AFL 2024: Lachie Hunter battling calf issues at Demons pre-season

Melbourne’s pre-season has been clouded with disappointment, and the hits are still coming for the club with another one of their guns under a fitness cloud.

Melbourne veteran Lachie Hunter will attempt to overcome a calf complaint in time to resume pre-season training this week.

The gun wingman suffered a minor calf injury over the summer break and will attempt to gain clearance to train before Wednesday’s session.

The Demons are confident the problem won’t hamper Hunter, 29, for much longer as the club attempts to bounce back from consecutive straight sets finals exits in 2024.

Hunter, who showed his durability in his first season at Melbourne playing 24 senior games last year, will meet with medical staff on Wednesday about the minor injury for further assessment.

Hunter is battling a calf concern. Pic: Michael Klein

He again looms as a key player on the wing as Melbourne attempt to return star onballer Clayton Oliver back to the fold after another personal medical issue which ended his pre-season camp in Lorne before it began.

The club is supporting Oliver through some personal issues after considering trading him last year before his monster seven-year $1 million-a-season deal kicked-in.

Hunter was a solid pick-up for the Demons in 2023 after he was traded from the Western Bulldogs on the cheap for a future third-round selection.

The premiership player is set to play his 200th game against Hawthorn in Round 2 if he plays the first two games of the season against Sydney Swans on opening weekend and against his former teammates from the kennel in Round 1 at the MCG.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Lachie Hunter battling calf issues at Demons pre-season