will now undergo a fresh 12-week round of chemotherapy.

Carlton veteran Marc Murphy said there were plenty of tears shed when the popular player told teammates of the news on Monday, but added that Docherty was a tough character who would get through the setback.

“I was having a chat with him 20 minutes before the meeting where he told everyone and you could sense there was something a little bit off with him,” Murphy said on Tuesday.

“I shed a bit of a tear when he told us the news and so did a few other guys because he’s such a strong character and he’s been through such a lot, Doc.

The Blues have thrown their arms around Sam Docherty after his shock diagnosis. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

“I was over in Arizona when he lost his old man to a heart attack here in Australia and it was a really tough moment and obviously he’s had some tough battles with his body as well. But he’s a really tough character and the club’s going to wrap their arms around him and all his mates will as well and his family. He’ll get through it, but it certainly does put everything into perspective.”

Docherty has missed the past six matches this year with an ankle injury which was to sideline him for the rest of the season.

The 27-year-old did not play an AFL game in 2018 or 2019 after suffering back-to-back ACL injuries.

Originally published as AFL injury news: Tom Stewart set for foot surgery, updates on Nick Blakey, Ben Cunnington