Playmaking defender Matthew Broadbent gone for the year after foot stress fractures

PLAYMAKING Port Adelaide defender Matthew Broadbent’s season is over after suffering foot stress fractures, the club has confirmed.

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PLAYMAKING Port Adelaide defender Matthew Broadbent’s season is over.

The experienced backman, who has not played an AFL game this year, has had a line drawn through him for the rest of the season after developing a stress fracture in his right foot.

The 27-year-old played just his second game of the season in the SANFL against Woodville-West Torrens on Sunday after undergoing two operations on his right ankle.

He rolled his left ankle in the southern goalsquare of Woodville Oval in the final term and was helped from the field by two trainers, displaying his frustration as he walked to the interchange bench following a solid 15-disposal, five-mark performance.

Power head of high performance Ian McKeown said the stress fracture was identified after the game.

“Matthew developed mid foot soreness from the game on the weekend and was found to have a developing stress fracture in his first toe,” he said.

“He will be off his legs for an indefinite period of time to allow the bone to heal before commencing running again, so unfortunately he will not be taking any further part in the season.”

Port coach Ken Hinkley described 27-year-old Broadbent’s latest setback as “unfortunate’’.

“It’s unfortunate, just one of those things,’’ Hinkley said.

“His ankle itself has come back really well from the surgery and we’ve been really patient.

“But until you get running and you change your running action a little bit, that’s when you can get some of these side issues, the stress reaction, so he’ll be out of action for the rest of the year.

Port Adelaide’s Matthew Broadbent. Picture: Sarah Reed

“He’ll be ready and strong to get through the pre-season which is what he really needs as much as anything.

“We pushed him along with the hope of having him available towards the end of the year but that’s not happened, so the best thing now is to get ‘Broady’ right and just get him fit for the pre-season.’’

Broadbent has played 161 AFL games since debuting in 2009 and was a mainstay of the Power side until he was hurt last year, playing his last game in round 19.

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