Ex-North Melbourne player Majak Daw in doubt to return this season after shoulder setback

Majak Daw has played just six games of local footy this season and he may not feature again this year.

Majak Daw’s season is in doubt. Picture: Mark Wilson

Former AFL trailblazer Majak Daw is “touch and go” to feature again for Lara this season as he nurses a shoulder injury.

The former North Melbourne tall has been sidelined since round eight with a lingering knee issue that stemmed from his AFL career.

Daw, 34, then had an AC joint concern assessed in the past fortnight following a collision in a match this year which hadn’t healed as hoped, with Lara coach Brett Henderson saying the big man is set to miss at least the next month.

It is the latest blow for the winless Cats after ball-magnet Darby Henderson suffered a concussion from a bump against St Albans, telling this masthead last week that he was “hopeful” of a return after exiting concussion protocols in round 15 despite his string of head knocks across his career.

Lara coach Brett Henderson bemoaned Daw’s wretched run on the injury front this season and said he still remains part of the club, having parted ways with his two previous community footy clubs North Heidelberg and Deer Park.

Majak Daw in action against Geelong West. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“He just can’t get going in a footy sense and it has been frustrating for him and it has been frustrating for us,” Brett Henderson said.

“He has seen the ex-North Melbourne doctor and it is just one of those things with his shoulder that is probably going to take four or five weeks.

“He has been great around the group, so it is just a bit of a shame that he hasn’t been able to manage any continuity.”

Daw signed a one-year deal with Lara in September last year and has played six matches for the club, one of those in the reserves.

He shared his post-footy battle with anxiety and alcohol addiction with this masthead in April.

Lara has a nightmare match-up against St Mary’s this week at Anthony Costa Oval after the Saints upset ladder-leaders St Joseph’s on Saturday.

Originally published as Ex-North Melbourne player Majak Daw in doubt to return this season after shoulder setback