North Adelaide captain Greg Gallman will decide himself if he makes his return to football against the Magpies
NORTH Adelaide will leave it up to captain Greg Gallman to decide whether he resumes from a broken jaw this weekend against Port Adelaide.
NORTH Adelaide will leave it up to captain Greg Gallman to decide whether he resumes from a broken jaw this weekend against Port Adelaide.
The defender, who sustained the injury against Central District in round two, has been cleared to resume through the reserves.
Roosters football manager Darryl Wintle said Gallman would train today and again on Thursday before deciding whether he was ready to take to the field.
"If he gets through training tomorrow night and Thursday night and if he feels comfortable to play he'll play this week," Wintle said. "He's been given the all clear by the surgeon that it's structurally OK but it is up to Greg whether he resumes this week or next."
Gallman's return would provide a further boost to the Roosters who regained experienced defender Luke Ivens through the reserves last Saturday.
Ivens, a former captain at Prospect, has only played four league games this season after injuring his knee early in the year.
The second-placed Roosters also expect to regain hard-nosed utility Joe Anderson from a hamstring injury within a fortnight, further adding to the healthy pressure for selection.
"Gallman and Ivens are two of our leaders and Joe Anderson was probably our most consistent player before he got injured," Wintle said.
"The guys that have come into the side in recent weeks have done a very good job so it will create a good healthy pressure for spots."
Elsewhere, Glenelg forward Ruory Kirkby will be available to play South Adelaide at Noarlunga this Saturday after accepting a reprimand for rough conduct North's Jake Keller at the Bay on Saturday.
The Tigers are holding out hope that scans will clear ruckman Tim Walsh of serious damage after he reported soreness in the same foot which caused him to miss the first half of the season with stress fractures. Walsh came off early against North Adelaide on Saturday after having impressed early.
South Adelaide key position player Brett Eddy has been cleared of an ankle break after landing awkwardly in a marking contest against Central last Saturday.
Eddy will undergo an MRI scan this week to determine the extent of soft tissue and ligament damage. He is expected to miss at least six weeks.